Page 4 of Rules

I shrug, not saying anything. I don’t really care what she thinks she knows. What anyone thinks they know. The only thing that matters to me is that she’s happy, even if it’s with a guy who’s not me.

Taking a long pull from the beer bottle, I let the buzz spread through my body. Thank God Jeanette volunteered to be our DD for the night because I don’t know if I’d be able to survive it alcohol free.

After all, it’s not every day a guy helps another dude win the girl he likes.

The first time I met Amelia Campbell, it was like I’d met an angel. There was something around her; I don’t know really, but all I could see was light, perfection, and innocence. She was everything good and pure in this world put into one person, and I wanted a part of that for myself. I wanted to touch her, be close to her, protect her.

At first, it was innocent, but the more I got to know her, the more I liked her. And no matter how many times I told myself to forget about her and put distance between us before somebody—mainly me—gets hurt, I just couldn’t do it.

And when Derek messed up, for a split second I entertained the idea of stepping in, but in the end, I couldn’t. Not because I didn’t like her, but because I knew no matter how much she likes me, Amelia still loves Derek.

Even when he’s acting like a jerk. Even when he messed up. Hell, even these past ten years when he let his friend bully her, she still loves him.

So no matter how much it made my insides revolt, I did what was right for Amelia. Even if it meant helping Derek form a plan to tell her the truth of what really happened and get his girl back.

His girl, not yours. His.Maybe if I repeat those words enough, my mind will catch up.

The flash of ginger catches my attention, just in time to see Lia and Derek leave the room.

The beer I just swallowed tastes funny in my throat, and I can feel my chest squeeze painfully.

“Max…”

Jeanette reaches to touch me, but I pull away. Throwing my head back, I force down what’s left of the beer. “Think whatever you want. I’m going to find something to drink.”

And that’s exactly what I do. I push all thoughts of Amelia and Derek out of my head and concentrate on the party. I join the guys on the team and we shoot the shit. Talking hockey and girls while playing beer pong.

I’m not even sure how much time passes or how many beers I’ve had, but the world is spinning and I’m sure I’m seeing double, but I’m having fun and that uneasy feeling that was haunting me before is gone. There’s no tightness in my chest. Nothing’s impeding me from breathing. No dark thoughts going through my mind.

Guys laugh when another ball goes into my cup. Tossing the cup back, I feel some of the beer slip down my chin. I down the cup and put it back on the table, wiping my chin with the back of my hand. Somehow in the process, I lose my balance, and I would’ve fallen on my ass if it weren’t for one of my teammates standing behind me.

“You should slow down, Sanders.”

I shake my head stubbornly. “Nah, I’m good, man. I just need to take a leak.”

I wave him off when he offers to help me and stumble out of the room.

The hallway is quieter, and the sudden change in light blacks my vision. Gripping the wall to regain my balance, I close my eyes until the black spots are gone before I continue walking.

The downstairs bathroom is always full, so I stumble up the stairs where I know Drew doesn’t allow people to wander.

It feels like forever before I reach the top. I open every door I pass until I find the bathroom.

I take a piss, and as I’m washing my hands, I look at my reflection in the mirror. There are two of me, and my drunk self finds it funny because I start chuckling, the almost frantic sound echoing against the tiles.

Although it’s Halloween, I opted for a Wolves hoodie and dark jeans. It’s not like helping Derek with his plan left me with time for costume shopping. My dark hair is disheveled, light stubble covering my jaw. My pupils are dilated, eyes glassy with darkish circles underneath them.

Basically, I’m a mess.

Splashing some water over my face, I hope it helps me with sobering up. I’m not the one driving, but I know Jeanette will rip me a new one if she sees me like this.

As presentable as possible at the moment, I walk out, only to crash into a body outside the bathroom.

The person, much smaller than me, stumbles from the impact. I try to save her from falling, but as we established earlier, my reflexes are shit when I’m drunk, so we both end up falling to the floor in a mess of limbs.

“Uff…”

“I’m so sorr—” I try to lean on my forearm, but at the same time, she attempts to put her hand down so she can push up. Our limbs lock together, making me lose my balance and fall forward.

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