Page 78 of Broken Rivalry

Eva pauses, her eyes also scanning the screen as if trying to grasp the gravity of what she’s seeing. “Transferring? Are you serious, Poppy?”

I nod, biting my lip. “Thought about it. Maybe a fresh start?”

Nessa throws her hands up dramatically. “Oh no, not the runaway tactic! Classic Poppy move.”

Eva grins, nudging me. “She’s got a point.”

I roll my eyes but can’t suppress a smile. “I seem to remember someone running home to avoid a certain someone named Cole?”

Eva gasps, feigning shock. “How dare you bring that up!”

And not to let Nessa get away unscathed, I turn back to her. “And someone else avoiding her sister’s place because of… reasons.”

Nessa rolls her eyes and throws herself into the armchair across the sofa.

We all burst into laughter, the tension in the room dissipating a little.

After a moment, I slump back onto the sofa, feeling lighter. “Okay, okay, I get it. No running.” I don’t have the option, anyway.

Eva, ever the voice of reason, says, “Look, if you’re hurting, maybe you should talk to him. Get some closure.”

Nessa, with a mischievous glint in her eye, leans forward. “Or, hear me out; we could totally go and slash his tires. Maybe leave a little ‘remember me’ on his precious car. I’ve got a couple of screwdrivers that would work perfectly.”

I laugh, shaking my head. “You’re insane.”

Eva nods in agreement. “Definitely an option, but before we embark on a life of crime…”

Nessa interrupts, waving her hand dismissively, “Been there, done that. It’s overrated.”

Eva cocks her head. “Good to know. Still, maybe let’s start with talking?”

The room fills with laughter again, the warmth and camaraderie of the moment wrapping around me like a comforting blanket. With these two by my side, I feel much better. I won’t run. I’ll face this challenge head-on, like every other obstacle that’s come my way.

The night wraps around me, and as I slide under the covers, the weight on my chest feels a tad lighter. Sleep comes quickly, pulling me into a familiar dream, a place where memories and desires intertwine. The familiar scent of his cologne, a blend of wood and a trace of spice wraps around me, making the dream feel almost tangible. I can sense him, the warmth of his body, the rhythm of his breathing, as if he’s right there beside me.

A sudden cold draft interrupts the dream, and I’m jolted awake. The room is bathed in the silvery glow from the streetlights outside. I feel a shift in the bed, a presence. My heart skips a beat, then races as I turn to find Ethan. There he is, his features softened by the dim light, his eyes deep pools of emotion, searching, always searching, for something in mine.

“What are you doing here? You need to leave,” I whisper, my voice trembling. How conflicting it is to have him there in the bed with me.

He looks at me, his eyes filling with pain. “Staying away isn’t working, Poppy. I’m taking a page from Cole’s playbook.”

“You need to leave,” I insist, but my resolve wavers as he moves closer, the warmth of his body almost magnetic. It breaks my heart to have him here, but the familiarity of his body soothes the pain he has caused himself.

“Just let me stay for tonight, please,” he pleads, his voice raw with emotion. “I can’t sleep without you, Poppy. I can’t stop thinking about you. I need some sleep for my training tomorrow.”

I hesitate, torn between the fresh pain that this night will bring and the pull of giving in to the bliss his presence brings me against all logic. “Just for tonight,” I finally whisper, too tired to fight the longing I feel.

He pulls me close, his breath warm against my ear. “It’s you,” he murmurs. “It has always been you.” And within a minute, his breathing evens out. He must be truly exhausted.

I don’t think I can fall asleep, not with the way my heart beats in an insane rhythm because he is here. But I close my eyes and bask in his warmth, his alluring scent that both hurts and appeases me and before I know it… I fall asleep.

The night passes in a blur, and the next thing I know, the first rays of dawn are filtering through the curtains. I carefully extricate myself from Ethan’s embrace and tiptoe into the living room.

Eva is already up, a cup of coffee in hand. She glances up as I enter, her gaze flicking to the bedroom door and then back to me. Her eyes widen as she notices the massive pair of trainers by the door.

“Are we not broken up?” she asks, looking back at me.

I exhale, running a hand through my hair. “We are, but… it’s complicated.”

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