Page 54 of Unspoken Rules (Rules 2)

Images of us crossing the line fill my already messed-up head, and I shut the unwelcomed thoughts out. I could get hard just thinking about her. Not the time, brain.

I text Vic that I’m outside and to buzz me in. Barely a few minutes after, I’m inside the building and knocking on his apartment door. That’s just how good of a friend Vic is. He wasn’t kidding when he said I could show up at his place anytime I wanted. He was right. I can’t run from the truth anymore. Which is why I have to talk to him. He’s the only one who can help me.

The door opens in a creak.

“Haze, man, what are you doing here?” He raises an eyebrow.

I stare at him and finally let myself articulate the haunting words that have been following me everywhere I go for the past two years.

“Have you heard from Riley?”

12

Relationship Status

Winter

“Anyway, enough about me. You never answered my question. What brings you to Colton Gate?” Ryder asks, bringing a piece of cotton candy to his mouth.

We’ve been going around the fair for several hours now. Believe it or not, I managed to have some fun and even almost went a whole minute without Haze’s name popping in my head.

Ryder is the polar opposite of Haze. He’s an open book. I know almost everything there is to know about him simply from the afternoon I spent with him. He’s nineteen, he grew up in New York, both his parents are dentists, he has a golden retriever named Rosco and a maid called Marta, who practically raised him. His grandparents live in Colton Gate, and he decided to come visit them because his grandpa isn’t doing too hot lately.

“I told you. I’m on vacation.”

“Yeah, but that’s the short, crappy version you tell strangers. Why are you really here?”

Because I fell in love with a street fighter whose psycho brother kidnapped me and wants my head.

“No other reason. Sorry to disappoint.”

“Does it have something do with this guy who’s not your boyfriend but gives you hickeys?” he teases.

“Shut up.” I force a laugh.

“Does it?”

“Maybe,” I say quietly.

“I knew it.” He seems proud of himself. “Let me guess, he won’t commit?”

At first, I find the fact that he got it right creepy, but then I’m reminded that being afraid of commitment is common behavior in all males on planet Earth.

“Something like that.” I fidget with the big teddy bear Ryder won at one of the darts games. I offered to carry it while he got us cotton candy.

He seems to notice the frown on my face because he elbows me slightly to get me to look at him.

“Hey, I’m sorry. He’s a douche if he doesn’t see the great girl that’s right in front of him.”

I can tell he’s hitting on me, but I don’t care. It makes me feel better to know that not every guy is as complicated as Haze Adams. Maybe I’d be better off dating someone like Ryder. No lies, no bullshit, just honest and reciprocated feelings.

We glance around the fair that’s slowly emptying. It’s closing at eight and it’s 7:30. I’m not sure what’s next, but I know I’m not looking forward to confronting Haze. I sure hope that the power’s back at the lake house.

“I had a lot of fun today,” he says.

“Yeah, me too. Thanks for the invite.” I nod halfheartedly.

“You can keep Mr. Peppermint.” He points to the teddy bear in my arm. I laugh at the name he’s chosen.