Page 106 of The Rules

Forty

“So how much trouble shouldCat be in?” Dani asked as Dylan led her up a concrete walkway. He’d pulled the car in front of a brick ranch with white shutters and a mismatch of potted flowers crowding the small set of front steps.

“She should wear a crown, actually. I think I’ll get one made for her.”

Dani laughed, butterflies darting around in her belly. Dylan hadn’t said it outright, but she had a feeling she knew whose house this was. When they stopped under the yellow light from the replica lantern above the door, he cupped her elbows and stared down at her. “I was serious about making that stand.”

“Where are we?”

“Pierce family game night. It’s the absolute worst, but these are the things you’re going to have to do now. I hope you understand.”

Dani could feel herself beaming. “I’ll make the sacrifice. But you did promise me food.”

“Lucky for you, my mother could probably put that fancy Italian restaurant out of business if she were so inclined.”

“Looks like my night turned out well, then.”

“Don’t speak too soon. You ready?”

Dylan didn’t wait for an answer. He pushed open the front door and wrapped an arm around her waist, ushering her into a small foyer off of the kitchen. When he kicked off his boots, she reached down to slip off the heels she’d worn with her navy blue sleeveless dress. She was quickly reminded she was probably way over-dressed for game night, but Dylan was perpetually over-dressed so she pushed that aside.

Dylan slid his fingers into hers and tugged. He kept his eyes on her as he navigated into the living room, like he was worried she might flee if he stopped to look where he was going.

“Dylan!” Irene jumped up from the couch and took two steps before flattening a palm over her chest dramatically. “Dani. From the wedding.”

Dani felt Dylan’s palm getting moist but he didn’t let go. “Hi, Irene,” she said, offering her free hand. Irene brushed it away and went in for a hug, forcing Dylan to drop his grip. Over Irene’s shoulder, a slender woman with straight black hair just like Dylan’s got to her feet. She’d been sitting cross-legged on the carpet with two young boys who were also now staring.

“Dylan. You’ve been ignoring my texts. We weren’t sure if you were coming.”

“Hey, Katie. I wasn’t sure if Dani was coming,” he said, capturing Dani’s hand again as soon as Irene released her. “Didn’t want to come without her.”

Katie looked Dani up and down, but it wasn’t appraisingly. It was more uncertainty as to whether she should greet Dani, or if she might disappear into thin air any minute.

“I’m Kate,” she said, apparently deciding to chance it. “Dylan’s sister.”

“Hi, Kate. I’m Dani.” She plopped a period at the end of that sentence, giving Dylan a break, but he didn’t hesitate.

“Dani’s my girlfriend,” he said.

Dani watched Kate’s eyes widen before she caught hold of her expression and smiled. “I’m very glad to meet you.”

“I’m glad to meet you too.”

Kate opened her arm to usher them into Irene’s living room, since Dylan’s mother had apparently gone still with confusion. Happy confusion, it seemed. This was all very happily confusing. Dylan ruffled his nephews’ hair and chose an armchair, tugging Dani onto his lap. Irene snapped back to the room, rushing to offer Dani a glass of wine.

“Get her some food, Ma. Will you? I sort of stole her dinner.”

“Dylan! Why would you…” Irene threw her hands in the air and headed to the kitchen. “I’ll be back with a plate and a napkin to cover that pretty dress, Dani.”

Dylan squeezed her tighter. “Call her Danica,” he said with a smirk.

Dani smiled. “Go ahead.”

Forty-one

Dani peeled back her warmsheets and craned her neck to see the time. Since he’d been staying over every other weekend, Dylan had claimed the side of the bed with the nightstand so he could take off his watch and charge his phone. She peered over his bare shoulder and squinted at her clock.

“We should get up,” she mumbled half-heartedly. It was early, but the grumbling in her stomach didn’t care. “I need food. And coffee.” A dull throbbing in her head that she’d been mildly aware of picked up tempo, knocking out a morse code plea for caffeine.

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