Page 66 of Rules

For a while, I scroll aimlessly through my social media. Everybody seems to be having a blast reuniting with their extended families for the holidays, and I can’t help but think back over my day.

Grandma decided to come for a visit, and it was good seeing her, although it brought back the tension. She and my grandfather were never happy with Mom’s choice of husband, but there seemed to be something else underneath it all. Still, both Jeanette—especially Jeanette since she and Grandma were two peas in a pond—and I were glad to see her and spend some quality time together.

Now everybody was long asleep, except me.

Sighing, I’m about to turn off my phone when a photo on Instagram catches my attention. I stop to look at it. I heard they were spending Christmas together, but I didn’t give it much thought until now. Lia and Derek are sitting underneath the Christmas tree. She’s sitting in his lap, his hands around her waist. Both Beast—my name for Lia’s dog—and Ace—Derek’s rescue dog—at their feet. She’s smiling and looking genuinely happy.

I expect a pang of jealousy or pain to assault me, but there is nothing. Just emptiness.

Huh…

I tap her profile picture and look through her stories, finding more photos of her, Derek and their families. Even from the screen, you can see they’re having fun, but when the stories end, I can’t help but notice one person missing.Is it because she doesn’t have her own social media accounts?I go back to Lia’s profile, but find photos of Brook and her together.So it isn’t that.

Exiting the app, I look at my text messages. With all of my friends being on some or all social media, my inbox is empty except for one person. I open the message and look at it, unanswered.

Merry Xmas, Firecracker.

It’s simple, and I shouldn’t be surprised she hasn’t replied since she almost never does. Hell, I’m not sure if, in all the months I’ve known her, I’ve seen her with her phone in hand more than a couple of times, but still… The message is almost taunting me.

Is it so hard to answer one damn message? Besides, where is she? I thought she and Lia were connected at the hip. You’d expect them to spend the holidays together, except…

Nibbling at my lip, I look at the screen, but the words are a blur in front of my eyes.

Giving up on all pretenses, I hit call. The phone rings and rings, and just when I’m about to end it, it connects, her raspy voice filling in the speaker.

“H-hello?”

“Brook?” I ask, surprise evident in my tone. I sit straight up in my bed, the blanket falling to my lap as I run my fingers through my hair in an attempt to control the mess on my head.

What the fuck, man? It’s not like she can see you.

“M-Max?” she breathes, my name coming out as a surprised stutter.

I guess I’m not the only one who’s surprised by this call. Yes, I did want to talk to her, but I never expected her to actually answer the phone. Not with her shitty habit of avoiding my messages. But hell, maybe that’s it. Maybe she’s only avoidingmymessages.

Just the thought of it stings, but I push it away. I was never Brook’s favorite person; why the hell should I be surprised by this?

“Yeah, hey.”

“Umm… hi.”

The silence stretches between us, and I can feel my hands going clammy with nerves.

Great, dude. What now?

It’s so long that I pull the phone from my ear to make sure the connection didn’t break, although rationally I know it didn’t. I can still hear her soft breathing on the other end of the line.

“So… ugh… Merry Christmas.”

Bravo, Mr. Obvious. Can you be any lamer than you already are?

Her soft laughter comes from the other side, placating my rapidly beating heart. It’s sexy. Low and raspy, and as it slowly dies down, I wish I could hear it a bit longer.

“Merry Christmas, Max.”

Smiling, I lean against the headboard. “How was your day?”

“Oh… same old.” I can hear her move, sheets rumpling. She must also be in bed. “What about you? Are you visiting your family?”

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