Page 10 of The Rule Breaker (Colton U Playbook #1)
ISABELLA
I thought taking ceramics as an elective would be cool and kinda fun. After all, I’ve been making random clay stuff every summer since I was fifteen—bowls, mugs, whatever I could shape with my hands. Sure, some of it had holes, leaked, or cracked, but it was fun.
Turns out, though, taking an actual pottery class is a whole different ball game. The sculpture I made today? Definitely… abstract. Maybe post-modern, if you squint hard enough and pretend you don’t know what it’s supposed to be.
By the time I get to my dorm, I’m itching to rip off my clay-covered jeans and hit the showers. Then maybe I’ll curl up in bed, eat some junk food, and binge-watch a cheesy TV show.
I twist the door handle, pushing it open, and find Aurora lying on her bed, with her phone to her ear. Probably talking to her boyfriend again—they’re always on the phone.
My mind drifts to Jacob, and for a second, I wonder if this would’ve been my life every night if we’d tried long distance.
Would I be lying here, wondering where he was when I hung up, or who he was with, or what he was doing?
The thought sinks like a rock in my chest, and I shake it off as I kick my shoes off.
Maybe Jacob was right to break things off.
“Hey,” Aurora mouths, flashing a quick smile before her eyes drift down to my jeans—now destroyed with clay. She chuckles. “Nice look.”
I roll my eyes and head for the mini fridge, grabbing a Coke, and cracking it open before taking a long, refreshing sip.
“No one, just my roommate,” Aurora says to her boyfriend as she lays back on her bed, twirling a strand of her hair.
I peel off my jacket and catch a glimpse of my clay-covered t-shirt and jeans in the mirror. Ugh. These stains are never coming out.
“Izzy, open the fucking door.”
My brows furrow at the sound of my brother’s voice, before heading toward the door and swinging it open.
My brother stands there, drenched in sweat, his face beet red and a vein bulging from his forehead like he’s about to pop. “Holy shit,” he grunts, dropping two massive cardboard boxes onto the floor with a heavy thud, wiping his forehead with the back of his hand. “How much shit do you need?”
I can’t help but laugh and shake my head. “Didn’t you tell me you weren’t gonna bring this stuff up for me?”
Ryan steps into view just behind him, lugging two more boxes. He drops them with a groan, glancing up at me with wide eyes. “These boxes are fucking heavy. What the hell do you have in here? Rocks?”
I snicker, eyeing the two of them. “You’d think with all that hockey practice, your muscles would actually be useful.” Nathan and Ryan shoot me simultaneous glares, and I can’t help but chuckle. “Just kidding. Thanks for hauling all this up for me.”
Nathan rolls his eyes dramatically. “I wasn’t gonna help, but then Mom guilted me into it.” He gives an exaggerated sigh. “Something about looking after my baby sister, and being a good brother… blah, blah, blah.”
I roll my eyes. “Love you too.”
“Yeah, whatever. You owe me,” he says, then gestures to the boxes. “Where do you want these?”
“Just leave them by my bed,” I tell him, glancing at the mess I’ll deal with later. “I’ll sort it out when I get a chance.”
He nods, lifting one of the boxes before squeezing past me, and I step out into the hallway to give him room. As I do, I almost stumble straight into Ryan. His hands catch me just in time, before I can crash into him.
“Shit. Sorry,” I mumble, taking a step back.
“Don’t sweat it,” Ryan chuckles, his eyes flicking down to me with a teasing smile. “Not the first time you’ve bumped into me.” His gaze trails down my clothes, brow quirking as he takes in the sight.
“I just came back from pottery class,” I explain, motioning to my jeans, which are covered in what looks like a toddler’s abstract art project. “Hence the disaster.”
Ryan blinks, his eyes widening in surprise. “You do pottery? That’s so frickin’ cool. I can’t even draw stick figures.”
I laugh, tucking a curl behind my ear. “Debatable. Honestly, it’s stressing me out way more than I expected, which totally defeats the point of doing it in the first place.”
He shrugs, running a hand through his hair, and for some reason, I feel my stomach do this weird flip. God , why is that so hot? “Still cool.” His lips twitch into a grin, and his eyes sweep over me again. “I’m kinda picturing you behind the pottery wheel now… your hands all covered in clay…”
I snort, shaking my head. “It’s not as pretty as it sounds.”
