Page 48 of The Rule Breaker (Colton U Playbook #1)

ISABELLA

I ’ve gotten way too used to the smell of grease and beer. I guess that’s what coming to the bar almost every week does to you. I slip inside alone, the blast of warmth hitting my skin as I scan the room.

Aurora’s over at Westbrook visiting her boyfriend for the weekend, and the second I walked into my empty dorm, the quiet started creeping under my skin.

I needed noise. Something that felt alive.

I weave my way through the crowd, stopping when I see him, but he doesn’t see me.

Ryan’s posted up at the bar, leaning back on his stool with one foot hooked around the leg, nursing a beer.

His hair’s a little messy, and his white T-shirt stretches over the shoulders I know too well.

The rest of the team is here too, spread across a long table littered with half-finished drinks and empty baskets of fries.

My phone buzzes before I even make it to the bar, and I read the texts Ryan sent before I left.

Ryan:

What are you wearing?

Me:

Wouldn’t you like to know.

Ryan:

I would actually. Send me a pic and maybe I’ll behave tonight.

Me:

You never behave.

Ryan:

Exactly. So pic, baby. I’m hard already thinking about it.

I roll my eyes, biting back a grin as I step up beside him. He glances over, his eyes widening at the sight of me before they drag down the length of me.

“Fuck, this is so much better than a picture,” he murmurs, his voice rough.

I breathe out a laugh as I slip onto the stool beside him.

“I didn’t know you were coming tonight,” he says as he turns his body to face me.

I shrug. “I didn’t want to stay in my room all alone,” I admit, meeting his eyes. “Besides, I wanted to see you.”

It’s dangerous, I know. We’re surrounded by the team—including my brother—but sneaking around is hard.

Ryan should glance away, put some distance between us. But his thigh bumps mine as he turns slightly, and the way his fingers brush against my wrist makes my pulse jump. We don’t touch in public. Not really. Not when Nathan’s in the room.

“I always want to see you,” Ryan whispers, his lips curling into a smile, those brown eyes of his that I love twinkling.

We break apart at the sound of a throat clearing and I glance to my side, seeing Cole slap a hand on the bar, to garner the bartender’s attention.

His eyes flick to me the second he feels my stare.

“You came alone tonight?” he asks, his brow arched.

I’ve never really spoken to Cole before, don’t really know much about him, other than that he fights a lot and Aurora hates him… and that—based on his timely throat clearing—he knows about me and Ryan.

I nod. “Yeah, Aurora’s visiting her boyfriend this weekend.”

A bitter laugh rattles out of him. He takes a sip of his beer and mutters a low, “Good,” before heading back to the table.

Ryan snorts quietly beside me. “What’s the deal with them? Has Aurora told you anything?”

“Not a thing,” I reply with a shake of my head.

Ryan tips his beer toward his lips, and I flag the bartender for a drink, but before it even hits the bar, I hear the familiar echo of a few voices that make my stomach twist.

I turn around, spotting the guys from my Sports Management class entering together.

They stroll in, laughing loudly as they sit at a table. They don’t see me, and I thank the lord for that, because I know what happens when they do. The backhanded comments. The smug looks. The not-so-subtle reminders that I don’t belong in their little boys’ club.

Ryan’s hand tightens on mine, breaking me out of my thoughts, and I glance at him.

“You good?” he asks, his brows tugging together.

“Yeah,” I lie, swallowing harshly.

His brow lifts, noting something’s off, and shakes his head. “Try again.”

I exhale through my nose, squeezing my eyes closed. “The guys from class are here,” I tell him, seeing his jaw tighten. He knows exactly who I’m talking about.

He doesn’t say anything—just sets his beer down and moves.

I grab his wrist. “Ryan?—”

He turns back to me, and the muscle in his jaw ticks. “Stay here.”

He walks straight to their table and flips a chair around, straddling it backwards, his forearms resting on the top.

I hop off my stool and head closer, trying to listen.

“Oh shit,” one of them laughs nervously. “Reed, what’s up, man?”

