Page 115 of Five Summers

Out of nowhere, a light breeze comes along and lifts her skirt, showing off her black thong. Without delay, she hastily pushes it down.

I let out a frustrated sigh, knowing this girl is gonna be the death of me. I can see it now. The words on my tombstone: “Xander Williams. Died from a raging boner”.

"Damn," Theo says next to me.

I shoot him a fiery glare. He looks at me for a second, then smirks. I swear the asshole thrives on riling me up. If I give the prick a good punch, he'll quickly get the message.

He laughs out loudand starts making his way to the plane.

Ace rushes off towards her, and I curse myself for not being the one to help with her damn suitcase. I should be the one helping her, not him. If he thinks he’s having some fun with her, he’s in for a fucking surprise. I'd rather cut his dick off than let that happen.

I keep a watchful eye on Poppy as Ace approaches. When she hears his voice, she turns and gives him that smile. The same smile she used to give me. The same smile I yearn to see directed at me again, but deep down, I know it’s never going to happen.She fucking hates me for what I did to her. Little does she know, I hate myself even more for my actions.

As they approach, she glances up and the second our eyes meet, my heart races. My palms become sweaty. Why does she make me so fucking nervous?

Because she’s Poppy Reeves, you idiot -a little voice in my head reminds me.The only girl you’ve ever been in love with. The only girl who doesn’t hang onto your every word. The only girl who dares to challenge you. The one who truly knows you, faults and all. And the one person in this world who will always have your heart.

Ace says something to her, and she bursts into laughter. My fists, tightly clenched at my sides, reflect the intense urge I feel to punch him. It should be me making her laugh, not him.

“Come on man,” Nate says, as if reading my thoughts. “Let’s get on the plane.”

Pissed off, I turn away from the asshole hitting on my girl and join Nate as we board the plane.

Upon entering, I notice Reg already sitting in his usual spot, leisurely sipping his drink with his laptop open on the table before him. Nate walks over to Theo who’s busy flirting with the hostess. The way she giggles and flirts, it's obvious she's totally into Theo. Very few women can resist his smooth talk.

I bet by the middle of the flight, Nate and Theo will be banging her, just like all the other hostesses the label hired. I mean, who the fuck hires these groupies?

I’m anxious. I can feel the tension building in my body. I just need a damn drink to numb these fucking emotions.

“Hey, before you start sucking their dicks, grab me a bourbon?” I cut in when the hostess laughs at Theo’s joke.

The hostess shoots me a disapproving glare, then heads to the next room to fetch me a drink.

I hear Ace’s voice as he boards the plane, with Poppy by his side.

“So, how did he handle the news about you being away for the next eight weeks?” Ace asks.

WTF? Don't tell me she's taken, or even worse, married or engaged. I quickly glance at her hands, praying there's no ring. I feel at ease when I notice she's not wearing any rings. Can't spare a dime, you jerk. If she was mine, she'd be rocking rings on all her fingers.

“He didn’t even seem upset when I left. I was expecting him to cry, but he didn’t,” Poppy says, coming to a stop next to Ace.

Cry. What a fucking pussy? I mean, I cried for months after I left her, but that was different. But this dickhead sounds like a loser. I would have thought my Princess would be with someone who challenges her, not some weak fuck who cries when his girl is gone for less than two months.

Ace passes her bag off to one of the staff members.

“Hey there, spitfire,” Theo says, coming forward now, reaching out to take her hand. “I’m Theo, the bass guitarist.” He lifts her hand to his lips, planting a kiss on the back of it, before flashing me a shit-eating grin.

Can’t the idiot see I’m two seconds away from punching him in the fucking face?

“Spitfire?” Poppy questions, her brows furrowing as she drops his hand.

Nate steps forward and shakes her hand. “Hi,” he says, introducing himself. “I’m Nate, the drummer.”

Poppy gives him a big, dazzling smile. Normally I'd be annoyed, but Nate is too shy and serious to make a move. It’s always Theo who is the biggest flirt.

“And you know Xander of course,’’ Ace says.

“Sure,” she says, giving me a quick look before flashing a smile at the group. Her eyes dart from face to face.

---