Page 77 of Rules

His tongue darts out, wetting his lower lip before he leans forward.

“Don’t,” I whisper, pressing my finger against his lips, but we’re so close that the finger is the only barrier between our mouths touching.

“Why not?”

“We can’t.”

“We already did,” he counters stubbornly. “It’s not like one kiss would change anything.”

I shake my head no. We can’t keep doing this. He doesn’t want me, not really anyway, and I… I don’t want to be someone’s second choice. Especially not to my best friend. And even if that wasn’t the case, we’re simply too different.

He’s light to my darkness. Blue blood runs through his veins, and there is a bright future with college and probably the NHL waiting for him.

Me on the other hand? I’m a broody girl from the wrong side of the tracks, too jaded by life to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I’ll be lucky if I get out of here in one patched-up piece.

“You’re driving me nuts, Taylor.” The low growl that comes from him makes my whole body tingle. His fingers in my hair tighten just slightly. “I know you don’t believe me, but I’m going to show you. That’s a promise.”

With one final brush of his thumb across my cheekbones, he takes a step back. “I’ll be in my room if you need me.”

I nod in acknowledgment, although I know the truth.

I won’t go back there, because I can’t allow myself to need him.

I can’t allow myself to need anybody.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

MAX

The door to the guest room shuts behind me, and only then do I allow myself to exhale. I roll my shoulders hoping to relieve some of the tension that seems permanently situated there, but the only thing it does is make me aware of the dull ache in my muscles.

“What the hell was that about?”

Dammit, of course she heard.

Rubbing my throbbing forehead, I give myself time for another deep breath before meeting my sister’s knowing eyes. No matter how hard we tried to stay quiet, we were anything but, so to find Jeanette waiting for me in the darkness of the hallway isn’t really that big of a surprise. I guess I should be happy she’s the only one we woke up because it would be awkward explaining this to my parents.

“Nothing that needs to concern you,” I say, suddenly feeling tired. “Go to bed, Jeanette.”

“Nothing that needs to concern me?” she hisses, crossing her arms over her chest as she stares me down. “By the sound of the scream show you just had, I’d say you didn’t come home alone. What the hell is Brook doing here?”

“It’s better if you don’t know.”

Jeanette’s eyes grow hard. “I thought we were past keeping secrets.”

With lips pressed in a tight line, I tilt my head to the side, listening to what’s going on behind the closed door, but there is only quiet.

Is she asleep already?Canshe even sleep?

I’m not sure I’ll be able to, not when I can still hear her scream, loud and clear. It makes me tremble with rage to the point I know that if any of those asshats were in front of me right now, I’d smash them into the ground, and this time they wouldn’t be so lucky in getting up on their own. If they get up at all.

Jeanette’s hand grips around my forearm, making me jolt in awareness. Her eyes plead with me to confide in her, to let her in, but I can’t. Brook would never forgive me if I do.

Disentangling myself from Jeanette, I take a step back. “Well, this isn’t my secret to tell.”

Like she can feel the darkness looming over me, Jeanette nods, letting me off the hook. For now. “You’re tired. Go to bed and rest.”

I bend down and press my lips against the crown of her head. “You know I’d tell you if I could.”

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