Page 63 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

“Well, yeah.” His expression softened. “I guess even though I know I’m going to lose you one day to some guy, I want to know he deserves you.”

“Let me get this right.” My voice quivered, and the tremble spread through my body. A quiet rage consuming me. “You followed me and Eli in here so you could make sure he deserves me.”

Aaron ran a hand through his hair and down the back of his neck, his gaze guttering a little. “Y-yeah.”

“Unbelievable. Un-fucking-believable,” I seethed, embarrassment curling in my stomach. “Move, I need to go.”

“Poppy, come on. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“That’s the thing, Aaron. You never do. Yet here we are again.” I sighed. “I’m an idiot. I thought… It doesn’t matter.”

“No, what were you going to say?” He reached for me, but I swatted his hands away.

“Stop doing that. Stop acting like you care.”

“Poppy, I do care.”

“It’s not the same.” My chest heaved. “You keep doing and saying all these things and I read too much into them… and it’s exhausting. I’m exhausted.”

Silence echoed around us. Of course he had nothing to say because really, it wasn’t his fault. It was mine.

“I need to go.” I motioned for him to move and let me out. It was a tight squeeze but I managed to slip past him and reach for the door.

“Poppy—”

“No, Aaron.” I glanced up at him. Too close. He was so damn close, my heart stuttered in my chest. “I’m here with Eli. I’m on a date with Eli. And you’re right, maybe it’s for the best. Because this, us, clearly isn’t—”

His mouth crashed down on mine, his body caging me against the bathroom stall wall.

Aaron was kissing me.

He was kissing me and it was everything I’d ever wanted.

“Fuck, Poppy Star,” he breathed the words into my lips as he tongue searched out mine in teasing little licks.

My arms looped around his neck, holding on as I drowned in him. My best friend. The boy I’d wanted since I knew what wanting someone meant. Even before then.

It went on and on and on, carrying me away on a dreamy cloud where I couldn’t taste, couldn’t breathe in anything but him. His mouth shaped mine, two pieces of a puzzle that were always meant to fit. And I wanted more.

So much more.

But all too quickly, it ended. Aaron pulled away, gazing down at me.

“I… what was that?” I whispered, touching my lips. Needing to know it was real.

That this was real.

“Shit, I… I shouldn’t have done that.”

“It’s okay.” My lips curved, my heart so full I was sure it might burst right out of my chest. “I know I’m on a date with Eli, but I’ll tell him right away. I’ll go and—”

“What? No. Fuck, Poppy… don’t… don’t do that.”

“What?” Icy dread flooded me. “What do you mean?” I forced the words out over the ball of emotion lodged in my throat.

“I… fuck. Fuck.” His fist slammed into the door, startling me.

“A-Aaron?”

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