Page 32 of Rules

I can only imagine how long she’s been sitting like this, waiting for me to pay her attention while I was immersed in the world ofJane Eyre.

Chocolate eyes narrow at me, but her little tough act is ruined when a glossy strand of hair falls from her messy bun right into her face. Frustrated, she puffs it away. “Don’t you go on pretending like you didn’t hear me. I know you did.”

Well, it was worth a try.

“There is Max and then there is me.”

She rolls her eyes exaggeratingly. “Oh, please. Who are you trying to fool?”

I shrug nonchalantly, looking out the window at the descending sun coloring the sky in oranges and pinks. My fingers itch to grab my brushes and paint, but all the supplies are at school and there is no way I can capture something like this with a pencil, so I stare out the window, trying to memorize this beauty with my eyes alone and hopefully, I’ll be able to recreate it later.

When Lia doesn’t get an answer, she continues. “What happened today? Why was he in the art room?”

“He was passing by when he saw me. I don’t know why he stopped, but he thought it would be easier for him to concentrate on studying in the art room instead of the stuffy library. I wanted him gone, but I didn’t want to be rude.”

“Since when does Brook Taylor worry about not being rude?” Lia challenges.

I glare at her. “Since when did Amelia Campbell become so nosy?”

“Touché.”

“In my defense, I did try to throw a paint tube at him.”

Pale brows rise up. “Try to? How do youtryto throw a paint tube at somebody?”

“Okay,” I admit. “Maybe Ididthrow it at him.”

I look at her, and we both burst into laughter. Not that long ago, Lia would probably keep her opinions to herself, but lately, she’s become more open. I guess we have Derek to thank for that. Since they started dating, she’s more confident.

Lola, Lia’s six-year-old Charles Spaniel, lifts her head, brown eyes blinking the sleep away. She doesn’t seem amused by our antics judging by her serious, are-you-for-real face.

When our laughter dies down, she curls into herself again, sighing loudly.

Drama queen if I’ve ever seen one. That dog possesses more attitude than some people, and most of the time it feels like she knows and understands everything.

Lia turns in the chair, getting back to working on her homework or whatever she’s doing. I think our conversation is done, but just as I’m about to do an internal happy dance and open my book to continue reading, her words stop me.

“For what it’s worth, I think you two would make a good couple.”

Sighing, I let my head fall back. “Lia…”

A not so good aspect of her and Derek being together is that now she has this need to see everybody happy and settled down. Don’t get me wrong; I love the girl. But happily ever afters are not meant for everybody.

“Brook.” She drawls my name in the same manner. “You’re my best friend, and I want to see you happy. I think Max could do that.”

“Most of the time I want to strangle the guy. How does that make me happy?”

If that’s not some pretty twisted thinking, I don’t know what is.

Lia looks over her shoulder, her brown eyes shining with mischief. “Your eyes light up every time you bicker. I think he gives you a high like nothing else can, and you actually enjoy giving him a hard time. The two of you kind of remind me of an old married couple.”

I shake my head. “You’re crazy.”

“Maybe.” She shrugs playfully. “Maybe not. I guess we’ll see.”

There was nothing to see. Our bickering was just that, bickering. Max irritates me with his good guy act, and he can’t stand my sarcasm and standoffishness. There is nothing hiding underneath it all. No chemistry, no sexual tension. Nothing. But she couldn’t see that because she was too blind for anything and anybody except Derek.

Too blind to see that Maximillian Sanders, in all his goodness, has fallen in love with her but won’t do anything about it because he cared more about her happiness than his own.

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