Page 12 of Unspoken Rules (Rules 2)

He drops the Chinese food takeout boxes on the gigantic marble counter in the kitchen. Kendrick and Alex instantly get up from the couch they haven’t left since we arrived. Only food could be enough motivation for these boys to move.

They sit around the counter and start eating like actual pigs. I eventually have to remind them of my existence and my current inability to walk.

I could’ve made an effort to get there, but just thinking of moving is exhausting after everything that’s happened in the past twenty-four hours. It’s crazy to think that not so long ago I was trapped in a cave and now… I’m watching Kendrick throw kung pao chicken at Will.

After request number three, Alex brings my noodles over and I have no choice but to pray that Thomas’s white couch won’t become a canvas for my Chinese food.

The boys are leaving tomorrow. Kendrick might be on “Protect Winter” duty, but they aren’t. They have school and a life to get back to. Not to mention it’d be way too suspicious if we all just happened to disappear at the exact same time. The last thing we want is to draw attention to ourselves.

They say they’ll be back every other weekend. They better. I’ll lose my mind if the only human interaction I have for the next few weeks is with Kendrick.

My cousin’s phone ringing interrupts his classy inhaling of the Chinese food. He gets out onto the balcony to take the call.

“Who do you think it is?” Alex goes to throw his empty box in the trash.

“My money’s on Nicole. She must be wondering where he ran off to. They did just get back together. I’m curious to see what he comes up with to justify this one,” I say.

Alex nods. “Yeah, well, whatever it is, something tells me she’s not going to buy it and she’ll dump his ass again.”

Will decides now is a good time to bless us with his wisdom. “Hey, would you look at that? Winter won’t be the only heartbroken sap in the gang anymore.”

“Will,” Alex chastises him.

“What? It’s true. I hate to break it to you, Canada, but by the time you come back, Haze will have probably found himself a new East side girl.”

I won’t lie. That hurt. I’m grateful that, from where they are, they can’t see me miserably trying to stop the pain from taking residency upon my face.

“Yeah, right. That’s why he said he loved her,” Alex starts. “Because that’s something Haze Adams would say if he didn’t give a shit. We both know that’s not who he—”

One severe look from Will is all it takes to shut him up. Alex makes the face of a child who’s just done something forbidden and lowers his eyes to the tiled kitchen floor.

They have got to be kidding me.

“Let me guess, Kendrick told you to talk me out of ever wanting to see Haze again.”

“What? Of course not,” Will says in his high-pitched “I’m lying” voice.

I know Will won’t be the one to crack, so I focus on Alex. He can’t keep a secret for the life of him. He’s way too honest and kind. It’s a miracle he didn’t spill the beans to Kendrick about Blake and Kass secretly dating back then.

Hard to believe this guy can throw a mean punch and show no mercy in a fight.

“Fine. He did.” Alex puts his hands up.

Will elbows him in the stomach, and Alex makes it his pleasure to punch him right back.

I want to ask them how they still see Haze as a monster after everything he did to help them but decide to save my breath. It’s pointless. They don’t know him the way I do. He’s different with me. Here I am, still thinking about him. I wonder if he’s thinking about me, too.

Oh my God, I’m totally that pathetic girl, aren’t I?

“Winter, do you seriously think he’s going to sit around waiting for you? He’s probably already found a girl to spend the night with by now. Not to mention that he left you when you were unconscious and hurt. Does that look like love to you?”

I remember hearing his voice when I was half awake, half passed out. “I’m not fucking leaving until I know she’s okay.”

They’re lying to me. Just how far are they willing to go to keep me away from him?

A text message comes through on Will’s phone, stopping him from going on another “let’s break Winter’s heart” rant. He shakes his head in disapproval and nudges Alex with his elbow to get his attention. Alex glances over his shoulder at the text and displays the exact same reaction.

“Trust us. The best thing you can do is move on.” Will puts his phone away and looks at me with pity in his stare.