Page 173 of Broken Ties (Rixon High 4)

“Poppy, I swear to God… I’ll choose Aaron. If I have to pick a side, I’ll pick him.”

“You wouldn’t!”

“I so would, try me.”

Our laughter subsided and I asked, “How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.” There was a defensive edge to her words.

“Sofia, you fainted again.”

“I know. But I’m fine.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.” She let out a strained breath. “Go down there and talk to him please. He’s a guy. They struggle with making the first move.”

“Fine. You’re right. I’ll go and talk to him.”

“Good, and Poppy?”

“Yeah, Sofe?”

“Give him hell.”

But when I got downstairs, there was no sign of him.

Aaron was gone.

“Oh, hey, sweetheart,” Dad said as if he hadn’t just been talking to the boy who’d broken my heart time and time again. “I’m just about to make a snack. You want something?”

My brows furrowed. “Was Aaron just here?”

“He stopped by, yes.”

“Oh.” Dejection swam in my veins. “He didn’t want to speak to me?”

Dad gave a little half-shrug. “He didn’t mention it, no.”

“Dad…”

“Yeah, sweetheart?”

“Why are you acting so weird?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Liar.

I slid onto a stool and tapped my fingers on the counter. “So what did the two of you talk about?”

“Coach and player stuff. You wouldn’t find it interesting.”

“I know what you’re doing,” I said.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not—”

“So you’re telling me he came here, to our house, and he really didn’t ask about me?”

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