Page 53 of Rules

My muscles protested all the way to the art room, but I didn’t let it slow me down. Even after an excruciating workout, I was still so pissed at her and what she did. Pissed at her for running away and pretending like nothing happened.

I didn’t get her. I thought she’d finally opened up to me, but then she goes and does something to show me that those walls she’s built around herself are as strong, as impenetrable, as ever. That no matter how hard I tried to get to her, she’d push me back, not budging in the slightest.

I storm into the art room ready to finally face Brook and have it out with her once and for all, but of course, the one time when I need her to be alone she’s anything but. Two other people, a guy and a girl, are in the room working on their own stuff. Their heads snap up when the door bangs against the wall with my abrupt entrance, their eyes growing wide when they see me standing in the doorway.

The only person who seems composed is Brook. Her hair is pulled into a ponytail, her green eyes staring into mine across the room with the tip of her paintbrush between her teeth. She looks casual and cool as fuck. Almost bored, even. Which pisses me off even more.

“Get out.” I tilt my chin to the side, but when they don’t move quick enough I repeat, this time louder, “Get the fuck out!”

They jump in surprise but start moving, and in thirty seconds flat, they both slide out, careful not to brush against me as they squeeze past.

Slowly, I close the door behind them before I turn around to face Brook.

“Dramatic much?” One dark eyebrow rises mockingly at me.

I narrow my eyes at her. With arms crossed over my chest, I stand in front of the door, blocking anyone who might want to enter, but more importantly, stopping Brook from leaving. “We’re going to talk, and I’m not letting you run away this time around.”

I expect some kind of reaction, but the best I get is a tick in her jaw. “I don’t see what we have to talk about.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” I slowly start walking toward her. “How about the fact that we had sex, and then I woke up to an empty bed the next day?”

I sound like a damn pussy, but I don’t even care. For some reason, waking up with her gone messed with my mind more than I’d ever admit out loud. We’ve been dancing around all of this for weeks now, and I need to know where we stand because I don’t have time to play games.

Her lips press in a tight line, the irritation rolling off of her in waves. Welcome to the club, babe. Feigning nonchalance, she shrugs. “It was just sex.”

My eyes narrow at her. “Was this revenge?”

She rolls her eyes at me, and then she turns around, blocking me out of her sight. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

My hands ball into fists by my side. “It was, wasn’t it? You’re still pissed at what happened at the Halloween party!”

Her shoulders stiffen, but she doesn’t turn around. “It hasnothingto do with Halloween.”

“Doesn’t it?” I challenge. “Because to me, it feels like it has everything to do with it. I already said I was sorry. I was drunk that night, and I’m not even sure why…”

Brook turns suddenly, her finger pointed at me, fury shining in her irises. “Don’t you dare lie to me, Max. We both know full well why you did what you did. You’re in love with her, but you can’t have her, so you went for the next best thing. Either way, what happened was just sex. A huge mistake, but just sex.”

“There is no such thing asjust sex,Brook.” Her words spike something inside of me. I march closer, so close the only thing separating us is her canvas. “Especially not what happened Saturday night. Is that why you ran away? Was it too much? Staring into my eyes when I was so deep inside you I could feel your womb?”

Her cheeks flush from my words, giving me satisfaction. I brush the tips of my fingers against her cheeks, and when my skin touches hers and a zip of electricity runs through my limbs, I can hear her sharp inhale. Leaning forward so my breath touches her skin, I whisper softly, “Was it too much to fall apart knowing that I was there watching? Knowing I’m the one who did that? I’m the one who made you lose control if only for a few seconds?”

“Max…” Brook breathes out, her whole body shuddering at my words, eyes falling shut as she turns her head away, trying to break our contact. Her throat bobs as she swallows audibly. “I-I can’t.Wecan’t.”

My fingers dart underneath her chin, forcing her to turn around.

“We didn’t do anything wrong,” I say, but my words have no effect on her. I tighten my grip on her chin just a little bit. “Look at me, Brook.”

She tries to look away, but I’m not letting her go, so in the end, she complies. Her eyelids flutter open, and those piercing green eyes look into mine, leaving me breathless. There is so much hiding in those depths. Heartache and anguish mixing together and pulling me in, wrapping around my throat until it’s hard to breathe.

One step forward, two steps back. It’s the same old dance we have again and again.

“What we had was amazing, and…”

Brook shakes her head. “What happened shouldn’t have.”

“But it did…”

“And it was wrong.” She pulls away but doesn't turn her back to me. No, her eyes meet me straight on, and for the first time, I wish she’d look away. Because they’re broken. Completely and utterly shattered. There are no tears, only emptiness and pieces of her soul.

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