Page 56 of Broken Rivalry

I roll my eyes. “You’re hilarious, Ashford.”

Cole sips his coffee, leaning against the counter, his eyes gleaming with trouble. “Nah, that’s not it. The walls are thin, and let’s just say, the lady seemed quite… satisfied,” he teases.

I want to glare at him, but I can’t help but grin. I’m proud to have given Poppy pleasure.

“I know the walls are thin, Cole. I used to hear your ho ass all last year,” I retort, heading to the coffee machine and making myself a double espresso.

“Well, not at all this year yet. Are you broken down there?” I mock, keeping my eyes on his crotch.

Cole hisses, and I suspect what broke his player streak is Eva.

Liam snickers. “You want to have the ‘what are we?’ conversation, don’t you? Is that why she ran?”

“Shut the fuck up,” I snap, but I feel my face redden. Because what happened this morning, the complete rejection of my presence in her life, doesn’t predict anything good. I know I need to give her time. It’s all new for her, and no matter what she says, she’s not sure if she can trust me yet or not.

“Oh God, you do!” Liam gasps as Cole steps closer, tilting his head to the side, feigning deep listening.

I nudge him out of the way. “What the fuck are you doing, man?”

“I’m sure if I listen close enough, I can hear your vagina grow.”

We all burst into laughter, the camaraderie between us a welcome distraction from the whirlwind of emotions inside me.

Cole, still chuckling, claps me on the back. “But seriously, man, you look like you’ve seen a ghost. Everything okay?”

Liam nods, his expression turning serious. “Yeah, you were all smiles coming down the stairs, and now you look like you’re about to head into battle.”

I run a hand through my hair, sighing. “I don’t know, guys. Everything was perfect, and then it wasn’t. She got a call and just… panicked. I offered to help, but she pushed me away.”

Cole gives me a questioning look. “Pushed you away, how?”

“Like she didn’t want me involved in her life,” I admit. The words taste bitter in my mouth.

Liam leans against the counter, crossing his arms. “Maybe she needs some space, man. It was a big night for both of you, right?”

“Yeah,” I mumble, my mind replaying every moment, every touch from the night before.

Cole pats my shoulder. “Give her time, Ethan. If she feels for you even a fraction of what you feel for her, she’ll come around, and I’m sure your magic cock can lure her back.”

I snort, but I really appreciate their support, even though the worry doesn’t leave me. Poppy is under my skin, in my veins, and I can’t just switch it off. I can only hope that whatever is happening, she knows I’m here for her, no matter what.

Chapter 19

Poppy

Ethan’s car purrs beneath me, its smooth vibrations at odds with the rough gravel of the country road. The noise of the city’s morning rush—a blend of honking horns, distant sirens, and the murmur of countless conversations—gradually replaced by the quiet desolation of rurality, where the only sound is the occasional chirping of a distant bird.

My mother and little brother, stranded beside their smoking vehicle, come into view, and I can’t suppress the pang of sympathy that strikes me.

As I pull up beside them, honking lightly, Billy’s eyes, identical to our father’s, light up with that childlike wonder he’s managed to retain despite our hardships while Mom’s eyebrows knit together, forming a silent inquiry.

“Poppy, whose car is this?” Mom’s voice holds a note of caution.

“It’s a friend’s, Mom. Don’t worry about it,” I reply, trying to sound casual.

“You’ve never mentioned this friend before,” she probes, her eyes scanning the luxurious interior.

Billy, blissfully unaware of the undercurrent of tension, bounds into the back seat, his small fingers leaving smudges on the immaculate windows as he gawks at the world outside. “This car is so cool!” His voice, filled with genuine awe, breaks through the awkward silence. “It’s like Batman’s car!”

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