Page 67 of Rules

“Actually, Grandma came to visit us, so we’re in Greyford. But it’s been fun. We don’t get to see her as often as we did when we lived in California. I know Jeanette misses her.”

“That must be nice,” she whispers softly, and I can hear the longing in her voice. I remember Lia’s photos, my heart aching for her even before I ask the question.

“You have any family over? Or did you maybe spend time with the Campbells?”

Brook laughs, but there is nothing funny about it. “It’s just me.”

“But what about…”

Sighing, she cuts me off, her icy tone leaving no room for discussion. “Sanders, can we please not? I think we already established how different our lives are. There is no need to rub it in my face.”

“I wasn’t…”

“You know what?” She doesn’t let me finish. I curse under my breath, already feeling her pulling away, and that’s exactly what she does. “I have to go. I have a double shift tomorrow. Thank you for calling. Happy holidays.”

“Brook…” But even before I manage to call out properly, the line goes dead. I pull the phone away, looking at her name plastered on my screen. There is a sinking, heavy feeling in my gut. This was the last thing I wanted, but per usual, I somehow managed to mess it up. “Happy holidays,” I whisper, although I know she won’t hear it.

Cursing loudly, I throw my phone on the bed and run my fingers through my hair again, pulling at the ends in frustration.

Knowing that after this I won’t be able to get back to sleep, I push away the comforter and get out of bed. The floor is cold underneath my naked feet, but I welcome it. Rubbing at my chest, I walk toward the window. Our backyard is covered in darkness, the white snow glowing under the dim moonlight.

I watch it fall down, my thoughts still on Brook. Why didn’t she spend the holidays with Lia? I couldn’t imagine her not extending an invite. Not like she needed it, because by the looks of it, those few odd times I was at the Campbells’ house, Brook was treated like their daughter. So what was her deal?

I’m not even sure why I’m obsessing over it so much, except that it bugs me. Nobody should spend the holidays alone. And I only made it worse by being a dick and shoving my nose where it doesn’t belong.

Sighing, I remember her parting words. Tomorrow. I’ll go and apologize tomorrow. With as much as I screw up around her, I should already be used to it, not that it makes much difference.

Content with my resolution, I start to turn around when headlights catch my attention. I watch carefully as they slowly near until the car finally comes to a stop in front of the house.

A silver SUV.

I watch, silently waiting to see who’ll get out of it. Whoever’s sitting inside waits for a while longer, until they finally turn off the car altogether. The door opens, and I watch Jeanette climb out. She stops, her head tilted back as she looks at the sky. She’s not wearing her jacket, so I know she must be freezing, but still she doesn’t make an attempt to go inside.

Finally, her head falls down, arms curling around herself, as she slowly walks inside.

I listen to her footsteps as she climbs the stairs and the creak of the door when she’s finally in her room.

I don’t have to ask where she was, because I have a nagging feeling I already know. What worries me is something much worse.

Is she spiraling again?

Chapter Twenty-Four

BROOK

“Here you go,” I say, putting three whiskey shots on the table. “Need anything else?”

One of the guys from the group looks at me, his drunk, glassy eyes roaming my body, lingering on my exposed cleavage. Not that I had a choice when it came to my uniform. The boss likes his waitresses to be “sexy,” if you consider sexy ultra-short shorts and a size-too-small shirt. But hey, it’s all in the eyes of the beholder.

Licking his lips, the guy slurs, “Only if you’re on the menu, baby.”

My hand clenches by my side, teeth gritted tightly as his friends burst into laughter. I was used to all kinds of sleazy guys coming here, and trust me when I say, I’ve seen it all. Skanky eyes undressing me as I pass by, wandering hands that oh-so-accidentally brush against my ass while they try to shame me with their nasty comments. No, this wasn’t anything new, but tonight I was on the verge of snapping. Thanks to last night’s conversation with Max, I slept like shit, turning in my bed with restless thoughts running through my head.

At least you were sleeping in your bed, not like the night before…

I want to erase that night from my memory, but there is no way I ever could. Not even after spending it in some hole-in-the-wall diner that’s open twenty-four-seven with nothing else but my thoughts keeping me company. Thoughts that were rolling on repeat as I tried to figure out if what Josephine said was true or if it was some kind of stunt she’s pulling to get what she wants.

Don’t think about it. It doesn’t matter anyway.

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