Page 5 of The Rule Breaker (Colton U Playbook #1)

ISABELLA

D isappointment settles in my chest as Ryan disappears into the crowd.

I should’ve known it was too good to be true. Something always bites me in the ass when everything’s going well. It’s like the universe loves to remind me that I can’t have nice things.

I haven’t even looked at a guy since Jacob dumped me, let alone talked to one the way I talked to Ryan. But with him, it was easy. We joked, flirted, smiled, and for the first time in a while, I felt like me again.

Then my brother walked in.

Before that? Ryan was just Ryan. Fun, flirty, hot Ryan. But now? Now, he’s Nathan’s teammate. His best friend. His very hot, totally off-limits friend.

I shake my head, grabbing a cup from the ping-pong table and tossing back whatever beer’s in it. It’s warm and gross, but I don’t really care right now.

“I don’t know what’s up with him,” Nathan’s voice breaks through my thoughts. I glance up to see him shaking his head. “He’s been so off lately.”

Off? Ryan was anything but off two minutes ago.

“What were you doing with Ryan, anyway?” Nathan raises an eyebrow, his eyes narrowing as he looks me over. “Didn’t even know you two knew each other.”

My eyes widen slightly. He can’t know what really happened. Not when I’m still trying to figure out what exactly happened between us. So, I shrug and press my lips together. “I don’t. We just met and played a game of beer pong.”

Nathan shoots me a dry look. “Izzy,” he warns. “He’s my teammate. Don’t even think about it.”

I hate that he can see right through me. It’s like he has some radar that can detect when I’m up to something. I just want to be able to live my life without my big brother crowding me, judging, and controlling every single decision I make.

“Quit the protective big brother crap. Nothing happened.” I roll my eyes and take a long gulp from my cup, hoping the alcohol will dull the sudden tension in my chest. “We were just talking.”

Nathan shakes his head, but the tension in his shoulders eases. “Good. Cause he’s not good enough for you.”

I arch a brow, crossing my arms. “Isn’t he your best friend?”

“Yeah, I love the guy,” Nathan admits with a shrug, “but I also know him. I don’t want him—or any other of my teammates for that matter—anywhere near you.”

I let out a frustrated sigh. “You have nothing to worry about, because nothing was happening between us.”

He groans, running a hand through his hair, clearly not buying it. “C’mon, you’re hanging with me.”

I raise an eyebrow. “I don’t need you following me around. I’m not a kid, Nathan.”

He shrugs, flashing me an arrogant grin. “Doesn’t matter. I’ve been looking out for you since forever. You’ll always be a kid to me.”

I roll my eyes. He’s two years older than me, not a decade. But, apparently, Nathan’s always going to act like I’m still twelve.

I glance around, looking for Aurora. No sign of her. Where the hell did she go?

“Fine,” I finally give in, shooting him a look. “Only because I can’t find Aurora.”

Nathan gestures for me to follow him with a tilt of his chin. I push off the ping-pong table and trail behind him through the crowded party.

People stop him left and right. Slaps on the back, handshakes, and a few girls trying to get his attention, running their hands over his arms or tossing him flirtatious glances.

I press my lips together, trying to stop the bile from rising in my throat. I could do without watching girls practically drool over him. I’d much rather hold onto the image of my overprotective, somewhat-innocent big brother… though I know that’s a little unrealistic.

Nathan stops to talk to everyone who approaches, effortlessly flashing that trademark grin of his. It’s a little surprising how well-known my brother is around campus. Especially since he tends to keep to himself.

“Hayes!”

My brother stops when a guy on the couch yells his name, giving him a lazy grin, drunk out of his mind.

“Where the hell have you been, man? I missed you.”

My brother shakes his head. “Someone get this idiot some chamomile tea or something to cut the alcohol.”

I come to a stop when I glance up and see Ryan, again, snickering as he takes a sip of his drink, his dark eyes shifting toward me.

