Page 15 of Poison's Promise

Her silver blonde hair catches the light, framing a face that’s both familiar and painfully distant.

Her eyes widen when she sees me, but she quickly masks her surprise with that sassy confidence I remember so well. “Hey, Asher,” she says, her voice steady but guarded.

It’s like a punch to the gut.

Years may have passed, but those eyes—they’re still the same. Full of fire and secrets.

“Hey,” I reply, trying to keep my tone casual even though my mind is racing. “Long time no see.”

“Yeah,” she says, folding her arms across her chest. “It’s been a while.”

“How’ve you been?” I ask, trying to keep the conversation light. But there’s an edge to my voice that I can’t quite hide.

“Good,” she replies shortly. “Busy.”

“Same here,” I say, nodding.

An awkward silence stretches between us, filled with all the things neither of us is saying.

“Listen, I... I should go,” Polly says suddenly, glancing around as if looking for an escape route.

“Wait,” I blurt out, stepping closer. “Can we talk? Just for a minute?”

“Talk about what, Asher?” she asks, her eyes narrowing. “There’s nothing left to say.”

“Please,” I insist, feeling a familiar frustration bubbling up inside me. “I just need some answers.”

“Answers?” she repeats, her voice rising slightly. “What could you possibly need answers about?”

“Why you went into that room with that guy,” I say, my words coming out harsher than I intended. “The night I didn’t show up at your apartment. Rachel told me everything."

Polly’s face goes pale, and she takes a step back. “I can’t fucking do this with you,” she says, her voice trembling. Then, without another word, she turns and walks away.

"Polly, wait!" I shout, following her through the maze of corridors.

She’s fast, but I’m faster.

I catch up to her just as she reaches a dead-end hallway underneath the stadium.

“Let me go, Asher,” she says, her back against the wall, eyes blazing with a mix of anger and pain.

“Not until we talk,” I say firmly. “You don’t get to walk away this time.”

“Fine,” she snaps, glaring at me. “What do you want to know?”

“Why?” I demand, my voice breaking. “Why did you cheat on me?”

Her expression shifts slightly, but she keeps her cool. “Rachel told you everything, huh?”

“Yeah, she did.” My hands clench into fists at my sides. “I never thought you’d cheat on me.”

“Cheat on you?” She laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “You really believe that?”

“Why wouldn’t I?” I retort. “You disappeared into a room with another guy. What was I supposed to think?”

“Maybe you should have asked me instead of jumping to conclusions,” she shoots back, her eyes flashing. “But you didn’t, did you? You took Rachel’s word for it and ghosted me. Just like that.”

“Because I trusted her!” I shout, my frustration boiling over. “And she made it sound like you were—” I stop myself, taking a deep breath. “I just need to know the truth, Polly.”

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