Page 61 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

Poppy

The film was everythinga disaster movie should be. Loud and busy and jam-packed with heart-stopping action scenes. Yet, I barely knew what was happening because my heart was beating like a runaway train in my chest after Eli had grabbed my hand the minute we sat down.

His touch was nice, but it felt loaded with expectation of things to come. I’d avoided making eye contact with him for that very reason. What if he wanted to kiss me? What if he wanted more?

The theater was virtually empty save for a few other couples, all too busy with the movie and each other to notice the rest of us. But the walls felt like they were closing in around me.

“You okay?” His voice startled me and I sucked in a sharp breath.

“Y-yeah.” I turned slightly to look at him and he smiled.

“You’ve been tense since we sat down.”

“I have?”

“Poppy, come on…” He whispered. “If this is about last night, I already said, it’s fine. I know you have a complicated history with Aaron.”

The words hung between us as I stared wide-eyed at him. His gaze dropped to my mouth, the air crackling with tension.

I was supposed to want it, wasn’t I? To want his lips on mine, his tongue in my mouth. I was supposed to feel that explosion of butterflies as he slid his hand against my neck and lowered his face to gently brush his lips over mine.

“Is this okay?”

“I… yeah.” I breathed, forcing myself to relax. Eli was a good guy. The perfect gentleman. He opened doors for me and let me pick what snacks we got for the movie. He was patient and kind.

And he liked me.

He. Liked. Me.

So why wasn’t I into it?

You know why.

His kiss was nice, not too eager or forced. And his lips were soft and firm. But the second his tongue peeked out and slipped into my mouth, I panicked.

Pulling back slightly, I touched my head to his. “We should probably watch the movie.” Heat crept into my cheeks, but I doubted he could see it.

“Yeah, okay.”

A heavy weight settled into my chest and I realized what it was I felt snaking through me.

Guilt.

I felt guilty.

Which was ridiculous. Because Aaron didn’t care. He’d pushed me into Eli’s arms more than once. So why did I feel like I’d betrayed him?

If he wanted my kisses, he’d had plenty of years to ask for them.

“I need to go to the restroom,” I said quietly to Eli. He nodded, releasing my hand. “I won’t be long.”

I hurried out of there, keeping my eyes ahead. But a strange sense of awareness trickled through me as I reached the back row, my gaze pulled toward the middle.

My breath caught.

No.

No.

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