Page 44 of Unwritten Rules

It was my turn. “What is it you want, Brent? Like, in life or anything else?”

The pace between us slowed down like I caught him off guard. “Do you think about this a lot?”

“If I have to answer, you do too.”

He nodded.

“Yeah,” I sighed. “I think about what my mom wanted for me before she died. About my best friend, Kelly, moving on with her life at some point. Where I would be after that and what it is that I want for myself in the future.”

It wasn’t a lie. I did think about ita lot.What would happen when Kelly moved on? I never made extra friends or found any stability in being by myself. My mom left me her entire empire and I had no idea how to handle that.

Brent picked up the pace again and I caught a moment of his eyebrows furrowing. He was searching for the answer. “What does Brent Vaughn want? For so long, I think it’s been about living up to my grandfather’s expectations. I think a simple answer to my endgame question is to be free to make my own choices.”

I poked him. “Is that why you’re so broody all the time?”

“Ah, ah.” He waved his finger at me, eyes flashing with intensity. “My turn. What do you really think of me, Fallon?”

“Hmm.” I tapped my finger to my chin. “I think you’re a big oaf.” Laughing, I skated away from him.

My feet were tired, but I persisted in skating a few more rounds. Question for a question died out into silence, and I watched him in the comfortable ambiance of the music that played in the background.

I plopped onto a bench and pulled the skates off. My feet burned. The last time I was on the rink was far too long ago. It made me feel good to be back out here–my mom would have wanted me to.

Then again, I didn’t feel like I truly knew everything about my mother. She kept a lot from me and left me with things I wasn’t aware of.

Brent sat beside me and leaned into my shoulder. His chin dipped low, brushing my ear. “Hungry?” Shivers ran down my spine. His tone was far too sensual for the question he just asked.

I pulled back and eyed him.

He clapped a hand to my thigh. “Let’s go, Blondie.”

We drove away from the rink and into the darkened sky. I caught him looking over at me from the reflection in the window multiple times. It still confused me as to why he was showing such interest in me. I wasn’t special in any way.

And putting this much effort into sleeping with someone?Weird.

Brent chose the place to eat. A drive-in fast-food joint and I was ready to order the entire menu. After his little kidnapping stunt, a scant breakfast, and skating around for a while, I was ravished. I went for two fully loaded double cheeseburgers, a large tray of tater tots, onion rings, and a chocolate peanut butter milkshake.

When I broke the trance, I had with the menu while ordering, I saw him looking at me more amused than ever.

I stifled a laugh. “What? I told you I was hungry.”

He matched my order with a laundry list of his own and looked over at me. “Can’t have your tiny ass out eating me.”

The neon lights mixed with the moonlight across the dashboard as I got cozy in the passenger seat. The atmosphere between us felt changed in a way. Maybe it was the food being delivered, maybe it was something about astrology. I didn’t know.

He leaned over to lower the music. “Can I be honest?”

Suspicious.“Sure.” I’d already eaten half of my first burger before he’d even eaten more than a few fries.

“I have never seen someone your size eat so much food.” His tone was light and his eyes were curious. It was like he was sizing me up–if it wasn’t him, I’d assume it was someone trying to get to know me.

But it was Brent. His reputation stated that he had ulterior motives.

I shoved an onion ring into my mouth and chewed it slowly. “I didn’t have much for breakfast beforesomeonecame to my house and rudely kidnapped me. Can you believe they were trying to take me in my pajamas? Not cool.” The last of my burger was inhaled before I crumpled up the wrapper and tossed it into the bag.

My second burger came out immediately. I didn’t lie; I was so freaking hungry.

He started in on his burger. “Wow, theaudacityof some people.”

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