Page 79 of Sixty Days Of Summer

I feel the weight of someone’s gaze and turn my head, only to find Poppy and Xander watching intently. I quickly drop my gaze back to my phone, trying to lose myself in the screen and escape the awkwardness of the moment.

Within seconds, Poppy slides onto the couch beside me, her presence a comforting distraction. “Hey,” she says, her voice warm and inviting.

“Hey,” I reply, putting my phone away and giving her my full attention. I’m curious about what she wants to talk about. She’s always been polite, but we’ve never really had a private conversation before—there’s usually a crowd around. This one-on-one feels unexpected.

“Hang in there,” she says, and for a moment, I’m not entirely sure what she means. The confusion must show on my face because she quickly clarifies, “I’m talking about Ace.”

“Oh,” I reply, the weight of her words hitting me.

Poppy leans in closer, lowering her voice to create a more intimate atmosphere. “I went through something similar with Xander,” she begins. “He knew he loved me but didn’t really understand it at first, so he tried to push me away. It wasn’t until years later that I discovered everything he was feeling.”

She glances over at Ace for a moment, her expression serious. “Ace is a lot like Xander. They’ve both faced so much over the years that they build these walls to keep everyone out. I can see he’s torn and unsure of what to do. When you told him you loved him, it might have opened his eyes to feelings he’s never considered before.”

“Oh God, does everyone know about that?” I mumble, covering my mouth in embarrassment. I know Theo is in the loop because I told him, but now that Poppy is bringing it up, it’s clear that Ace has said something to Xander. My cheeks flush in embarrassment.

Poppy laughs, letting out a little snort before quickly covering her mouth, which makes us both laugh. “Don’t worry,” she says, her smile reassuring. “It’ll all work out in the end. The Ace I know wouldn’t have bothered coming over to you if he didn’t feel something. Trust me—he wouldn’t give a shit otherwise. There’s definitely something there, and both Xander and I can see it. He just hasn’t figured out what it is yet.”

Despite my instinct to push him away and shield myself from more pain, Poppy’s words light a tiny spark of hope inside me. Maybe, just maybe, Ace really is starting to change. The guy who once drifted from one girl to the next seems different now. If he’s struggling with his own feelings, then something’s definitely shifting. And that thought, as fragile as it is, gives me a sliver of faith that this might not be the end after all.

“Just give him time,” Poppy advises. “Ace has probably never heard those words before, and he’s struggling to make sense of it all.”

“Thank you,” I reply, genuinely grateful that she reached out. I’ve always known Ace was closed off, and it’s been a battle for him to lower those walls. But hearing Poppy say she sees the changes in him—that he’s never acted this way before—makes me believe that maybe, he feels something for me. Yet deep down, I know this doesn’t change everything. Just because he’s struggling with his own feelings doesn’t mean I’m going to make it easy for him. I’ve been through enough to know that I can’t settle for anything less than what I truly deserve.

If Ace wants this—wants me—he’s going to have to show it. He’ll need to break down those walls and prove that I’m not just another woman to use and discard. I won’t give in until I see that he’s ready to fight for us, just as I’ve been fighting for us in my own way.

The door opens, and Kit steps into the room. “Hey, guys! You’re on in ten,” she announces.

Alex jumps up immediately, rushing toward the door, and Kit greets him with a bright smile. Then she turns to Poppy.

“Is it okay if I bring Alex with me?” she asks.

I watch as Alex glances back at his mom, his eyes sparkling with hope. Poppy gives him a gentle nod and smiles. “Sure, go ahead. I’ll come out and grab him when I’m ready to watch the guys from the side.”

With that, Alex eagerly heads toward Kit, and they slip out together, shutting the door behind them.

Theo leans back on the couch, a cheeky grin spreading across his face. “I tell ya, that kids got everyone wrapped around his little finger. I might have to get him to spill the secret.”

Xander walks over. “The difference is, he’s cute. You’re... not,” he says, grinning.

Theo doesn’t skip a beat, his trademark smirk widening. “That’s not what you said in bed last night, babe. If I recall correctly, you were all over me.”

Xander rolls his eyes, taking a seat on the couch beside Theo, trying to keep a straight face.

Theo chuckles and gives Xander a playful nudge. “Hey, don’t be shy, babe. We both know the truth.”

"Fuck off," Xander mutters, but the hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth gives him away, undermining his fake irritation.

The night’s been a blast. The crowd’s energy was electric, spilling over into the merch signing. It’s such a relief to see the guys more relaxed now, enjoying themselves—Xander and Theo are laughing, tossing around their usual smart-ass comments. It feels good, especially knowing I was the one who stirred up all that tension between them before.

But Ace? He’s off tonight, and it’s not just me he’s distant with. Something is gnawing at him, a weight he can’t seem to shake. When Theo initiated their guitar challenge, Ace didn’t bring his usual intensity. He seemed different, almost distracted, and as a result, Theo ended up taking the win. Ever since we got back to the green room, Theo’s been riding that victory wave, boasting about it non-stop. Honestly, I’m starting to wish he’d just shut up.

As the night wraps up, a wave of relief settles over me, and I head for a drink. There’s something satisfying about finishing up early—it means getting back to the tour bus sooner, maybe even grabbing a few precious hours of uninterrupted sleep. I’mbeyond exhausted, having spent most of last night tossing and turning, replaying the moment Ace walked out of my room. This early end feels like the perfect chance to unwind and finally shut my mind off for a while.

As I pour myself a drink, I feel Ace close behind me. His presence is impossible to ignore, like a magnetic force pulling me in. As he reaches for his own drink, our arms brush—just a brief touch, but it sends a jolt through me, stirring up emotions I desperately want to bury.

I can feel his eyes on me, the weight of his gaze almost tangible. It’s as if he’s trying to pull me back to him without uttering a single word, and each second stretches into eternity.

Every instinct in me screams to turn around, to give in to the pull that seems to draw me toward him. It would be so easy to let go, to let myself get lost in him again. But I can’t. Even as my heart aches, I force myself to stay grounded, refusing to let him pull me under.

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