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Yeah, Jon was going to marry her, and no one would tell him otherwise

Jon: Eighteen years old

“Dude, if you don’t quit staring at her, she’s going to think you’re a freak”

“Shut up” Jon didn’t pay attention to Zack or Mike as they continued to give him shit In all honesty, Jon didn’t care what anyone said He loved Poppy, and sooner or later, she’d come to realize she loved him too

He couldn’t have iined all the shy looks she cast his way, or the way her arainst his He had known her for thirteen years, and he kneithout a doubt she was the girl he would spend the rest of his life with

Jon couldn’t remember exactly when that one, perfect moment of realization had occurred, but the wheels had been set in motion the moment his seven-year-old lips touched hers underneath the mistletoe

“Why don’t you just quit being a douchebag and ask her out already?” Zack nudged him in the shoulder, and he pushed him away

“If you don’t, I will” Mike went to stand, but Jon pulled him down and stood

“Try it, and I’ll kick your ass”

Mike and Zack laughed, but they knew Jon wasn’t joking He may not have asked Poppy out on a date, but he spent a hell of a lot of tiood friends

Gathering his courage, Jon took the ten or so steps until he stood behind Poppy The bikini she wore had parts of his body threatening to come to attention if he didn’t keep himself in check

For several minutes, all he could do was stand there and stare at the slender slope of her shoulders Her skin looked so daers into his pal her Poppy spoke to her friends, but he couldn’t focus on their conversation, not when the scent of sunblock and baby powder surrounded her and did crazy things to his head

The conversation around her suddenly stopped until all he could hear was the erratic pounding of his pulse in his ears She looked over her shoulder, and his blood coursed through his veins as adrenalin and testosterone filled his system

There were probably close to seventy-five people at his graduation party, but only one person held his attention She turned around to face him, and he was struck by her beauty His friends and family were in the pool, and splashes of water covered them It took all his willpower not to watch those droplets of water cascade down her body

“Hey, Jon” Her s him to his knees

Bright, clear blue eyes regarded him, and he realized he hadn’t responded “Hey” He sounded nervous Hell

“Cool graduation party” She brought her drink to herbehind her, and Poppy cut them a dirty look When she turned back to Jon, her cheeks were pink