Page 102 of Rules

“You’re here.” Lia blinks when she opens the door and gapes at me.

“Of course I am,” I say, looking over her shoulder nervously. “I’m sorry for being a bitch earlier, Lia. Things have been… complicated.”

She gives me a long look, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think she sees right through my mask. Hell, maybe she does, and I’m just fooling myself this whole time because it’s easier.

You should have been gone by now, then none of this would have happened.

“I won’t ask because I know you won’t tell me anyway…”

“Lia…”

She shakes her head, interrupting me. “I don’t want to fight, Brook. But I need you to know you can come to me when you’re ready. I’ll always be here for you, no matter what.”

I swallow hard, emotions clogging my throat.

I want to believe her, I really do, but I can’t let myself think of what ifs.

Even though I’m here, against my better judgment no less, I know what’s at stake. Keeping people around me safe is my top priority.

Finally, I settle for a short nod. Lia smiles, her hands wrapping around my shoulders. “Let’s get inside.”

We go straight to the living room, where Lia already set up everything we need to study.

“Jeanette here?” I ask, taking off my jacket.

“She should be…” Lia stops mid-sentence as the front door opens and closes.

We exchange a look, and then Jeanette all but flies into the room and crashes on the couch.

“I’m so sorry I’m late.”

“Yeah, yeah, the queen is never late. Everybody else is simply early,” I taunt, although there is no usual bite to it. To be honest, in the last few weeks the two of us have grown close. I wouldn’t call us friends exactly, but the initial animosity is gone.

“Brook!” Lia scolds, but I ignore her in favor of scratching Lola behind her floppy ears. She wiggles her tail happily, but as soon as she notices Jeanette, she scurries off.

“Next time I’ll make sure to arrive in a chariot so I can have my grand entrance,” Jeanette says flatly, taking off her jacket and scarf.

I watch Lola almost crash into her, barely stopping. She barks happily as she jumps into her lap, giving her wet kisses all over the face.

Little traitor.

“Geeez, chill.” I turn my attention back to Lia. “I was just messing around. J knows that. Right, J-J?”

Jeanette’s body tenses at my words, and I want to burst into laughter but somehow manage to hold it in as she slowly lifts her gaze to me giving me a death stare.

“Call me J-J one more time and you might find yourself in need of a plastic surgeon.”

“So sensitive.” Itsk.

If looks could kill, I’d be a dead girl by now.

“Let’s get down to business, shall we?” Jeanette asks, grabbing her backpack off the floor and setting her books out on the coffee table. Sighing, I give up on teasing and get down to business. We go over some tasks when suddenly Jeanette lifts her head. “Lia?”

I follow suit, looking at my best friend silently observing the two of us, a little frown between her brows. “Why do you always have to bicker like an old married couple? Can’t you two just act like normal friends for once?”

Jeanette and I exchange a look before we turn back to her, almost simultaneously blurting out, “Hell, no!”

Lia stares at us for a few seconds longer, shaking her head before she finally shrugs. “Whatever.”

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