Page 55 of Unspoken Rules (Rules 2)

“Are you sure?”

“Definitely. Giant pink teddy bear? That wouldn’t fit in my room.” He smiles.

The sound of a phone ringing lifts my hopes up only to send them crashing back down. It’s Ryder’s phone. Of course it couldn’t be Haze doing a decent thing like calling to make sure I was okay in a house without power all day.

“Just a second.” He steps away to take the call.

I unlock my phone. It’s at 20 percent. We better get back to Colton Gate before it’s dead and I can’t get a cab back to the lake house.

He comes back. “There’s a really nice pub back home. I was wondering if maybe… you would want to get a drink?”

“We’re not legal, mister,” I joke.

“They don’t card.”

I hesitate, battling myself on whether or not it’s a good idea to take this day further with him. I don’t like him like that. I don’t think I’ll like anyone like that again in a really long time. Worst part is, I’d probably be very interested in him if it wasn’t for Haze, but his hold on my heart is far too important to want somebody else.

It kills me to think that Haze could be with somebody else just fine since he refuses to be exclusive.

The thought is enough to tempt me.

I guess one drink can’t hurt.

“Okay.”

Haze

“So… that’s the whole story,” I say, the look on Vic’s face making me feel even more stupid than the story itself.

I can’t believe he got the whole explanation out of me. Vic has this annoying ability to get me to open up no matter how bad I don’t want to. That tends to happen when you’ve known someone since diapers.

He didn’t say a word once. He sat there and listened. I told him about the way it all started and how she was never supposed to be more than a way to piss off Kendrick to me.

Things would be so much easier if that was the case.

He shifts in his seat, furrowing his eyebrows in silence. It’s already dark outside. I had no idea I’d end up spending the day here. It’s a good thing Bea’s at her mother’s until tonight.

“Are you going to say something?” I grow impatient.

“Yes.” He clears his throat like he’s going to share words of wisdom with me. “Are you fucking dumb?”

Okay. Not what I expected.

“What?” I frown.

“No offense, but this girl… she’s clearly the one for you, and you’re telling me you’re going to ruin it all because you’re scared?”

My composure dumps me.

“You don’t get it. I can’t risk it. I can’t let it happen to her, Vic. Not her.”

He widens his eyes. “Would you just listen to yourself? You’re talking like you have some sort of evil curse following you around or some shit. You were just unlucky, man.”

“Unlucky? Is that what you call it? Unlucky?” I scoff.

He lets out a deep breath. “That’s not what I meant. I’m just saying that you can’t be afraid of being with Winter just because there’s a chance that something will happen. You can’t run from happiness just because there’s a chance that you might lose it. That’s like wearing a fucking raincoat every time you go out for the rest of your life just in case it rains.”

His last sentence sinks in and creeps under my skin.