Page 84 of Forgotten Rules (Rules 4)

“Bullshit.” I spring into his way, acting as a roadblock. “You could’ve just roughened him up a bit. It looked personal.”

“Are you serious? He tried to force himself on you. What else was I going to do? Let it happen again?”

Again?

Did I miss the first time?

“What do you think would’ve happened if I hadn’t been there, huh?” he continues. “You think he would’ve stopped at a kiss? You should be happy I showed up when I did.”

“Why did you even show up in the first place?” I ask.

“Doesn’t matter.” He aims for his car again.

“It does to me!” I slap my palms to his torso, desperate to slow him down. Only then does he stop, the quick rising of his chest dropping as he looks at me.

He avoids my gaze, his jaw tight as he admits, “You didn’t answer your phone. I got worried.”

My heart clenches in my chest.

Crap, stupid feelings are still there.

He has no idea how much harder he makes it for me when he says things like that.

“Thank you. I have no idea what I would’ve done if you hadn’t been there,” I say truthfully, and his features soften.

“I’ll always be there, Kass. You know I got your back,” he says, a whisper of emotion in his voice. It’s not just noise—he means it. The thought makes me want to hug the life out of him. “What happened? Why didn’t you pick up?”

“We were already on our way out when you called.”

“Next time you tell me what’s going on, you hear me?” he scolds. “No, you know what? Don’t allow next time to happen again. Period.”

I only want next time to be with you.

“I won’t,” I agree, watching his shoulders unwind.

The dust settles around us. Driving his hands deep into his pockets, he looks at me in silence.

“So…” He shifts from side to side.

“So…” I repeat.

“I’m going to

go.” He motions to his car, turning to leave.

The words slip out of my mouth.

“Or you could stay.”

He stops dead in his tracks. Then glances at me over his shoulder, debating.

“W-We could watch a movie or just… talk,” I stammer in a weak attempt to cover up the fact that I basically asked him to spend the night in my bed again.

He stares at me intently for long, dragging seconds.

“Okay.”

“Are you ready to tell me what really happened out there?” I shut my laptop and roll to my side to see Will half passed out next to me. The movie was crap, but we stuck it out. My guess is we preferred the shitty movie over acknowledging what happened earlier. We needed a second.