Page 52 of Unwritten Rules (The Sunburnt Hearts #1)
“You listen to me,” she says, voice steady.
“Don’t let the fear of the clock running down stop you from embracing this moment.
If being with Sinnett is what makes you happy, don’t worry about anyone else and just focus on him.
I see the way he looks at you when he thinks no one is watching.
That man thinks you are the light that brightens his world and leads him from the darkness.
In my eyes, that’s a man worth fighting for.
And I know he would go to war for you if it came down to it.
” Raya pats my shoulder and drops her hands to her side, retrieving her gym bag from the ground.
“It doesn’t matter that you haven’t known each other long.
When the right person enters your life, you’ll know it.
And if that person is Sinnett, then take the hand you’ve been given and don’t look back. ”
My lips part as I try to retain the inspirational words that fell from my friend’s mouth.
I didn’t know she was capable of such profound words, given her tough exterior and reserved nature.
Deep down, she must hold on to a lot of emotion she refuses to share with others.
And for a brief moment, I got to see a glimpse of the real Raya.
“You’re right,” I murmur, my lips thinning into a tight-lipped smile. “Thank you. I needed to hear that.”
Raya smiles. “As my friend, you get my good advice for free.”
I snort a laugh and pull her in for a brief hug. “I don’t know what I would do without you, Ray.”
She pulls back and winks. “You’ll never have to find out.”
“Do you have any plans for the night?” I ask, needing a change in conversation. One that doesn’t have my head spiralling.
“I’m video calling with my family,” she murmurs, eyes darting away.
“You don’t talk about them much.” Her family is included as one of those emotions she doesn’t talk about. “Where do they live?”
Her hands glide through the ends of her hair, tongue dragging over her full bottom lip. “Just this little town three hours north of Sydney. Barrenridge?”
My eyes nearly bulge from my head. “Barrenridge? No way! I was born there.”
Raya’s eyes widen, the skin between her brows creasing. “Seriously? What are the odds of that.”
I’m reminded of Sinnett’s connection to Barrenridge—the tiny town I thought no one outside of it’s perimeter knew about—and I can’t help but laugh. “More likely than I thought.”
“Well, they moved to Barrenridge a couple of years ago, but I wanted to stay in Sydney to pursue dance and cheerleading.” Raya shrugs. “They tend to keep to themselves, so I’m not sure if you would’ve seen them around.”
I want to question Raya further about her family while the topic hangs in the air, but she drops her attention to her phone, checking the time.
“I better go,” she murmurs, lifting her head to meet my gaze. “You all good?”
Disappointment tears through me, but I swallow it and smile. “Yeah, I’m all good. I’m waiting for Dad.”
Raya’s brows wiggle. “Or are you waiting for a certain halfback?”
I playfully roll my eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. Now get out of here. I’ll see you next week.”
We bid farewell for the night with the promise of going out for brunch tomorrow since it’s Sunday and neither of us have any plans.
I’m in desperate need of some girl time with my friend, and to ask her about her family in Barrenridge.
Having two guy friends all throughout high school was good because I always felt safe with Noah and Nathan, but as a girl, I craved the kind of friendship that comes from befriending women and talking about usual girly topics.
Noah and Nathan did their best to provide me with that, but it wasn’t the same.
Now that I have Raya, I’m learning what it means to have a girl best friend, and it’s been a fun experience thus far.
Footsteps approach from the side and I look up to find Sinnett smiling at me, his gym bag hanging by his side.
Having ditched the grass-stained Wolves jersey and black shorts, he’s looking freshly showered in loose black athletic shorts and the same black hoodie he wears every day.
I’m convinced he has several of them in his wardrobe that he rotates through each day.
I’ll have to test the theory the next time I stay over.
The hood is thrown up, covering his half-dried hair, the strands messy and slightly curling at the edges.
Sinnett looks every bit the stunning man I have grown to know over the past few weeks. And if he continues to look at me with hunger simmering in those ocean eyes, I won’t be able to keep my hands to myself.
“Hi, Tate.”
“Hi, Sin,” I return his greeting with a smile.
Sinnett joins me on the wall, and we turn to face each other. His cinnamon and cedarwood cologne wraps around me and I fight the urge to step toward him, closing the already small space separating us. I drag my bottom lip between my teeth, meeting his intense eyes.
“Did you enjoy the game?” His voice is deep, vibrating my bones.
“You were amazing out there,” I gush, unable to stop the words from tumbling out. “Seeing you score the try and kick all of those conversions—” I chuckle and shake my head. “That was embarrassing. I told myself I’d play it cool.”
Sinnett laughs, the sound rich and airy. His hand comes up to rest on my cheek, his touch warm and inviting. “You’re cute, strawberry.”
“I’m being serious,” I tell him, blinking slowly. “You were amazing, and I’m proud of you.”
He smiles, the gesture warm and genuine. “If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have been out there, so thank you.”
“You did all of the hard work, not me,” I remind him, mouth tilted in a half-smile. “But if you’re dishing out credit…”
Sinnett chuckles. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Tate.”
I drag my bottom lip between my teeth as warmth pools in my core. Having him this close has my body reacting in a way that is only catered to him. I crave his touch, his smile, his words that make me melt into a puddle at his feet. I want all of this man.
“I must say, the jersey was a look.”
A smirk splits across Sinnett’s face and he drops his hand from my face to shove into the front pocket of his hoodie. “It was?”
I nod. “You know, I’ve never owned a jersey for a sports team before.”
Sinnett raises a brow at me. “You haven’t?”
“Never,” I say, shaking my head. “Maybe I need to get myself a Wolves jersey.”
“If it doesn’t have the number seven on it, then the fabric isn’t touching your body, Tate,” Sinnett all but growls, voice low.
I smirk and tilt my head to the side. “Is that so?”
Sinnett’s hand darts out to grip my hip, pulling me flush against his chest. A giggle escapes my lips as my hands come up to press against his toned chest for support. His nose brushes against mine, his ocean eyes sparkling under the moonlight.
“I won’t allow you to wear another man’s jersey, Tate.” His lips skim over mine, sending a jolt of electricity done my spine. “As my girl, you’ll wear my number, no one else’s.”
My girl .
Liquid heat pools in my core as my heart slams against my chest. Seeing Sinnett show his possessive side has my body thrumming with adrenaline, the desire to get this man alone overwhelming.
I hate that we have to keep whatever we are a secret, but it does allow us the space to nurture this growing affection for each other and see where it leads.
“And what are you going to do about it?”
Instead of answering, Sinnett slams his lips against mine, stealing the air from my lungs and the ability to think clearly. My hands loop around his neck, melting into the kiss as his claims me. I let him.
He drops the gym bag at his feet and his free hand comes up to cup the back of my neck, holding me firmly against his body as he deepens the kiss.
Electricity sparks between us like a live wire, and for a moment, all I can think about is how perfect this feels.
Having him against me, his warmth seeping into my skin, followed be the comforting scent I have grown to seek out in the crowd, and how easily my body responds to each swipe and nibble.
We were cursed from the beginning—orbiting each other’s space, and never quite cementing ourselves in it.
Time can be a real bitch sometimes.
Sinnett pulls away breathlessly and drops his forehead against mine. “Get in my car, Tate. I’m going to show you exactly how, and you know I’m a man of my word.”
Warmth explodes across my chest as a smile splits across my face.
He doesn’t need to tell me twice.