Page 49 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

Except she sounded different. She sounded drunk.

My sister let out a huff of frustration and stumbled back into the room. I moved around Zara and poked my head inside. “What’s going—”

“Aaron?” Poppy balked as she hugged the toilet bowl. “Oh no. No, no, no.”

“Jesus, Sofe. You let her get like this?”

“I didn’t let her do anything. She’s almost eighteen, not a child. We drank the same amount of drinks.”

My brow lifted at that. “We’ll talk about this later.”

“I can hardly wait, Dad.” She glowered at me.

“Hey, Pops.” I moved closer and crouched down, brushing the hair out of her face. Her eyelashes fluttered, makeup smudged around her eyes. “You want some water?”

She nodded, her gaze full of shame and regret.

“Zara.” I glanced over my shoulder. “Do me a favor and go get a couple of bottles of water.”

“But—”

“Please.”

She scowled with disbelief, but managed to snap, “Fine,” before she stormed away.

“Bitch,” Sofia murmured.

I glared at her, “Seriously?”

“What?” She shrugged. “It’s true.”

“Just make yourself useful.” I winced, pain radiating through my shoulder.

“Aaron?”

“I’m fine. Just see if there’s a new toothbrush laying around somewhere.”

“I think I drank too much.” Poppy groaned, her head lolling on her shoulders. Her eyes drooped as she slipped off her hand and straight into me. Thankfully, I managed to stay upright but it fucking hurt like hell.

“Breathe, Poppy Star, just breathe,” I whispered, rubbing her back in a soothing motion. She lurched forward, shoving her face in the bowl and dry heaved. But nothing came up.

“Here.” Zara appeared, thrusting a bottle of water over my shoulder. “And gross, so freaking gross.”

“Maybe you should get the hell out. No one wants—”

“Sofia!” I barked at my sister and flashed her an indignant look. She folded her arms over her chest.

“I’m going to go,” Zara said. “Aaron?”

I glanced up at her and frowned. “Yeah?”

“Well, are you coming or not?”

“I’m not leaving her.”

“Unbelievable.” With a lingering look of disgust, she marched out of the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

“She’s a fucking—”

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