Ryan doesn’t smile. Doesn’t blink. “I don’t give a fuck what you’re about to say.”

They blink, taken aback, but before any of them can reply, Ryan cuts them off.

“I just want to know which one of you disrespected my girlfriend.”

They exchange confused glances.

Ryan leans in, narrowing the distance between them. “The girl in your class?” he continues. “The one you clearly think isn’t worthy of being there, just because she’s a woman?” He pauses. “Ring a fucking bell?”

No one answers. No one dares . But they know exactly what he’s talking about. I see it in their wide eyes, and short glances at each other.

Ryan’s lips curl into a cold, dangerous smile.

“Here’s the deal, assholes. You don’t get to disrespect her.

Not now, not ever. I don’t give a fuck what you think your fragile masculinity is entitled to.

If I catch any of you treating her like she’s anything less than the incredible smart as fuck woman she is, I’ll make sure the only thing you’re managing is a hospital bill. Got it?”

One of them swallows hard. Another nods.

Ryan smiles, tapping the table. “Glad we got that sorted.”

He pushes the chair back and walks off, like he didn’t just threaten them into silence. My heart’s pounding. Half from the adrenaline, half from the way he’s looking at me when he comes back.

Like I’m his.

And he’s not sorry about it.

“I thought I told you to stay there,” he says with an arched brow.

I just smile, completely and utterly, without a doubt, in love with him. “Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me, baby.” His hand brushes my hair behind my ear, giving me a sweet smile I feel tingling all over my body. “I will always protect my girl.”

His eyes flick to my lips, and I know he wants to kiss me—hell, I want to kiss him—but we both know he can’t, so he sighs, grabs his beer and we head to the table where the rest of the team are.

I sit beside my brother, and Ryan slides on the other side, his eyes locked on mine.

Austin slings an arm around the back of the chair and grins at me. “Hey, baby Hayes. Glad you could make it. You’re practically one of us now.”

I raise my glass, letting out a chuckle. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

“It is one,” he replies. “Best thing Coach did was hire you.”

A smile curls on my face, and I meet Ryan’s eyes, seeing a similar smile on his. It always surprises me how proud he is of me and my achievements.

The guys are talking about… something. I’m not exactly sure what, because all I can focus on is the boy across from me, his thumb brushing casually over the mouth of his bottle and his eyes on me.

My tongue runs over my bottom lip as I watch him, and he watches me. He shifts, adjusting slightly and I track his movements as he brings his bottle to his lips and takes a sip. He grins, chuckling to himself at my blatant ogling, and glances down at his lap.

A second later, I feel my phone buzzing and I take it out of my pocket, my eyes widening when I see a message from Ryan lighting up the screen. My heart skips a beat, and I quickly glance around the table to make sure no one’s paying attention before I swipe it open.

Ryan:

Stop undressing me with your eyes. We’re in public.

I grab my drink to keep from making a noise. My hand slips instinctively over the phone, shielding the screen.

I shift in my seat, crossing my legs, but all it does is make the ache worse.

Ryan notices, and his mouth curves wickedly, and within a few seconds, another text comes through.

Ryan:

You wet for me, baby?

I don’t respond. Can’t. Not with Nathan right here. But Ryan doesn’t need a reply. He knows.

Another message lights up.

Ryan:

You’re lucky this table’s between us, or I’d have you bent over it and take you right here.

(Respectfully)

I bite my lip, my body flushing, and not from the booze.

I quickly type back and hit send.

Me:

You’re all talk, Reed.

His phone buzzes a second later. He picks it up and reads the message, then looks at me like he’s two seconds from climbing across the table.

He shoots me a look and the next thing I know, my phone lights up again.

Ryan:

If I had you alone right now, I’d have your legs over my shoulders and your voice hoarse from begging me to give you more of my cock.

I set my phone down and grab my glass. I need a drink. Desperately . Just a few sips to cool the fire licking down my spine before I lose the last of my self-control and text Ryan to meet me in the bathroom.

The vodka-lime mix hits my tongue, but it does nothing to settle the ache building low in my stomach. Nothing to stop the heat crawling across my skin.

