Page 41 of Broken Rivalry

“Cole is unpredictable even on his best days.” Liam takes a deep breath, visibly trying to control his frustration. “You need to handle this, Ethan. You made this mess; now clean it up.” His voice drips with sarcasm as he adds, “Mr. Fix-it.” With that, he turns on his heel and disappears into his room.

I slump on the couch, staring blankly at the black TV screen. The enormity of today’s mistakes weighs like a ton of bricks on my chest. I can’t shake off the feeling that I’ve pushed Poppy too far this time. She’s fiercely protective of those she loves, and I inadvertently placed her friend in harm’s way. I let out a heavy sigh, rubbing my temples.

The unexpected ping of my phone breaks through my self-loathing. I pick it up, half expecting another rant from Liam or a drunk text from Cole. But it’s from Poppy. My heart races as I read the short message, but it means everything. It’s a glimmer of hope that I’ve not fucked it all up.

I’m up in an instant. This isn’t something to be hashed out over text. I need to see her face to face. I grab my jacket and keys in a rush, the urgency clear. If there’s even a sliver of a chance to make things right, I’m taking it.

Chapter 15

Poppy

Parking in front of the building, I linger in Eva’s car longer than necessary. My lips still tingle from the kiss with Ethan, and my hands quiver, overwhelmed by the sensations it stirred inside me. Ethan wasn’t my first kiss; high school had seen a number of those. But nothing could have prepared me for that kiss with him.

Resting my forehead on the steering wheel, I draw a deep breath. Soon, I’ll have to face Eva, who I anticipate will be heartbroken. Anger toward Ethan bubbles inside me for disrupting our session, even though I know he, like me, was oblivious to the emotional minefield between Eva and Cole. Witnessing their confrontation felt like inadvertently triggering a nuclear explosion.

Straightening in my seat, I resolve that this can’t happen again. The only way forward is for Eva to open up to us. If we understand her story, we can be better prepared.

Am I ready to share mine, though? I wince at the thought but nod to myself. If that’s what it takes, then yes, I am.

Ascending the stairs with unwavering resolve, I find Eva on the sofa, engrossed in a book, adorned in her typical dress pants and no-nonsense cardigan. Her face is composed, and if not for the redness of her eyes and nose, I might believe the events of an hour ago were mere figments of my imagination.

“Are you okay…?” My voice trails off as I approach the sofa cautiously, as though fearing I might startle her.

“Uh-huh,” she replies absentmindedly, reaching for a cookie beside her.

I observe her in silence for a few moments, uncertain how to broach the subject given her newfound composure.

It’s just pretend; you should know that. You pretend every day.

“Eva…”

The door opens, and Nessa enters, the clinking of glass audible from the bag she carries.

I raise my eyebrows, and she grins, mischief lighting her eyes.

“Ladies,” she announces, “it’s time to get shit-faced and spill secrets.” She places the bag on the counter, extracting bottles.

“How did you even buy this? You’re eighteen,” I question as she turns back toward us.

She shrugs. “The proper Brit helped. He’s twenty-one.”

I find it hard to believe Liam would do that.

“Did he?” I probe.

She shrugs again, turning back to retrieve the mixer and prepare whatever cocktails she has in mind.

“He said that in Europe, you can drink at eighteen. It only took one blow job.”

She turns around, laughing at the shock on our faces.

“God, you’re so gullible! It’s wishful thinking.”

I raise an eyebrow, amused yet intrigued, as she begins to pour the vibrant liquid into glasses.

Nessa balances three glasses in her hands, placing them on the small table before retrieving a mixer brimming with alcohol and setting it amid the glasses.

We each grab a glass, and Nessa, with a twinkle in her eye, raises hers in a toast. “To baring a smidgen of our souls, in the name of better protecting each other.”

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