Page 132 of Rules

“Let’s.” Kiss “Take.” Kiss. “It.” Kiss. “Inside.” Kiss.

Just as I’m about to agree, a door slams shut somewhere. The sound is so strong it can be heard over the loud bass that’s making the walls of the house shake, breaking us out of our horny haze.

“What was that?” Maddy asks, breathless. She burrows her face into the crock of my shoulder. We look around, but we’re all alone in the backyard of Maddy’s house.

“Somebody probably left the door open and the wind slammed it shut.” I run my hand through my messy hair.

“Probably.” She pulls back a little, just so she can look into my face. Her blue eyes shine at me, the familiar, wicked gleam in them. “Let’s go inside.”

Chuckling, I brush a strand of her long hair behind her ear. “In a bit,” I promise. “I actually wanted to talk to you about something.”

“What is it?”

Her leg slips down mine, and she takes a step back.

“Winter formal.”

She sighs, good mood gone. “What about it?”

“We have to tell Jeanette.”

“Can’t you do it?”

“It’d be better if we do it together.”

“She’ll hate me.”

I take her hand in mine. “She won’t hate you. She’ll probably be pissed that we were hiding it from her for so long.”

Maddy huffs unhappily. “You’re the one delivering the news.”

* * *

“Hey! Have you seen Anette or Maddy?” I look at my group of friends playing beer pong. They all shake their heads.

Where the hell are they?

I’ve been looking for them for the last half hour and still nothing.

I wanted to tell Jeanette about me and Maddy. Tonight. But it seemed like we kept missing each other all night long.

Actually, I wanted to tell her a while ago, but Maddy has been putting it off. According to her, it was never the right time.

Sighing, I make a full circle, my eyes scanning for both girls.

Jeanette was in a shitty mood before we left for the party. She was moody a lot lately. Either closed off or lashing out. I’m not sure what’s happening with her. Between hockey, keeping up in my classes and sneaking behind everybody’s back with Maddy, I had my hands full.

Still, I should try harder. Maybe I’ll ask Anette to spend the night watching some cheesy movie. Nothing like a ridiculous rom-com to cheer her up.

Just as I’m about to turn around to check the kitchen and backyard again, I see a flash of long, black hair rushing down the stairs.

My gut clenches instinctively, a bad feeling spreading through my body. My legs start to move on their own accord, following behind Jeanette.

I call her name, but the room is too noisy for her to hear me.

Her head is bowed down, loose curls hiding her face, and she isn’t watching where she’s walking, so it’s not surprising when she crashes into some guy. Throwing something quickly over her shoulder—probably an apology—she continues without stopping.

“Anette!”

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