Page 177 of Rules

“It might get messy,” I warn, using her words from yesterday. Was it only yesterday? It feels like it’s been ages considering all the things that have happened.

“I’m kind of an expert on messy.”

I pull her to a halt, my hand grazing her cheek. “What a pair we make.”

Brook holds my gaze for a while, then her eyes fall down to my lips. I haven’t kissed her since Andrew’s interruption yesterday, and my body is dying to rectify that.

“There you are.”

Speak of the devil,I groan, tilting my head back. Fucking cock-blocker. I’m so going to get back at him eventually.

Andrew gives me a knowing smirk, but doesn’t comment. Instead, he gets between the two of us, his attention on Brook. “You’re all set. You have the same schedule you did before. You’ll have to check with your teachers on how to catch up, but they did promise to let you finish the year even though you’ve missed the last three months.”

“How the hell did you manage to do that?”

Andrew cringes. “I might have had to ask John to pull some strings.”

“I thought you weren’t talking to him anymore.” Brook’s face turns serious.

“He owes you this and more.”

“I don’t want anything from him, Andrew,” Brook protests. “I could have gotten my GED and avoided this circus.”

She waves her hand at the students still gaping at our little group.

“I know, but I’m not letting that son of a bitch off the hook that easily. Besides, there are only a few weeks left, and you deserve a little bit of normality in your life. We want you to finish senior year with us. Please?”

“Fine,” she sighs. “I’ll do this for you guys. And now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to grab my books and go to class. Apparently, I have some catching up to do.”

* * *

BROOK

“Mom, you here?” Max calls as soon as we get inside his house.

I look around, nerves getting the best of me. You’d think this was my first time here, but even though it’s not, I’ve never met their parents. And with all the things the Sanders family is going through, I definitely don’t think now’s the right time.

Considering they’re your baby’s family too, I don’t see how you have a choice.

“In the kitchen,” she yells back as Max helps me out of my jacket. Most of my clothes have become a tight fit in the last few weeks, and I know I’ll soon have to do something about it, but for now, leggings are my best friend.

Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I straighten my shirt and wish for the hundredth time today I’d been smarter and worn one of my loose shirts this morning.

Max’s hand settles on mine, covering my stomach, his gray gaze meeting mine in the mirror. “You look fine.”

“They’re going to be pissed off, aren’t they?” I can feel my whole body shudder at the thought. The last thing I wanted was to cause more trouble for Max and his parents.

“Most likely,” he agrees, and somehow his sincerity makes me feel a little bit at ease. “But let them.” His fingers spread over my stomach, giving it a small rub, and the now familiar flutters spread underneath my skin. “I love you, Brook. I want you and this baby and our future.”

Looking at those stormy eyes, I can see the truth in his words that warms my heart. I open my mouth, the words on the tip of my tongue, but don’t get to say them out loud.

“Ready?”

Nodding my head, I let him take my hand in his and lead me to the kitchen to meet his parents. Jeanette decided to give us some time alone to tell them and instead went with Andrew to look at some apartments.

At first, I was worried about how we were going to be able to get an apartment, but as it turns out he got partial access to the trust fund his grandfather left him when he turned eighteen. I promised I’d give him back my share as soon as I found a job, but he didn’t want to hear it. Not like that is going to stop me.

“There you are!” a woman who’s the spitting image of Max says as soon as we enter the room. Although she’s dressed casually, designer jeans and a cashmere sweater with pearls around her neck, everything about her screams wealth. “You had me worried when you…” Her gray eyes grow wide when she sees me peeking around Max. “Oh, you brought company.”

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