Page 13 of The Rule Breaker (Colton U Playbook #1)

RYAN

I n one ear and straight out the other.

That’s what Austin’s conversation is doing right now because while he’s rambling about—hell, I don’t even know anymore—I’m too busy watching the door.

Ever since Nathan mentioned his sister was coming tonight, my mind’s been running circles around the thought of seeing her again.

Haven’t seen her since that party at my place.

Since that night we got a little too close, a little too reckless.

And fuck, I must have a death wish because all I can think about is doing it again.

Talking to her is fun, flirting is even more fun, and playing with fire when I know I should be ten feet away from her at all times? A dangerous kind of fun.

I take a slow sip of my beer, barely tasting it as the door swings open, hoping it’s Isabella.

I want to talk to her. Flirt with her. Make her laugh. Wanna kiss her.

Fuck. No. Bad idea.

Friends. Just fucking friends.

I take another sip of beer, forcing myself to focus on the cold bitterness sliding down my throat. It doesn’t help. She’s the first girl in months I’ve even been remotely interested in, and of course, she’s the one I can’t have.

Off-limits. Forbidden.

Nathan would break my jaw if I even thought about touching his little sister. Coach, too.

Kinda hot when you think about it.

Also fucking dangerous.

Austin’s laugh snaps me out of my thoughts, and I blink back at him, realizing he’s watching me with an arched brow.

“Reed, what the hell are you looking at?”

Shit . I shake my head, playing it off. “Huh?”

“You’ve been zoned the hell out,” he says, smirking. “Thinking about your next hook-up?”

I almost scoff, but I just shake my head. “Yeah, something like that.”

Austin chuckles. “What happened to that girl from the other night? Date went well, I assume?” He wags his brows.

Right. The date I never went on. Because, apparently, I’m an idiot who’d rather fixate on the one girl I can’t have and risk my friendship—and my spot on the hockey team—than go out with any other girl.

“Didn’t work out,” I say, hoping he lets it drop.

“Why not?” Logan chimes in, brows knitting together. “Weird fetish?”

My forehead creases. “What?”

“Feet? Daddy kink?”

“What? No, you idiot.” I laugh, shaking my head. “Just wasn’t feeling it.”

Austin snorts. “You overthink shit too much. She was into you.”

“Wasn’t into her,” I reply with a shrug.

Logan scoffs. “That’s the lamest excuse I’ve ever heard. You need to get back out there, man. Shake off the cobwebs.”

Before I can respond, the door swings open.

Of course, my head snaps toward it, and just like that, every thought except her vanishes.

Wild curls that look way too soft not to touch. Big brown eyes that look like they belong in an animated movie.

Isabella walks in, laughing at something her roommate says, cheeks flushed from the cold. Fuck, she looks good. Too good.

And then she sees me.

Her step falters for half a second, but then her lips curl into a slow, pretty as fuck smile.

Wanna kiss it.

Fuck, Ryan. For the last time. Just fucking frien— ah, fuck it.

There’s no point in denying it anymore. Nathan can’t hear my thoughts.

I want to kiss the hell out of her. Want to slide my hands around her waist, pull her flush against me, tuck one of those curls behind her ear, and kiss the ever-loving crap out of her.

What would she do if I did it? If I just?—

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

The words snap through the air, sharp enough to cut, and my head jerks toward the voice.

Cole.

His entire body is rigid, jaw locked, eyes locked on Isabella’s roommate. His fists are clenched, chest rising and falling a little too fast.

I blink. The fuck?

His whole body is humming with tension, hands clenched at his sides.

Her roommate doesn’t even flinch. Doesn’t react at all, actually. Just lifts a brow, plants a hand on her hip, and tilts her head. “Didn’t realize you owned this bar.”

Cole’s nostrils flare. “You know what I mean, Viper. What the fuck are you doing in Colton?”

She lets out a slow breath. “Getting a degree. Can you say the same?”

Cole’s fingers twitch. His whole body coiled as he grinds his teeth together. “Why here ?”

She shrugs. “Because I want to. My decision has nothing to do with you.”

Cole’s glare darkens, his voice sharp enough to cut. “You don’t fucking belong here.” He steps in closer, shoulders squared. “Why don’t you run back to your boyfriend and get the fuck out of here?”

Her eyes narrow, lips pressing into a thin line. “Bite me.”

Cole’s jaw clenches, his gaze intense as his lips curl. “You’re not my type.”

“Tragic,” she mutters, rolling her eyes before grabbing Isabella’s arm. “Come on. I need a drink—and to get away from this asshole.”

“Feeling’s fucking mutual, Viper,” Cole throws back.

They head toward the bar, and every single person at our table turns to Cole.

