Page 160 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

Poppy

Tears stungmy eyes as I stormed toward Deacon’s house. I needed to get out of here. I needed—

“Poppy?”

I swung around to find Eli standing there.

“What happened?”

“I…” A big sob tore through me.

“Come on.” He grabbed my hand and led me through the house.

“Get some Hannigan,” someone wolf-whistled as he guided me upstairs. I couldn’t stop crying, the sight of Aaron sitting there half-naked, covered in her kisses branded on my mind.

Eli checked a couple of rooms before pulling me inside one. “Come here.” He pulled me into his arms and ran his hands up and down my back. “What the hell happened? Do you want me to get Sofia?”

“N-no, I… I just need a minute.”

His hands slipped to my shoulders and he held me at arm’s length, concern pinching his brows. “Poppy—”

“He slept with her, Eli. He had sex with Zara. Oh God, I think I’m going to puke.”

“What? That doesn’t make any sense. I thought—”

“It was horrible. I saw her come out of the pool house and she was saying all this stuff and then I went in there and he was… I’m an idiot. She was his date… he chose her, and I—”

“Poppy, breathe.” He smoothed his hands down my arms. “Just take a breath.”

“Sorry, I’m a mess.”

“You’re not. You’re hurt.”

“I just… I thought… It doesn’t matter.” I pulled away, drying my eyes with the back of my hand, sucking in a lungful of air.

“I’ll get Sofia—”

“No, don’t. I… What’s wrong with me, Eli?”

He reared back. “What the hell do you mean?”

“Why doesn’t he want me?” I held myself together, inhaling shuddering breath after shuddering breath.

“That’s not a question I can answer, Poppy. I thought…” His expression hardened. “It’s his loss. You’re so fucking beautiful, Poppy. And funny and kind—”

“I’m not. I’m a horrible person. I was dating you when I… I wanted him.”

“Poppy, I—”

I flung myself at him, burying my face into his neck. “I’m sorry, don’t hate me. Please, don’t hate me.”

“God, Poppy.” He hugged me tight. “I could never hate you. You’re everything I thought I wanted. I—”

Before I knew what was happening my lips were on his skin. Sliding against his throat.

“Poppy, I don’t think—”

I cupped the back of his neck, lifting my face to his. It was a bad idea, the worst. But Aaron had shattered something inside and I needed to feel wanted. I needed to know that it wasn’t me—that it wasn’t something about me that made him choose Zara.

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