Page 67 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

“What?” He turned to her, frowning.

“I think I’m stuck.” She tugged at the ties of her bikini top. “I can’t— oops.” It slipped off her body and she quickly held it to her chest. “Can you retie them?”

Sofia caught my eye and arched a brow while Cole snickered into his fist.

Aaron obliged her, moving closer to help her out, and the warm feeling I’d felt only seconds ago dissipated leaving a cold hollow feeling inside me.

I backed away slowly, letting her friends crowd around them as Aaron fixed her bikini ties.

“Gosh, how embarrassing.” Staci’s eyes found mine and she smiled. But it wasn’t friendly, not in the least.

Because I was the girl in her way. One of Aaron’s best friends. I was learning girls didn’t like when a guy they liked had a close girlfriend. They felt threatened.

Maybe she had a point because part of me did want to wade in between them and stake my claim. But Aaron didn’t like me like that.

Because he doesn’t know how you feel.

Maybe I needed to do something drastic to get him to see me. Something way more inventive than losing my bikini top.

After we all dried off from the pool, Mr. and Mrs. Bennet ordered pizza for everyone and we sat under the pergola to get out of the afternoon sun.

“She’s really starting to get on my nerves,” Sofia murmured as we watched Staci paw all over Aaron. “Are you eating that?” She eyed my pizza and I shook my head.

“Have at it.” I couldn’t eat. Not with the giant knot in my stomach.

Did he like her?

I didn’t get those vibes from him about her but what did I know? Boys never liked me. I was Jason Ford’s daughter. I might as well have been an infectious disease. No guy in or around Rixon would ever be brave enough to ask me out.

Not that I wanted anyone except Aaron.

I didn’t.

“I know, we should play spin the bottle,” Staci suggested.

A couple of Aaron’s friends grumbled but he shrugged. “I’m down.”

He was?

Oh God.

Everyone cleared the table and spread out so we were in a crudely shaped circle.

“Okay, let’s see…” She grabbed an empty bottle of water and leaned over to position it in the middle of the table. “Since it’s Aaron’s party, I think he should go first.”

“Bring it.” He chuckled, the sound rumbling through me and making my heart flutter.

I didn’t miss the way she made sure she was virtually opposite him or how she kept eye contact with him the entire time the bottle spun.

Anyone but her, anyone but—

“Oh my God, how embarrassing.”

I didn’t realize everyone was looking at me until Sofia said, “Poppy.”

“Sorry, what?”

“It’s you.” Her eyes grew wide.

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