Page 86 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

Lately, my body was hyperaware of him though. It probably had something to do with the fact he’d grown a lot over the last few months. Gone was his lean body replaced with muscle carved from granite and his shoulders were broader now. He didn’t look like a kid anymore. He looked… so freaking hot, and the way his board shorts hung off his hips. I worried about blushing every time he was around.

“I’m going for a slushie,” Sofia called, climbing out of the pool. “You want one?”

“Sure.” I folded my arms on the edge of the pool and laid my head on my hands. The guys were fooling around with a hacky sack. But Cole followed Sofia out, leaving Aaron behind.

I was hardly surprised when he swam over to me. “Sorry, about earlier,” he said.

“It’s fine.”

“It was just a joke, Poppy.”

“I said it’s fine.”

“Why are you being so weird then?” His brows furrowed, those dimples appearing.

God, why did he have to be so cute?

“I’m not being weird.” He gave me a pointed look and I let out an exasperated breath. “You were making fun of me.”

“That’s not… I wasn’t making fun of you.”

“Just because you and Cole are sooo sexually experienced.” I rolled my eyes.

Oh God, why did I say that?

Aaron choked on his breath. “I’m not… I mean, I can’t speak for Cole but I’m a virgin still, Poppy.”

“You are?”

“I’m fifteen. Is it that hard to believe?”

“I don’t know, I thought… you and Kelsie Darmer—”

“Seriously, Kelsie? She kissed like a fish. I dread to think what she would be like if we, you know.”

“I… really don’t know what to say to that.” My cheeks burned. “So you really haven’t… done it?”

“No. Why, have you?”

“What? No! My dad would kill me. Besides, I can’t think of a single person I like enough to want to do it with.”

Except you.

I’d do it with you.

Those pesky butterflies took flight again. Sometimes, when we were alone like this, Aaron would do or say something that made me wonder if he felt the same.

But then the moment would pass and I’d realize what an idiot I was.

Aaron didn’t like me. Not like that at least.

“You shouldn’t give it up to just anyone, Poppy. Wait for someone who deserves you.”

“Is that what you’ll do?”

“Shit, I don’t know. It’s different for guys.”

“Yeah, I guess. But what if I never find anyone I want to… you know. Can you imagine graduating a virgin?”

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