Someone moved in front of him, obstructing my view, so I closed my eyes and continued dancing. Eli had given me space tonight. We’d talked earlier, had a couple of drinks together, but I’d told him I wanted to dance with Sofia and he’d willingly let me go. But I’d felt him all night, watching me. His heated gaze following me around the party.And the drunker I got, the more I liked it.No one had ever looked at me like that before. Like they wanted me. Like I was the most beautiful girl in the room. It was a powerful thing. An addictive thing, and I wanted more… more… more.I ran my hands down my waist, swaying my body to the heavy beat. But when I opened my eyes again, it wasn’t Eli my gaze landed on, it was Aaron. He was sitting on one of the chairs around the firepit, sipping a beer, his injured arm still cradled to his body. His head snapped up as if he felt me, and our eyes collided, something inside me tightening.Why?Why was it like this?Why didn’t hearts have a self-preserva

“We’re friends.”“Yeah, okay. Just promise me you won’t wait for him.”“What do you mean?” My heart stuttered in my chest, a band of wild horses trampling inside of me.“He’s going to meet a girl, Pops. A girl who kisses guys the way I eat Twizzlers. Once he’s kissed a girl what do you think he’s gonna want to do?”“Why are you saying all this to me?” My chest tightened.“Because I love you and I don’t want to see you get hurt. Aaron is… he’s a good guy. And he loves you.”Her words sank into me, making me soar. Aaron loved me. I’d thought he did for a while. But hearing her say it was different. It was everything.She didn’t look happy about it though, and I should have known she was about to bring me back down to reality with a resounding thud.“But he’ll never see you that way, Poppy.”“What?” My stomach sank. “Why?”“Because you’re family. You’re too important. And it would complicate things.” “I…” I wanted to argue, but she was right.Aaron was loyal. He was kind and sweet and go

“That we all drank too much to drive home, but that we’re okay and we’ll be home in the morning.”He’d probably kick my ass for it, but it was better than him seeing Poppy like this.Sofia kicked off her sneakers and laid down next to Poppy. “Sleep, Pops,” she murmured, closing her eyes.I was hardly surprised when my sister’s breathing changed, indicating she was already asleep.Spotting a lamp on the bedside table, I went over and switched it on before turning off the main light. I needed a strong drink, or a cold fucking shower if the heat running through me was anything to go by.Get a fucking grip, Bennet.She was a beautiful girl. I’d have to be blind not to see it. But this innate need I had to protect Poppy was woven with years of friendship, that’s all it was. The same way I wanted to protect my sister. I cared about her because she was a huge part of my life.I needed to get out of here, and fast.“Aaron?”Keep walking. Just walk out of here and pretend you didn’t hear her.

Eli: How are you feeling?Me: Like something crawled into my stomach and died.Eli: Nice visual. So you won’t want to get dinner later? I was thinking burgers or pizza?My stomach grumbled and I rolled onto my back, staring at his message. I’d woken up in Aaron’s arms, and I’d liked it. I’d liked it so damn much. But then he’d acted as if nothing had happened. More than that, he’d scrambled out of bed as if waking up next to me was the worst thing to ever happen to him.When was I going to accept the truth?Aaron didn’t want me.I was his friend. The way that Cole was his friend or Ashleigh or his teammates. Sure, we’d had a special bond growing up but we were older now. Seniors. He had girls like Zara Willis offering it up on a platter to him.Of course he wouldn’t save himself for me.Me: What about a movie and popcorn?Eli: Sounds good. Pick you up at seven?Me: Great. I’ll be waiting. xoMaybe it was a bad idea seeing Eli again when I was confused about everything. But I needed to

Cole: Ninth grade. We haven’t done it since ninth grade.Me: I’m heading inside to get the tickets.Cole: What the hell are we going to see?Good question. I needed to find out what Poppy was watching. Hurrying down the street, I peered inside the tinted glass and found them paying for their tickets.Bingo.Me: The new James Grey film. Countdown to Zero. It’s a disaster movie.Cole: Fine. I’ll see you soon.Me: Thanks, I owe you.Pocketing my cell, I waited for Poppy and Eli to disappear beyond the doors leading to the screens and slipped inside.I’d hit a new low. Was I really about to follow Poppy while she was on a date?Yes, yes I was.I bought two tickets and waited for Cole to arrive. He entered the theater and shook his head.“Okay, what’s really going on?”“I don’t know what you’re talking about, I wanted to see the movie.”His eyes narrowed, sharp and assessing. “Seriously? You wandered into town and thought, ‘I want to see a movie.’” “Yep.” Liar.“I swear you get weirder eve