Page 61 of Unwritten Rules (Rules 1)

“We’ve been trying for days now. Plus, Maria already knows her. It’s perfect.”

I raise my voice. “Knows who?”

Alex scolds. “Kendrick made it clear he never wants to see her again.”

“Oh please. We both know they have that weird ‘I hate you but want you’ chemistry going on.” Will rolls his eyes.

“Who are you talking about?”

They remain silent like they’re scared to say her name.

“We’re calling Nicole.”

Cue the dramatic music.

Although I have absolutely no idea who this Nicole is, so it’s not dramatic at all.

“Kendrick’s ex-girlfriend,” Blake adds when he sees how clueless I am.

It all comes back.

“Oh my God, you mean…”

“Yeah, the one you think we’re talking about.”

Kendrick only had one serious girlfriend in his life, and it did not end well. Will puts the call on speaker.

Nicole picks up. “Hello?”

Will grins. “Hey, Nicky, it’s been a while.”

“For the love of God, what did Kendrick do this time?”

Will spends close to thirty minutes with her on the phone. He proceeds to explain it all to her, and even though she isn’t easy to convince, she gives in and accepts to help us out.

William hangs up, the guys glaring at him.

“Now, how are we going to tell Kendrick?”

I stop listening.

Hiring Kendrick’s ex-girlfriend—which ended with a horrible breakup—to hide from his mother that he got beat up and can barely walk?

What else could I want to do on a Wednesday night?

LOCKING MYSELF UP IN MY BEDROOM and stepping into a scorching hot shower, just the way I like them, is the first thing I do when Will drops me off in front of my house. It’s close to eleven already.

We went out to eat and ended up spending hours trying to get a fry out of Will’s nose. He thought he was so funny when he put it up his nostril but quickly changed his mind when the fry decided it felt at home. I haven’t checked my phone since I came back.

Only one message awaits me.

Haze: What are you wearing.

Of course.

Winter: Creep.

As always, he texts back almost right away.