Page 25 of Unbroken Rules (Rules 3)

Grabbing my phone, I read the conversation between me and Allie. I’ve kept her updated all throughout our apartment hunting.

Winter: FOUND A PLACE!

Allie: NO WAY? ALREADY?! YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS, RIGHT? HOUSE-WARMING PARTYYY ;)

Winter: YES. But we might need some furniture first.

Allie: Good point. Furniture shopping tomorrow?

Winter: You know it.

Allie: Text you when I leave my house. I CAN’T WAIT.

I smile and lean back into the passenger seat.

Allie and I had planned on moving together as soon as I came back from Florida. We were going to go furniture shopping together, argue for hours, only to end up opting for our first choice; we had it all mapped out. It goes without saying that my showing up with a boyfriend shattered our hopes and dreams.

To make up for ditching her, I promised I’d ask for her opinion on everything regarding my apartment, which is why I’m taking her shopping with Haze and me tomorrow. On the bright side, my backing out of our agreement actually worked out in her favor since she’s a bit tight on money. She’s going to stay at her mom’s and save up until her apartment is available in July, because, yes, contrary to me, her mother is not a mix of every single villain ever created.

A distracted and thoughtful Haze pulls up to the driveway of my parents’ house. He’s been like this since the phone call with our landlord. Is he having second thoughts about us moving in together? I sure hope not.

We just dropped Kendrick and Will at a rent-a-car place. Truth be told, we were more than happy to get a break as our brains were close to imploding from listening to them laugh at their own jokes all day. Will faked most of it, I could tell—he still has this haunting sadness in his eyes—but Kendrick took his job as his own biggest fan very seriously. They said they wanted to explore the city, but we all know they just weren’t keen on driving around in my dad’s van all summer. I know Haze wants to get a car, but until then, we’ll proudly own up to our titles of coolest caravan-driving kids in town.

I notice my mother’s car isn’t in the driveway and frown. It’s past six. My family should be home eating dinner by now. My stomach screams at the thought. I’m starving. We haven’t eaten since breakfast.

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Still trapped in this heavy silence, we make our way to the front door. The kitchen is empty and so perfectly clean you’d never know it was the victim of a pancake attack just this morning. A crumbled piece of paper lies on the table.

Went out to eat, be back later. Love you,

- Dad

“Please let there be food.” I drop the note where I found it, walk to the fridge, and open the door only to find it empty. Great. My family went out of town for the weekend, which means my parents didn’t do their usual Sunday grocery shopping. “Well, I hope you like pickles, because it’s literally all we have.”

I jump when Haze’s arm curls around my waist from behind. He doesn’t say anything, pushing the door to the fridge closed with his palm and pressing his torso to my back.

I shiver, overly sensitive to his touch, but in my defense, he’s been teasing me ever since we got here. We haven’t gotten around to really celebrating our news yet. You’d think him moving to another country for me and us getting a place together would earn me at least one hot night of passion.

“Are we alone?” he asks.

“Yep. It’s just us… and the pickles,” I laugh nervously. Really? A pickle joke?

He doesn’t speak again for a short moment.

“Why?”

“Nothing. I just don’t want your parents to walk in while I’m taking you on their kitchen table.”

My jaw drops.

Before I can reply, he’s dipped his hands under my shirt and positioned his mouth to the soft spot of skin behind my ear. He kisses my neck slowly but firmly, and I can’t move away, completely and undeniably at his mercy. He takes my earlobe between his teeth, and I emit a short yet embarrassingly loud moan. Shit.

“My… my parents could come home any second,” I whisper.

“I know.”

“They could see us.”