Another vibration rips through the table, the soft glow of the screen lighting up.

And suddenly, everything tilts.

My body freezes. My blood goes ice-cold.

From the corner of my eye, I see Nathan glance down—just a casual flick of his eyes. But then he pauses, his brow furrowing.

No. No, no, no.

Time slows to a crawl as his gaze narrows. He tilts his head, his focus locking on the screen, and his jaw goes tight.

My heart drops as Nathan’s eyes hover over the screen. The message on my phone is not something I want him to see.

“Nathan—” My voice comes out strangled, too late.

His hand moves and he grabs the phone and reads the message.

His body tenses, his shoulders squared, jaw clenched. His nostrils flare once, and his eyes lift. Dark and sharp and furious .

Right to Ryan.

“Are you fucking serious?” he growls.

The room goes silent.

Ryan’s posture stiffens immediately. Nathan’s eyes never leave him, and I feel my heart race out of my chest. Everything is happening way too quickly.

“Woah, man.” Ryan’s hands go up in defense as he stands up. “Listen, it’s not what it looks like, alright?”

Nathan doesn’t back down. He takes a step toward Ryan, his eyes narrowing. “So, you weren’t sexting my fucking sister just now?”

Logan’s brows shoot to his hairline, glancing between them. “Ryan and Hayes?” he asks, shock coating his tone.

Austin scoffs. “You’re a little late, buddy.”

Ryan shakes his head. “It’s not like that, alright?”

But Nathan doesn’t listen to him. He shoves Ryan, hard.

He stumbles back, his eyes locked on my brother. “Hit me if you need to,” Ryan says, his voice tight, but his eyes are locked onto Nathan’s, unwavering. “I know I fucked up and betrayed you but just listen to me.”

But Nathan doesn’t listen. He shoves Ryan again, and this time, it’s harder. His face is twisted with anger. “My little sister, man.”

“Nathan, stop!” I push my chair back, standing up to try and put myself between them. “Just let me explain.”

I can feel my heart pounding in my ears as I take a step forward, my eyes darting from Ryan to Nathan. The words I want to say won’t come out. I can’t believe this is happening. This is everything I didn’t want to happen.

Ryan’s hands find Nathan’s chest again, his voice desperate now. “Will you just fucking listen to me when I tell you it’s not like that! I fucking love her, okay? I love her . It’s not just fucking around for me.”

The words hit me like a tidal wave. I freeze, my breath catching in my throat.

He loves me .

Nathan’s movements stop too, his body going rigid as he processes what Ryan just said. His eyes flicker from Ryan to me, confusion clouding his anger.

I slowly turn to Ryan, my chest rising and falling with every heavy breath I take. “You… You love me?”

He steps closer, his hand reaching for my face.

His fingers are warm, comforting against my skin as he gently cups my cheek.

“I love you,” he repeats, and I feel something shift in my chest—like a key turning inside me, unlocking a part of me I didn’t even know was locked.

“I fucking love every single part of you, Curls.”

My lips part and I shake my head, unable to believe he’s telling me this. I’ve never had a guy tell me he loves me before. I told Jacob I loved him when he wanted to break up, hoping he’d say it back and realize it was a mistake. But he just told me this would be for the best, and he was right.

Because what I felt for Jacob was a mere fraction of what I feel for Ryan.

“I love you too,” I say, the words trembling as they leave my mouth. I step closer, my hands sliding up his chest, wrapping around his neck as I press my forehead against his.

“Fuck this,” I hear Nathan say behind me, his voice bitter and cutting. He shakes his head in disbelief and turns, heading for the door.

Ryan looks at me, a pained expression crossing his face. “I’m so sorry, Bels,” he murmurs, heavy with regret. “I didn’t want it to happen like this. I didn’t want him to find out like this.”

Me neither .

We stand there for a long moment, my hand in his, neither of us speaking.

“We’ll fix this,” Ryan replies, pressing his lips to my forehead. “I swear we will.”

I really hope he’s right.