Page 152 of Rules

Her blue eyes fill with unshed tears as she looks between the two of us, and a part of me hates myself for being so hard on her. For being the reason for her tears. Yet, a part of me can’t let go.

Taking in one shaky breath, she blinks the tears away.

“I’m not going to force you to talk to him until you’re ready. I won’t tell you if you should forgive him or not. That’s your decision. But I sure as hell won’t let you dictate what I should do either. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”

I watch her quietly walk out with her back straight, those two parts of me still battling inside.

Something wet touches my arm. I look down, and brown eyes blink at me lovingly. Huffing a smile, I give in and scratch the monster behind her fluffy ears. She looks more like a toy than a living, breathing creature. That is, until she suffocates you with her need for attention.

Sighing, I lift my gaze to Jeanette. She nibbles at her lips, and I can see her fighting the same battle I am. He hurt her, badly. Of the two of us, she was always the one closer to him. Daddy’s little princess. Smart and brilliant, just like him. She always wanted to follow in his footsteps, go to Harvard to study medicine. Spend her life helping people. But she hasn’t talked about it in years.

“Well, that escalated quickly.”

No shit.

“You have to let go, Max. Let go of all these nasty feelings that are haunting you.”

“I don’t know if I can.” I shake my head. “So much has happened. The accident, all the secrets,Brook...”

Jeanette nods in understanding. “Any word on her?”

Brook has been gone for about a month, and nobody’s heard anything from her. At the beginning, I was pissed at her. Pissed she went behind my back and told Lia about my feelings for her. Pissed at her for leaving. But more than anything, pissed at myself. Because I couldn’t escape the feeling that I was the person who drove her away. After all, she came to me, and I pushed her away without even giving her a moment to explain.

It felt surreal, like at any moment she might come back, only she never did, and finally going to the art room and not finding her there confirmed what a part of me rebelled against for days. Brook really is gone, and she’s not coming back.

“Nothing.”

“If she is so adamant to be gone, there has to be a good reason for it.”

I just hope I’m not that reason.

My eyes dart to the painting I put above my bed. If you glance at it, you see just an ordinary couple kissing, until you come closer. His hands are fisted by her head, helping him hover over her. There is almost desperation in the way their lips touch, the way her hand grips his shirt. Pulling him closer or pushing him away? And then there is a tear. One lone tear falling down her cheek as the douchebag says the name of her best friend as he kisses her. I should know; I’ve been there.

“You know,” Jeanette interrupts my thoughts as she stands next to me, looking at the painting. One final part of her I stole for myself, a reminder of what I did. I didn’t tell her it’s Brook’s, but I don’t think I had to. “For you, it’s always been her.”

“I wish that were true,” I whisper, my eyes still glued to the wall.

If it were, maybe things would have turned out differently. Maybe she would still be here and not God knows where. For all I know, she could already be on the other side of the country, hell, even the world. Instead, she’s gone, and I’m not sure I’ll ever find out what exactly she needed that day. I’ll never be able to tell her how sorry I am for all the stupid things I did. Never tell her how I really feel...

“That’s where you’re wrong. You justthoughtyou were in love with Lia.”

“I loved Lia just fine,” I grumble, not liking one bit the direction in which this conversation is headed.

“You loved theideaof Lia, but you didn’t loveher. Not the way you love Brook.”

“And how is that?” I look down to my sister.

“Like she’s the piece you’ve been missing. Like you can’t breathe if she isn’t around and life has lost all its color.”

“I never pegged you for a romantic, Anette,” I try to tease, but it falls flat.

“I never pegged you for a coward, Max. Get your shit in order, and find your girl.”

Chapter Fifty-Five

ANDREW

Trailing her skin with my lips, I nibble at the soft flesh of her neck. Jeanette murmurs in approval, her head tilting back and giving me more access to all that glorious skin. Her fingers run through my hair, pulling me closer.

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