He clicks his tongue and tilts his head. “Somehow, I don’t believe you.”
I feel that nervous-flutter thing again, right in my chest. I clear my throat, trying to change the subject before I make a bigger fool of myself. “Are you nervous about the game on Friday?”
A sigh leaves his lips before he smirks, shaking his head. “Nah, we got this.” He gives me a cocky grin. “Your dad busts my balls on the ice to make sure I don’t slip up.”
My face scrunches up. “Yeah, I really don’t wanna hear about my dad and your balls,” I joke, trying to hide my smirk.
Ryan laughs, tipping his head back, and I feel a shiver run down my spine. He has such a nice laugh.
He chuckles, pursing his lips. “You coming to the celebration party?”
I let out a scoff, arching a brow. “You’re that confident you’ll win?”
He shrugs, that smug smirk playing at the corners of his lips. It makes my knees feel a little weaker. “Confidence is attractive. Or so I’ve heard.”
My lips twitch, my stomach flipping. “Are you flirting with me?”
Ryan studies me for a few seconds, long enough that I start to memorize every detail of his gaze.
Then he tuts, shaking his head, as he steps closer.
His cologne fills the space between us, and it’s like everything around me fades.
“ Baby , if I was flirting, you’d know. You wouldn’t even have to ask. ”
I suck in a sharp breath at the nickname and his gaze drops to my lips, his grin widening. Yeah, he’s definitely flirting. And I’m definitely enjoying it.
“Ryan!”
The sound of my brother’s voice snaps me back to reality. Ryan takes a step back, facing Nathan as he nods toward the hallway. “Bring the rest of the boxes.”
“Better go help your brother.” Ryan glances at me before lifting one of the boxes, the corner of his mouth tugging up into a teasing smirk. “All these purple throw pillows won’t unpack themselves.”
I roll my eyes. “I like purple. Sue me.”
He chuckles, his eyes locked on mine. “Didn’t say it was a bad thing. It’s kinda cute.”
My cheeks warm before I can stop them.
He carries the box inside and drops it beside my bed just as Nathan reappears at the door. His brows furrow when he sees me standing there, and he flicks me on the forehead. “You look like shit,” he says bluntly. “Go take a shower.”
Heat rushes to my face as I rub my forehead, glancing at Ryan—who’s failing miserably at suppressing his grin.
Nathan pats Ryan on the back. “Come on, man. You’re gonna be late for your date.”
My stomach drops at the same time Ryan’s eyes flick to mine, a hint of something similar to guilt in his eyes.
I swallow. “You have a date?”
Ryan rubs the back of his neck. “Uh… yeah. Met this girl at the bar last night, and… yeah.”
“Oh.” I nod, forcing a smile that feels more like biting down on broken glass. “That sounds… great. Have fun.”
Ryan nods, flashing me a small, half-hearted smile before following Nathan out of the room. I just stand there, blinking like an idiot.
I close the door, maneuver around the boxes, and flop onto the bed, burying my face in my hands with a long, agonized groan.
Aurora’s voice drifts in from across the room. “What’s with the dramatics?”
I groan again, dragging my hands down my face, scowling at her. “Why are brothers such assholes?”
Aurora laughs, tucking one leg under her as she settles beside me on the bed. “Probably a genetic defect. What happened?”
I hesitate for a second, then blow out a breath. “I think I like his friend.”
Aurora’s eyes practically sparkle, and her grin widens. “I knew it. And why is that a problem?” She cocks her head. “He’s a good choice. Tall, hot.” She nods, humming. “I approve.”
I chuckle, swinging my legs off the bed to sit up. “As much as I appreciate your approval, my brother won’t feel the same.”
She shrugs, rolling her eyes. “Who cares? You’re not a kid.”
“I wish it were that simple,” I mutter, shaking my head. “He still sees me as someone he needs to protect. And besides, I don’t date hockey players. And Ryan doesn’t date at all.”
Aurora waves me off. “The last thing you need right now is a relationship. You’ve been in one since you were—what, ten?”
“Seventeen,” I correct, rolling my eyes.
“Same thing.” She leans in with a smirk. “You need to let go and have some fun. Whether it’s with Ryan or someone else, you need a good rebound to make you forget about your ex.” She shoots me a wink. “Hop on and enjoy the ride.”
I laugh, grabbing a fluffy pillow and chucking it at her. She’s half-joking. But also… she’s right.