Chapter 26

Everyone who was anyone, came out to Fred and Valyn’s Fourth of July party. It was the biggest party of the summer. Viva was there and of course Anchor.

Anchor had become so much more comfortable with Madden.

“This party is insane,” Viva said, running by with about 10 sparklers lit.

“It really is. I’m just glad I’m here with my best friend and you,” Anchor said, nuzzling close to Madden.

“Me too!” Madden said, rubbing her shoulder a few times as he pulled her closer.

Poppi did everything in her power not to be jealous, but she was failing. She watched the fireworks instead of paying attention to Madden and Anchor.

She was doing well to avoid them until Madden pulled out a gift for Anchor. It was a small box that held two beautiful sapphire earrings.

“Happy one month babe,” Madden said, handing Anchor the box.

Anchor lunged forward and kissed him right there in front of everyone. And that is what broke Poppi inside.

She had longed for his lips to touch hers, and now here he was kissing her best. Poppi needed an escape. She needed somewhere to go that wasn’t here with Madden and Anchor.

“Hey guys I’m going I head to the terrace for a moment and view the fireworks up there,” Poppi said, excusing herself.

The crack of fireworks rolled across the sky, bright bursts of color painting everything in fleeting gold and crimson. Inside, the party roared—music, laughter, voices overlapping—but out on the terrace, it felt like the world had narrowed to something smaller. Quieter. More dangerous.

Poppi gripped the railing, her knuckles pale, her pulse unsteady. She told herself she needed air. Space. Distance.

But even alone, she couldn’t outrun him.

The screen door creaked.

Her breath hitched.

“Madden, don’t,” she said softly, eyes still fixed on the dark horizon, even as every nerve in her body lit up at his presence behind her.

“Just a second,” he said, voice low, rougher than usual. Closer than she expected. “That’s all I’m asking.”

She exhaled slowly, like she could steady herself if she tried hard enough. “We already talked about this.”

“I know.” His voice came nearer, footsteps quiet but deliberate. “I know what we said. But it seems that every time I try to take a step towards Anchor, you pull me back in towards you.”

“Then why are you out here?”

“Because you are.”

That did it.

She turned.

The space between them was already too small.

Firelight flickered across his face, catching in his eyes—too intense, too focused. Like he’d been holding something back all night and finally ran out of strength to keep it in.

“You shouldn’t be here,” she said, but it came out softer than she intended.

“Neither should you,” he replied.

Her breath trembled at the words.

For a second, neither of them moved. The music thumped faintly through the walls, the sky exploded again in color—but here, in this small pocket of night, everything stretched tight.

“You’re with Anchor,” she said, trying to anchor herself to something real.

His jaw tightened. “Yeah. Like you wanted me to be Poppi.”

“Then go back inside.”

“I can’t.”

Her heart stuttered. “You can’t or you won’t?”

His gaze dropped to her lips, slow, unguarded. “I won’t.”

The air shifted.

Poppi felt it—felt the way the distance between them didn’t feel like enough anymore. Felt the way her body leaned forward before her mind could stop it.

“This is exactly what we said we wouldn’t do,” she whispered.

“I know,” he said, just as quietly. “But tell me you don’t feel it.”

“I don’t,” she said quickly.

Too quickly.

His eyes lifted back to hers, searching. He stepped towards her. Closing in the distance to merely nothing. “Say it again.”