Page 54 of Forgotten Rules (Rules 4)

“Shut up.” I drop onto my bed with a groan. Will slides out from under my mattress and plops down next to me, trying so hard to muffle his laughter he’s nearly suffocating. “Keep laughing, and I’ll out you to my mom myself.”

He ignores me, his contagious laughter chipping away at my anger until I find humor where I first found embarrassment.

“Damn it. What’s with the most humiliating moments of my life all happening in the two minutes you’ve been here?” I nuzzle my face between my hands.

“Please,” he scoffs. “The fall doesn’t even come close to this.”

I remove my hands from my face with a laugh.

“I hate you,” I tell him.

My mouth said one thing.

My smile said another.

He stops laughing, flicks his head sideways, and searches my eyes for a lie. One I’m not quick enough to hide. Long seconds pass before he smiles and says,

“No, you don’t.”

And the worst part is, he’s right.

I don’t.

“Don’t be mad at her. She’s a good mom.” He rips his eyes away, letting the tension taper off. His voice is a bit strained from laughing too hard. “Everything she said is true. I hope you’ll follow her advice.”

Is he trying to tell me something?

“With Luke, I mean.”

Oh.

“You guys are still on for tomorrow?” he asks.

“Yep.” I draw a sigh. “Although I’ve been trying to think of an excuse to bail.”

“Come on, don’t do the poor dude like that. Just give him a chance. I’m sure he’s the kind of guy to…” He takes on a high-pitched voice, impersonating my mother. “Give a woman as much pleasure as she gives him.”

I swat him in the arm.

Again, thanks, Mom.

“Yeah, well, he would be the first,” I mutter to myself, only realizing what I’ve just said when Will’s face falls.

“Wait…” His eyes grow. “Have you never…”

Why on earth did I have to say that?

“Like never? Not even by yourself? You’ve never c—”

“I know how to take care of myself, if that’s what you’re asking.” My face heats up to a thousand degrees. “It’s just Blake was never really…”

“Satisfying?” he finishes.

“Caring,” I revise. “He only cared about himself. I don’t think he ever even tried.”

“You’re fucking with me.”

My silence answers him.