Page 8 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

“Ugh.” Just what I didn’t need.

“Cole,” Zara said, reaching us. I kept my eyes on the flames, refusing to meet her heavy stare.

“I’m going to get another beer. Try not to kill each other.”

The traitorous motherfucker left me with her.

“Can we talk?” she said.

“We have nothing to say.” I glanced up at her. It was impossible not to trace her curves. Narrow waist, long smooth legs, and a rack most guys would die for. Zara Willis was a pretty package hiding a Grade-A bitch underneath.

But she stood there twirling a strand of her glossy blonde hair around a finger, with lust and seduction shining in her eyes and fuck, it was hard not to be affected by that.

“Come on, babe. Don’t be like that. I was a bitch.”

“You can say that again.” I huffed.

We’d kissed at a party the other weekend and Zara had gotten the wrong idea. Told everyone we were together… We weren’t.

She dropped onto my lap, sliding her hands over my shoulders, smiling down at me in that way few guys could resist. “You know we’re destined, Aaron. You’re the football captain, I’m the cheer captain. It’s the natural order of things.”

“I’m not looking to play games.”

“Neither am I.” Her hands ran down my chest, and she curled her fingers into my t-shirt. “We could be so good together.”

I stared at her. Big dark lashes framed her pretty eyes as she smiled at me. Most guys would kill to be me right now… so why the fuck did I feel like a heavy weight was pressing down on my chest?

You know why.

I shut that voice down. It wouldn’t get me anywhere good.

“I’m not looking to go steady, Zara.”

“Who said anything about going steady?” Her lips curved with devious intent. “But we could have some fun.”

“Fun?” My brow lifted.

Girls like Zara had fun until they got their claws so deep into you there was no backing out.

“After last year, it’ll be good for optics.”

I couldn’t argue with that. The team and cheer squad had suffered some bitter rivalry after Coach’s eldest daughter caught the eye of last season’s star quarterback. But he’d also caught the eye of the cheer captain. Things had gotten pretty cutthroat and caused Coach and his daughter Lily some heartache.

“Come on, Aaron.” She smiled, her eyes heavy-lidded and dark with lust. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

Heat snaked through me. Zara knew exactly what buttons to press. But she didn’t know my secret.

I was in senior year and still a virgin.

Because there had been a girl once.

One of my best friends.

The object of all my desires.

Poppy Ford was everything I’d ever wanted. Sweet, funny, loyal. She was one of my favorite people in the whole world.

There was just one glaring problem.

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