Page 56 of Rules

“I’m fine,” he grits through his teeth, and it sounds almost painful.

“You don’t sound fine.” I tilt his chin back, looking over his face worriedly. His irises seem to be dilated a bit. Maybe he has a concussion. That’d probably be a first. Knocked out by a clumsy hundred-pound girl.

Max grabs my hands, pulling them off his face. “No more.”

“Not so funny now, is it?” I ask, a smile spreading over my face. I try to get my hands out of his hold, but he doesn’t budge.

“Don’t you dare,” he warns me.

“You started this.” I lean forward, so close our noses are practically touching. “Two can play this game, Hotshot.”

He sucks in a breath, his eyes growing darker. His tongue darts forward, moisturizing his lips as his eyes dart between mine and my mouth.

“Brook…” he breathes. It almost sounds painful.

His head leans forward, and I stop breathing.He wouldn’t…our lips brushing… almost there…

“Hey, Brook…” The words are so unexpected they make us both jump up and away from each other. Like two naughty kids caught with their hands in the cookie jar just before the dinner is served.

My heart, which was barely beating seconds ago, is now galloping at full speed so hard I think it’ll break out of my chest.

“Jeanette…” Max says, but it sounds more like a curse than a greeting.

We look at each other for a second, and I can see his eyes are wide, just like I assume mine are. My cheeks flush in embarrassment at being caught doing what exactly? I have no idea.

Who are you trying to lie to?The devil on my shoulder is laughing so hard I want to smack him in the nuts.

“This is obviously the wrong time.”

My eyes dart to my best friend, who’s standing at the doorway. Both of them look like they’re stuck mid-step and they have no idea if they should come in or get the hell out of here. There is a smile playing at Lia’s lips. She and Jeanette exchange a knowing look before they turn back to us.

“We can talk after school…”

“Now is fine,” I offer in a hurry, smoothing my hand over my hair to try and gain some sense of composure.

“No need!” This time it’s Lia interrupting me. She’s already pushing a stunned Jeanette out of the room. “You’re obviously busy; we’ll talk after school.”

With that, they’re out of the room, door firmly closed behind them.

What the hell just happened here?

Not looking at Max, I turn around. “I think it’s best if we get out of here. The next class will start soon.”

* * *

“So…” Jeanette drawls, her eyes glued to the TV. “You and Max?”

I want to groan in frustration but somehow manage to hold it in. I’m surprised it took them this long to bring it up.

After school, Lia, with Jeanette in tow, cornered me. Apparently Derek has asked her to come to his house for a pre-Christmas dinner. Both of his parents work in a hospital, a doctor and a nurse, and one of them is working the holiday so they’re celebrating earlier as a family and they invited Lia to join them. Of course she accepted. The girl was so hopelessly in love she’d do anything for him, but now she was stressing out about what to wear. She legit turned her whole closet upside-down, but whatever we suggested to her, she found lacking. In the end, she made us promise we’d go shopping with her over the weekend.

“Don’t know what you’re talking about.” I don’t even grace her with my attention. My eyes are glued to the half-naked Tyler Hoechlin on the screen.

Binge-watchingTeen Wolfhas become our favorite past time. All those shirtless guys wolfing out was our secret, not-so-secret guilty pleasure. There was no question that once we were done helping Lia clean her exploded closet, we’d stay for a bit and watch it together. Mrs. C’s cookies were just an added bonus to sweeten the deal.

Now they’re rolling in my stomach uncomfortably, and I slowly regret my decision to stay here until my shift starts later this evening.

Lia elbows me from the side, giving me a sly grin. “Didn’t look like nothing from where we were standing. You were practically dry-humping him in the middle of the classroom!”

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