He ignores it. Just downs the rest of his beer in one long pull, like it might drown out whatever the hell that was. His jaw is locked so tight I half expect his teeth to crack.

Nathan leans back against the booth, arms crossed. “What the hell was that about?”

Cole drags a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “Nothing.”

Nathan snorts. “Didn’t seem like nothing.”

Cole’s glare snaps to him. “You wanna piss me off today?”

Nathan lifts his hands in surrender, but his brow furrows. “Just asking. She seemed nice enough when I met her the other day.”

Cole lets out a low, humorless laugh. “Yeah, well, you don’t fucking know her.” His eyes flick toward the bar before he shoves himself up from the booth. “I’m hitting the can. Need a fucking minute.”

He stalks off, shoulders tense as he heads to the bathroom.

Austin waits a beat before leaning in, lowering his voice. “Psst. What do you think that was about?”

I shake my head. “No clue.”

My gaze shifts back to the bar just in time to see Isabella’s friend walking toward the bathroom.

Kinda interested in what the hell will happen when those two cross paths.

But not as interested as the girl sitting at the bar, alone, twirling a straw in her drink, her curls bouncing as she laughs at something the bartender says.

The girl I really want to be paying attention to.

I swallow down the rest of my drink and slide out of the booth. “Gonna get another. Anyone want anything?”

Nathan shakes his head. “Nah. I need a clear head for tomorrow.”

“Another vodka on the rocks, and I’ll owe you my life,” Austin says, blowing me a kiss.

Logan lifts his half-full beer. “I’m good.”

I nod and head toward the bar. The closer I get, the harder it is to fight back the grin stretching across my face.

Isabella’s sitting there, still twirling her straw, lips slightly pursed, deep in thought.

I slide onto the stool beside her. “Beer and a vodka on the rocks,” I tell the bartender, slapping a twenty on the counter.

Then I nudge her shoulder, just enough to get her attention. “Glad you came out tonight.”

She glances at me, amusement flickering in her big brown eyes. “My brother invited me. Though I’m starting to doubt whether it was a good idea or not.”

I frown. “Why’s that?”

She exhales, her gaze dipping to her drink. “Because whenever we’re in a room together, he sucks up all the air, and I feel like I can’t breathe. People only ever see me as his sister, like I’m an extension of him, not my own person.”

Her words hit a little too close to home. My brows shoot up. “Yeah… I know what you mean.”

She scoffs softly, shaking her head. “I don’t think you do. Guys are too scared to even come near me.”

I tilt my head at her, fighting a smirk. “I don’t know. I’d say we’re pretty close right now, and I’m not scared.”

She lets out a cute little laugh, the kind that sounds like warm honey and arches a brow at me. “You bolted the second you found out I was his sister.”

I groan, running a hand through my hair. “Alright, that’s fair. But Nathan is my best friend. It’s a respect thing. There are rules when it comes to the bro code.”

She nods, swirling her drink. “I know. I just wish other guys didn’t care about who my brother was,” she admits with a sigh. “Getting a rebound is harder than I thought.”

My body stiffens. My eyes widen. The fuck?

Hers do too, and she slaps a hand over her mouth. “I can’t believe I just admitted that.”

I let out a low chuckle, though my brain is stuck on one word. Rebound? She wants a fucking rebound?

“No, it’s fine. Not a big deal.”

She narrows her eyes at me. “Then why’d your eyes nearly pop out of your skull?”

I shrug, shaking my head. “Just a little surprising. I mean…”

My gaze drifts down her body before I can stop myself. The tight white T-shirt clings to her chest; a leather jacket draped is over her shoulders. And that skirt—the skimpiest, hottest black skirt I’ve ever fucking seen—has my mouth going dry.

I swallow, leaning in slightly. “You have to know how hot you are.”

Her lips twitch like she’s fighting a smirk. “Did you just check me out?”

I let out a laugh, running a hand through my hair. “Sure fucking did. Impossible not to, Curls.”

She arches a brow. “Thought we were friends.”

Right. Yeah. Friends.

“We are,” I say with a shrug, even though every bone in my body wants to disagree. Because I like her, like being friends with her, but I also want to do some very non-friendly things to her. “Which is why—as a friend—I’m calling bullshit.”

Her brows pull together. “Bullshit?”

“On your whole rebound situation.” I lean against the bar, watching her. “No way in hell you can’t find someone who wants to sleep with you.”

She clicks her tongue, shaking her head, those curls bouncing around her face. “I think you have more faith in me than I do.”

I scoff, arching a brow. “There’s at least ten guys in this bar who would love to strip that skirt off you.” Me included . “And you wouldn’t even have to open your mouth to make that happen.”

She scoffs. “I mean, I’m sure I’d have to open my mouth at some point,” she quips, eyes twinkling.

Fuck.