The guy on the couch runs a hand through his light brown hair and whistles low, his smirk spreading. “Who’s the hottie?”

Ryan jabs his elbow into the guy’s stomach, making him grunt out an ‘oof.’ “That’s Nathan’s sister, dumbass,” he grumbles.

The guy’s face drops, eyes wide with surprise. “Oh, shit. Sorry.”

Nathan narrows his eyes. “You’ll be sorry when I kick your ass.”

He chuckles, shaking his head, then extends a hand with a grin. “Nice to meet you, Baby Hayes. I’m Austin.”

“Hi,” I reply, shaking his hand and laughing softly. “Isabella.”

I glance back at Ryan, still watching me, his gaze lingering as he sizes me up. God, that look. It sends a jolt through me, reminding me of how close we were just minutes ago, his body pressing into mine, the faint scent of his cologne still in the air, his lips a breath away.

Nathan nudges me with his shoulder. “I’m gonna grab a drink. You sure you’ll be okay with these idiots?”

I snicker. “Yeah, I’ll be fine.”

Nathan walks off, leaving me with his teammates—one completely hammered, and the other… the one I almost kissed.

Austin leans forward, a mischievous glint in his eye as he shoots me a wink. “Don’t worry. I don’t mind a little ass-kicking.”

Ryan’s gaze snaps to him, his face hardening. “You’re an idiot,” he mutters. “Weren’t you just talking to a girl?”

Austin shrugs. “She had a boyfriend.”

Ryan scoffs, shaking his head in disbelief before his gaze shifts to me. His eyes soften as he arches a brow, his lips twitching into a smirk. “Wanna get away from this weirdo?” he asks.

I let out a soft laugh and follow him as he takes a seat on the steps, the sound of his sneakers scraping against the wood. “He’s kind of funny,” I tease, turning slightly to glance at Ryan.

Ryan shakes his head, a hint of amusement in his eyes as his lips curl into a playful smile. “Deranged, more like.”

My eyes flicker to the side of his face, watching as he runs a hand through his messy hair. “So, you’re a hockey player?”

He lets out a sigh, like my question’s annoyed him, but the moment fades when he glances at me, his lips twitching into a smirk. “And you’re Coach’s daughter and Nathan’s sister.” He shakes his head, a small scoff escaping him. “Dangerous combination.”

I laugh when he takes a sip of his drink. “You’re scared of my brother?”

Ryan chuckles, his eyes locking onto mine again, and the space between us seems to vanish when his knee nudges mine.

“I’m not scared of anyone. I just respect him, is all,” he admits, his smile softening as he swallows, his gaze lingering on every inch of my face.

“Besides, it would’ve probably been a mistake. ”

Yikes. His words hit me like a punch to the gut, but I force out a laugh, trying to brush it off. “You’re probably right.” I shoot him a smile. “I don’t date hockey players, anyway.”

“Really?” he asks. “Why not?”

I tilt my head, my eyes drifting over his face as I reply, my lips curving into a smirk. “I’ve been around them my whole life. Too many missing teeth and broken noses.”

His laugh is quick, but it’s followed by a smirk. “Well, I have all my teeth.” He flashes a grin that seems to stretch just a little too long, and I catch myself staring at the way his lips curl. The ones I almost kissed.

I swallow, forcing myself to look up, but his eyes catch mine, steady and warm.

My pulse quickens. I lean in a little, just enough for him to notice the way the air shifts between us.

I catch the faint scent of his cologne, mingled with the hint of alcohol on his shirt, and it’s a heady mix that makes it hard to focus.

“I see that,” I murmur, my voice lower now as I inch closer. The scent of his cologne wraps around me, making it harder to think. “But you’re still off limits.”

His grin widens, and I can see the challenge in his eyes. “Well, that’s good,” he says with a smirk. “Because I don’t date. Period.”

My brows shoot up in surprise. “Ever?”

