Page 139 of Rules

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because I didn’t want to break your heart.”

“Then why now?” Her confusion, her desperation, herpainare killing me. But I know this is the only way. “Why bring it all up now?”

Because I don’t have another choice.But I don’t say that out loud. “Because you’ve broken mine.”

Her mouth falls open as she takes a step back, her hands curling around her middle.

“Wanna know how?” I ask, brushing the tears off my cheeks. I look her straight in the eyes. “I saw him first, you know…” My little dirty secret. “I saw him first, but then he saved you, and it was like I never existed.”

* * *

BEFORE - AUGUST, SENIOR YEAR

Only one more year.I chant those words over and over again as I pump my legs harder, making the swing go higher in the air. With closed eyes, I let the warm air touch my skin as my hair sways behind me.Only one more year of this hell and then I’ll be free. I just have to survive this.

The sound of an engine revving has my eyes popping open. I turn my head to the side, looking for the source of all that noise. This park was my sanctuary, my hiding place when I needed some peace and quiet away from everybody. On the edge of my hometown, it was abandoned ages ago, the only thing that can still function is the set of swings I'm currently at.

I frown as I look at the sleek, black bike start to slow down until he pulls to a stop. The rider, dressed in equally black attire, takes off his helmet and looks around.

My heart begins to speed up, but I push back my nerves.

He still hasn’t seen me, so I take a moment to take him in. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him, but then again, I’m not known to pay much attention to people in general. He’s tall, over six feet for sure. And even the leather jacket he wears can’t hide how broad his shoulders are. His midnight hair is mussed from wearing the helmet, giving him kind of a rakish look.

I feel my palms grow sweaty, so I grip the chains of the swing tighter. I don’t know what it is about this guy, but I can’t seem to avert my gaze.

His jaw is square, covered in light stubble, and his eyes…dammit.His light eyes—blue or gray, I’m not sure—are now staring right back at me. I blink a few times, startled by how intense they are.

A smug smile curls his lips, and I can see those light irises twinkle in amusement. “Like what you see?”

Just like his looks, his voice is also sexy as hell. Deep, with just enough roughness to make the fine hair on my arms rise.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, purposely looking away.

His soft chuckle fills the space. “Now, I didn’t take you for a scaredy-cat.”

Turning around to look at him, I gasp softly when I find him standing in front of me, with barely enough distance so that I don’t smack him with my legs as the swing goes forward. Up close, he’s even more handsome than from a distance, with high cheekbones, a straight nose, and the thickest pair of dark eyelashes surrounding those gray irises.

“You don’t know anything about me.”

Again, there is that damn twinkle.

He takes the swing next to me, his feet pushing against the ground. “Maybe, but that doesn’t mean I can’t find out.”

I puff my cheeks, irritated with his assumption. How dare he come to my park and interrupt my quiet with his noisy questions. “You should leave,” I grit, stopping the swing so I can glare at him without interruption. “This is my park.”

He looks around for a bit, and then his gaze settles on me once again. Those intense eyes seem to see into my soul. “I don’t see any sign saying that.”

“Ugh, you’re infuriating!” I glare at him, but he seems to find it amusing. Not wanting to wait for anymore of his smart-mouth comments, I get up, but his hand darts out, stopping me from leaving.

I look down at him, at his hand covering mine, his rough palm warming my chilly fingers and spreading tingles through my hand and into my whole body.

“The feeling is mutual, little Firecracker.” His soft whisper breaks me out of the haze.

Pulling my hand out of his, like his touch burned me, I turn around on the heels of my feet and stalk away, not once looking back.

* * *

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