Page 119 of Rules

“Cra-zy,” he wheezes out.

“I told her you’d destroy her. You two are too fucked up on your own, so how the fuck are you supposed to be together? But instead of listening to me, you did it anyway. Instead of listening to me, you made a mess of everything. You fucked things up, and now she’s back off the wagon and was in a fucking car accident. You broke her!”

“I broke her?” he spits, coming at me. My hands clasp in fists by my sides, waiting to strike again. Even looking forward to it. “She broke up with me! I asked, no Ibeggedher to reconsider, but she wanted time. So I gave her time.”

“Time? Is that why she’s lying in a hospital bed pregnant?” I throw back at him, waiting to hear whatever fucking excuse he’ll dish out.

He stumbles backward, but no excuses come.

“Fucking pregnant,” I repeat as I walk around him and pick up the test from the ground, shoving it in his face. “I found this in her bathroom.”

“That’s impossible,” he breathes, all the color draining from his face as he gapes at the stick.

“The test says otherwise,” I counter.

Is it really possible that he’s telling the truth? That he doesn’t know?

I can practically see Andrew’s brain working.

What the hell were you thinking, Jeanette?

“FUCK!” Andrew roars. He turns around and slams his clenched fist into the car. I wince as bone hits metal.

That had to hurt like a bitch.

Without saying another word, Andrew pulls the door open and slides into the car.

Oh, hell no.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going?” I grip the door, not letting him close it.

Yes, Jeanette did a shitty thing by not telling him, but I’m not about to let him abandon my sister, mypregnantsister.

“Either get in the fucking car or get out of my way.”

Andrew tries to pull the door, but I don’t let him. “You can’t leave her alone, Hill. I promise you…”

“I’m not leaving anybody alone. Now GET. IN. THE. CAR,” Andrew grits through clenched teeth. “Or I swear to God, I’ll run you over on the way to the hospital.”

We stand there, both of us holding on to that door like we’re holding on to a lifeline. Finally, his words register in my mind.

He’s not abandoning her; he’s goingtoher.

Exhaling a breath, I slowly unclench my grip, letting go. Exchanging one hard look, I give him a nod, hoping it tells him all I can’t put into words.

I’m still angry, pissed really, but I’m also thankful.

Thankful that my sister has somebody to lean on. Even if that somebody isn’t me.

Chapter Forty-Five

MAX

Andrew drives like a madman, taking every shortcut and cutting every sharp turn, but we get to the hospital in record time. Through the whole drive, we don’t speak a word, the tension in the car so intense that if somebody lit a match, we’d blow up in the air.

I expect him to go for the parking lot, but like always, he has a mind of his own. Stopping in front of the emergency exit, he gets out of the still-running car and sprints inside before I even manage to get off my seat belt.

“Hey, you can’t park here!” somebody yells as I get out of the car and follow suit, but I don’t turn around. If he wants to leave his car there, who am I to stop him?

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