Page 43 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

But then Zara appeared, draping herself on his lap and breaking our connection. Severing it with her long manicured talons.

Bitch.

“Poppy?” Sofia noticed my line of sight and cussed under her breath. “God, I fucking hate her.”

“Well your brother seems to like her. Maybe she can be your sister and give you little Bennet baby nieces and nephews.”

“Ew, gross.” Her nose scrunched with disgust. “He doesn’t like her.”

“You don’t know that. Look at them.” I forced myself to glance over in their direction again.

My heart tumbled, the world closing in around me as Zara leaned in, scraping his jaw with her nails, her mouth precariously close to his.

“No,” the word formed on my lips.

He wouldn’t.

He wouldn’t—

But he did.

He let her brush her pouty lips over his. Once. Twice. Didn’t move an inch as she wove her arm around his neck and kissed him harder. Deeper. Sliding her tongue over the seam of his mouth.

“Poppy, maybe we should—”

“Fine,” I said, shaking my head, tears pricking my eyes. “I’m fine.”

I moved in the opposite direction, heading for the collection of coolers and grabbed the first drink I found.

“That is not a good idea,” Ashleigh said, following me.

“Actually, I think it’s an excellent idea.” I brought the bottle to my lips and chugged, barely tasting the bitterness of whatever was in the mixed drink.

“I agree.” Sofia grabbed her own bottle and unscrewed the cap. “To getting drunk and making bad decisions.”

“Here, here.” I clinked my almost empty bottle against hers and giggled. “Whew, it’s strong.”

“This is going to go horribly wrong.” Ashleigh held up her hands. “And when it does, don’t come crying to me.”

“You have Ezra now.” Sofia laced her arm through mine. “You’re not in our club.”

“What club?”

“The sad and lonely girls who get drunk and make bad decisions club.” She hiccoughed and then exploded with laughter.

“Okay, I’m going to find Ezra. Just… try not to get into too much trouble.”

“Oh, don’t worry, we will,” I called after her.

“I don’t think she’s impressed,” Sofia hiccoughed and giggled into my shoulder again.

“It’s because she’s in love, it changes people.” I let out a dreamy sigh, and Sofia beeped my nose.

“Want to know what I think?”

A sloppy grin spread over my face as I nodded. Nothing was going to dampen my mood. Not tonight. Not even Zara and her wandering hands and pouty lips.

Ugh.

I needed another drink before my liquor-buzz wore off.

“No. What does Sofia Bennet think?” I squeezed her arm, laughing.

“Love sucks,” she declared, thrusting her bottle in the air, “and then you die.”

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