He shrugs, taking another sip of his drink. “I like being single.”

I can’t help but roll my eyes. “I’m sure. You flash that cocky smile, and every girl just drops their panties for you.”

His grin widens, but his eyes flash with something challenging as he leans in, closing the space between us. “You’re not immune, Isabella. Trust me, I know.”

My chest churns, my heart skipping a beat, and for a second, I really wish he didn’t care about my brother and just kissed me already. “If I remember correctly,” I murmur, “you wanted my number.”

He nods slowly, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly. “I did.”

I pause, his words circling in my mind. Pressing my lips together, I lean forward, daring him—daring myself. “Do you still want it?”

The muscle in his jaw tightens, his eyes darkening as he seems to weigh the consequences. “Probably wouldn’t be a good idea.”

“Right.” I nod, knowing he’s right, even if it’s the last thing I wanted to hear.

He keeps his eyes locked on mine, unwavering. “Nathan and your dad…” He blows out a breath, running a hand through his hair.

“Yeah, I know.” I nod again, but my mind keeps circling back to the way his eyes had drifted to my lips just seconds ago. “I just keep thinking… if Nathan hadn’t walked in…”

The tension between us grows as his gaze drops from my eyes to my lips. “Good thing he did.”

“Yeah,” I murmur, my voice betraying me. I don’t believe a single word that leaves my lips.

His eyes snap back to mine, a smirk creeping across his face. “Cause you don’t date hockey players.”

“And you don’t date. Period.”

Ryan’s smirk widens, his eyes glinting with amusement as he lets out a low chuckle, leaning back slightly. “Exactly.”

A part of me wants to keep pushing him, but I know Ryan respects my brother too much to ever cross that line with me, even if it’s what we both want.

“But we can still be friends, right?”

An amused smirk tugs at his lips. “You wanna be my friend?”

I pause, thinking it over. Can I really be just friends with Ryan when earlier tonight, I wanted nothing more than for him to have my clothes on his bedroom floor and his name slipping from my lips?

I haven’t been friends with a guy since… ever.

But seeing as I now attend Colton U, and I’ll probably run into my brother and his teammates often, it would be a lot easier if we just agreed to never cross that line.

“Yeah,” I say, offering a smile, my shoulders lifting in a shrug. “Why not?”

Ryan’s eyes linger on me, his gaze scanning my face as if he’s searching for something, before he finally nods, the corner of his mouth lifting into a smirk. “Sure. Friends.”

“There you are.” I turn my head, seeing Aurora heading toward me, letting out a relieved sigh.

“I’ve been looking for you all this—” She cuts herself off, her gaze flicking between me and Ryan.

A smile slowly spreads across her face, growing wider with each passing second.

“Shit, sorry. Was I interrupting something?”

“Not at all,” Ryan replies with a laugh. “Just keeping her company.” He grips the railing and lifts himself up. As he turns to walk away, he flashes me a smirk. “See you around, Isabella.”

He walks away, hands tucked in his pockets, before disappearing into the crowd.

I glance up at Aurora, whose grin only makes me roll my eyes. “Thanks for pushing me into him, by the way,” I tell her, lifting myself off the steps.

She chuckles. “You’re being sarcastic, but you should be thanking me,” she teases, wrapping her arm around mine. “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have talked to him.”

I purse my lips. That’s true, but then again, if I hadn’t talked to him, I wouldn’t have almost kissed him. And this weird tension between us wouldn’t be hanging in the air.

An amused smirk tugs at her lips. “So, what happened? Did you kiss him? Give him your number? Hand stuff?”

I choke out a laugh, shaking my head. “Hate to burst your bubble, but none of the sort is ever going to happen.”

“What?” Her brows furrow. “Why not? You seemed like you were having a good time.”

We were. Until my brother showed up, and suddenly everything got complicated.

I shrug, trying to brush it off. “We’re just friends.”