Page 25 of The Rules

The tables were still covered with plates and napkins. Beer bottles lined the fence around the yard. The kitchen wasn’t much better—there were enough leftovers for an army covering every surface. It was a mess. And a perfect opportunity.

“I’ll stay and help him pick up,” Dani said.

“Dani taking one for the team,” Shawn said. “Dylan, it’s been real, man. Another Fourth on the books.”

After Josh had roused Cat and they all hugged their goodbyes, Dylan went to the stereo and turned up the volume. “What do you think? Can we make the cleaning party better than the actual party?”

“Considering people were falling asleep at the actual party.”

Dylan looked wounded. “Cat fell asleep. She’s your friend.”

She shrugged. “And she married your friend.”

“There’s no accounting for taste.”

They each grabbed an armful of trash and moved into the house. “Did you mean what you said earlier?” she asked, making room on the counter. “About love being an illusion?”

He raised an eyebrow. “Is that a surprise?”

She supposed it wasn’t. That was why she was here, after all. Hot emotionless guy, right? But he didn’t seem emotionless earlier. He seemed angry. She moved to the sink and started rinsing plates. “I just hate to think of you being bitter about something. You’re such a happy guy.”

“I make myself happy.”

“And humble. Also a humble guy.”

He laughed, grabbing a dish towel to dry. “I just mean that’s where people go wrong. They start putting their happiness in other people’s hands, then when the other person doesn’t give it the attention they’d hoped for, the resentment starts. It’s always the same.”

“Wow. I never knew you were such a romantic.”

“Your date next week the romantic type?”

She froze. So hewaslistening. “Why do you care?”

He shrugged and gave her that grin of his that reminded her of a wolf, all bared teeth and hungry eyes.

“I don’t know,” she said. “First date, so I guess we’ll see.”

“How’d you meet him?”

There was her opening. She turned away and started packing cookies into Tupperware. “Um. I haven’t actually met him yet.”

“Blind date?”

“Dating app.”

He laughed. “You’re kidding.”

She huffed a sigh. “Why does everyone keep saying that? Plenty of people use online dating.”

“Sure. But you’re Dani. You walk in a room and men stop talking to stare. You could just spin and point and take one home.”

“That’s what I’m trying to stop doing.”

Dylan abandoned the dishes and came to stand across from her. “Look, I’m just saying you can’t be that hard up.”

“I’m not ‘hard up’ but you wouldn’t understand. You don’t know what it’s like. All you’re looking for is a good time.” Dylan was a summer night—hot, fun, fleeting. She didn’t want to be that anymore.

“And what are you looking for?” He cocked his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “Something like Josh and Cat?”

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