Page 30 of Rulebreaker

“Lily?” Flo stands next to me, smiling down at the flowers before us. “You okay, sugar?”

“I’m just thinking,” I admitsoftly.

“About life, love, and the pursuit of big dicks?” Desi teases.

I snort. “Something like that.”

“You’ve had a lot of guys chase you before, but this one seems…intense.”

“You have no idea.”

“So you’re going to kick him to the curb?” Flo shakes her head. “I really don’t understand you sometimes.”

“I don’t understand me either. I just don’t know how I would add a man to…this.” I motion all around us. “My life is nonstop, and so is his. We’re both busy. We’re both successful. We both have responsibilities and obligations. I don’t know how we would manage a relationship within the confines of everything else we do.”

“Seems to me you make time for things that are important,” Flo says.

“And the people,” Desi adds. “I mean, if you don’t really like him and it was a one-off, that’s cool. Seriously, you don’t owe anyone shit. But from where I’m sitting, there’s something different about this guy.”

“What makes you say that?” I ask curiously.

“The way you react to him. Your body language just as we talk about him… and how torn you are. I can see it written all over your face–you want to call him. Youwantmore. Why are you fighting it?”

I close my eyes for a moment and breathe deeply. “I don’t know.”

“Maybe you need to think about that. Life’s too short to let a good one get away.”

“But I don’t know if he’s a good one,” I whisper. “Not really.”

Except I do.

I know it with every fiber of my being.

Atlasisone ofthe good ones.

The only question is whether or not I deserve a good guy like him. Not with my baggage. And that pesky wedding ring. How would I even explain the situation with my much-older husband?

“How else will you find out if you don’t spend some time with him?” Desi asks.

“Look, you can tell me to shut the hell up but–” Flo begins.

“Like anyone can ever shut you up,” Desi says dryly.

Flo playfully lifts her middle finger in Desi’s direction. “No one’s talking to you, missy.” She turns back to me. “Anyway, I know I should probably keep my opinions about your personal life to myself, but you’ve been alone too long. I don’t know who or what in your past broke your love bone–and you don’t have to tell me–I think you need to tell someone, though. A therapist, one of your friends…maybe even your zillionaire new admirer. This whole lone wolf thing? You deserve better. Take that from someone who’s got fifteen years on you.”

“Now why’d you go and do that?” I mumble. “Getting all philosophical and shit.”

“Someone had to.” She shrugs.

I smile because I appreciate them.

More than they probably know.

But this isn’t the time or place to have this kind of conversation.

“You guys want to share my two-hundred-and-fifty-dollar piece of chocolate?” I ask instead.

Flo’s mouth falls open. “You’re shittin’ me. Two-fifty for one piece of chocolate?"