Page 144 of Rules

She had no right. No right to go to Lia and say anything. It was none of her goddamn business.

Lia’s small hands wrap around my still body, her tears dampening my shirt as she cries.

“I-I didn’t know,” she hiccups. “I never wanted to hurt you; you have to believe me.”

Pushing away the anger, I pull Lia in my arms, my hand soothing her messy hair as she sobs softly, her hands gripping my shirt. “Shh… it’s okay. You did nothing wrong.”

“I should have known. Should have seen it…” Another heartbreaking sob rips out of her lungs. “I’m so, so sorry.”

“I know.”

Lifting my gaze, I see Derek looking at us. His shoulders are tense, lips set in a tight line. I can’t even imagine how hard it must be for him not to come over and rip her out of my arms. If I were him, I’m not sure I’d be able to hold on to the control while the guy who was once in love with his girlfriend now has her in his arms, but he does it. Because this isn’t about me or him; it’s about Lia and her pain. The pain her best friend purposely put her through.

She pulls back, her hands still grasping me. Her long lashes are glued together, eyes glossy with unshed tears. “I do love you, Max. As a friend, and if for a second I suspected…”

“It’s okay.” I tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I know that. I’ve always known that. So you don’t have to be sorry about anything, because you didn’t do anything wrong.”

“You’re a good man, Max.”

I chuckle, but there is no humor in it. “I don’t think people would agree with you right now.”

“They’re fools.” Lia smiles, but it’s missing its usual light. “I always thought it was Brook.”

My eyes fall shut, heart squeezing tightly, as image after image of Brook assaults my mind. All the feelings I didn’t want to name mixing with anger because of what she did. Anger andworry.

What the hell happened, Brook? Where are you?

I remember her coming to me the other day. Did something happen? Did she need me and I pushed her away?

“Brook and I… things are complicated.”

A loud cough interrupts us.

“Now that we’ve sorted all the mushy stuff, can you please let go of my girlfriend?” Derek comes closer, his arms wrapping around her and pulling her away from me, but not before shooting a threat my way. “Before I break your arms for even considering touching something that’s mine.”

We look at each other over Lia’s head. His gaze is hard, telling me all I need to know.

Stay the fuck away from my girl.

I nod my head in acknowledgment, letting my hands fall down and taking a step back. Whatever feelings I once had for Lia are now gone. They have been for a while. What I didn’t anticipate is thishollowfeeling inside me. I can feel it growing, dark and overwhelming.

“What are we going to do?” Lia’s soft whisper breaks me out of my thoughts. “I’m worried about her.”

I look down at her troubled face. “Do you want to go looking for her?”

She shakes her head. “I wouldn’t know where to start. Brook isn’t very forthcoming when it comes to her whereabouts. Even with me and I’m her best friend.”

“We’ll figure it out.” Derek’s lips press against her forehead. “She couldn’t have just disappeared from the face of the earth.”

My chest squeezes painfully. Worry—a feeling that by now has become my constant companion, especially when it comes to Brook. Even when she drives me crazy, even when I want to strangle her for her stubbornness, I can’t help but worry about her well-being.

Did she leave for good? Or is she just hiding in that hole in the wall where she thinks she belongs?

Either way, knowing Brook? I wouldn’t put it past her to do just that.

As if she can read my thoughts, Lia voices my worries. “She’s good at hiding. She’s been through so much, she’s gotten good at it. Too good. If she wants to disappear…”

Dread settles in my bones. Lia doesn’t have to finish her sentence for us to understand.

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