Page 45 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

It was different now. When he pulled off his t-shirt and cannonballed into his pool I stared for other reasons. His body was changing, his voice deepening. He looked at me differently too—I’d felt it. His eyes on me whenever we hung out in the pool or with our families, or when we hung out with Sofia and our other friends.

Aaron made me light up inside. But it had always been a warm sort of glow. Now it felt like flames, a burning wildfire that I couldn’t stop.

His cell phone vibrated and he dug it out of his shorts pocket, a smile spreading over his face.

“Is it Cole?” I asked. They were best friends too.

“Uh, no…”

“Oh. Who is it then?”

“N-no one.”

“What do you mean no one? Why are you— oh.” A stone plunked in my stomach as I dropped my gaze, realization slamming into me.

“You don’t need to worry about Darla, Pops. She’s just a friend.”

Darla Fredericks. One of the most popular girls in our class, and a total hottie.

I lifted my gaze to his and tried to school my devastation. “I didn’t know the two of you were friends.”

“She asked Cole for my number.” He shrugged, fingers flying over the screen as he texted her back.

“Oh. What does she want?” I regretted the words the second I said them.

I didn’t want to know.

I didn’t.

And yet…

Aaron flashed me a playful smirk. “If you have to ask, Pops, then you’re not ready to know.” His teasing words made my stomach curl.

“Do you… like her?”

Please say no, please say no.

“She seems cool and she’s hot.” He shrugged again, shoving his cell back in his pocket. “But I’m not looking for a girlfriend or anything.”

“Aaron, you’re twelve.” I rolled my eyes.

“At least I’ve been kissed before.”

“Y-you have?” The quiver in my voice betrayed me.

No.

It wasn’t possible. I’d always thought… no.

“Poppy?”

“Oh.” I forced a smile but my insides felt all tangled up inside. “I didn’t know. I thought you told me everything.”

“I lied,” he blurted, and I frowned.

“You lied… I’m confused.”

“I haven’t kissed anyone.”

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