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“I promise.”
“I Googled it.”
“You Googled it?” I deadpanned.
“I mean it’s public knowledge, so it isn’t really snooping.”
She had a point.
“What did you find out?”
“When they were in senior year, the rivalry week pranks got out of control… I found a report that said Kaiden’s dad was kicked off the team and he lost his scholarship to college after things between him and Dad turned bad.”
“You’re kidding?”
Poppy shook her head. “Aunt Hailee’s name was in the report.”
“Oh my God, no wonder Dad was worried about Kaiden joining the team.”
Dread snaked through me as I remembered what it had felt like kissing him. I’d definitely made the right decision not telling her. Besides, it wasn’t like it was going to happen again.
Silence settled over us and Poppy slipped her hand down to mine and squeezed. “I’ll always have your back, Lilster. You know that, right?”
“I know,” I swallowed over the ball of emotion in my throat.
“You can alwaysalwayscome to me, with anything. The same goes for Peyton and Ashleigh. You’re not alone, Lil. I hope you know that.”
“I do.”
I did.
But I still didn’t tell her the truth about Kaiden because some things were better left unsaid. Poppy meant well, but it was easier to pretend that everything was fine.
Than admit that maybe it wasn’t.
* * *
Monday morning at school,butterflies fluttered wildly in my stomach as I climbed out of Ashleigh’s car. The second I spotted Kaiden across the parking lot, I knew why.
I’d tried to forget the kiss, but how did you forget your first kiss?
The answer was, you didn’t.
I could still remember the shape of his lips against mine, their firm yet soft touch. Still taste the bitterness of beer on his breath. Feel the wetness of his tongue against mine.
So much so, that when his eyes found mine across the sea of cars, heat exploded into my cheeks.
“Lil, what’s wrong?” Ashleigh asked and my head snapped around to hers.
“Nothing.” I forced a smile, gently tugging on the frayed ends of my scarf. Her eyes dropped to my fingers tangled in the threads.
“Lil?”
“I’m good.” My smile was strained as I peeked back over at Kaiden.
I couldn’t imagine him like the boy Poppy described. He’d been so patient with me Friday night, so kind.
After we’d returned to the firepit, we hadn’t spoken again, but I’d caught him watching me. Like he was right now.
