Page 95 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

“Apparently Poppy is going with Eli,” I said casually.

“Good for her.” Sofia stared me dead in the eye, a challenge written all over her expression.

But I didn’t take the bait.

“Right? She deserves the full senior year experience.”

“And you’re okay with Eli being the one to give it to her?”

I shrugged. “If it’s not Eli, it’ll be someone else.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“Gee, thanks, Sis. Love you too.”

“Honestly, I could bash your heads together. She loves you, Aaron. She’s in love with you.”

I ignored her words, refusing to let them touch my heart.

“It’s not like that for me. I care about her, but that’s all it is.”

“That’s all it is.” Bitter laughter rose inside her. “You know what they say, ‘you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.’ And someone, whether it’s Eli or the guy after him or the one after that, will come along and steal her right out from under you.”

“She’s not mine to take.”

“You’re a liar, Aaron. A really bad one at that. And I hope that when you finally realize that the two of you can’t escape each other, she’s moved onto someone who deserves her. Someone who will fight for her.”

Her words hit their intended mark, blasting through my defenses, but I maintained my neutral expression.

“Anyway, I didn’t come here to argue about Poppy. I came to ask you a big favor.”

“Go on…”

“I need you to go to Homecoming… as Cole’s date.”

“No. Absolutely not.”

“You have to. He won’t go with Madison or Beth, and Zara’s insisting he has a date.”

“What’s it got to do with her whether he goes stag or not? And since when do you give a shit about what Zara Willis wants?”

“I don’t know the inner workings of her mind. She probably wants us all to coordinate or something.”

“I’ll say it again, since when do you give a shit—”

“I’m trying to keep the peace.” I blew out an exasperated breath.

“Is that what we’re calling it?”

“Sis, come on. You know how she gets. She didn’t give me a chance to say no.”

“Ask Poppy.”

“What? No! Are you deaf? I’m going with Zara. Besides, like I said, Poppy is going with Eli.”

“Ahh, I see.” A knowing smirk tugged at her mouth. “That’s what this is really about.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

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