Page 153 of Forgotten Rules (Rules 4)

At first, he smiles.

But it’s only a second before his joy slips away.

“Who the fuck is that?” He shoves his phone into my face.

Our text conversation is pulled up on his screen. Not what I was going for.

“Are you serious? That’s all you have to say to me? You disappear for days and—”

“Is he here?” He tries to walk around me, but my palms dart to his chest, keeping him on Morgan’s porch.

“Will, stop!”

“Kass, if there’s a guy inside I swear on my life I’ll—”

“There isn’t.” I realize that’s a lie. “I mean, yeah, there is, but it’s not what you think.”

And he’s inside.

He whooshes to the living room before I can react.

“Is that him?” he snaps, going straight for Ethan sitting on the couch, minding his business for once in a blue moon.

“Stop! He’s just a friend,” I yell.

He pays me no mind, fisting Ethan’s collar and hauling him off the couch effortlessly.

“You think you can touch my girl?” Will rages inches away from Ethan’s face. “I’m going to fuck you up.”

Against all odds, Ethan smirks.

“Gladly. Your place or mine?”

Will’s face immediately pales.

“W-What?” I’ve never seen him this confused.

“Where are my manners? Hi, I’m Ethan, Kass’s friend and very much gay.”

I see the dots connect through Will’s blue eyes. I’ve told him about Ethan before.

“You mean… Ethan as in the guy you work with?” he asks.

I nod.

He releases Ethan instantly. “Shit, I’m sorry.”

While Ethan seems to find great humor in this moment, I could murder Will right now. He just attacked my friend—screw the whole story—after abandoning me without so much as a text.

“I can’t do this.” I huff, heading for the door. I don’t know where I’m going. Maybe I’ll go for a ride, drop by my house to authenticate my mom’s BS story about Winter.

“Kass, wait.” Will trails behind me.

“It was nice meeting you, Will.” Ethan calls seconds before we scamper out of the house. Will shadows me all the way to my car, grasping my hand to keep me from leaving.

“Kass, just wait a fucking second,” he begs.

“What the hell was that?” I snap. “You have some nerve, you know that? To show up at my friend’s house and make a scene when you’ve been ignoring me for days.”