Page 89 of The Rules

“Dylan?” Katie rubbed her arms against the chill. “Who was that?”

“No one.” He wrapped an arm around his sister’s shoulder. “Let’s go back inside.”

Katie looked past him down the sidewalk, but Dani was out of sight. “You sure you’re okay?”

He forced his mouth into a grin, even though he felt like his chest was caving in. “Of course,” he said. “When am I not okay?”

Katie narrowed her eyes, but kept walking. If he could sell his sister, maybe he could sell himself.

“Screw you, Dylan Pierce!” Dani growled. Her knuckles blanched as she clutched the bathroom counter, staring at herself in the mirror. Benji had dropped her off at the curb. She’d assured him she was going to be fine and didn’t need a babysitter, but he’d already sent her four texts since he’d left. She swiped the latest one away and used a washcloth to wipe away the trail of black mascara that stained her cheeks.

Screw Dylan for making her cry over him. Screw him for being so goddamn predictable. And yet, she really hadn’t seen it coming. She’d believed him, believedinhim. People had layers, like Cat had said. She’d been pulling his back without even thinking, and he let her. She thought she’d found something special the deeper she went, but she had worse judgment than she thought.

Another sob darted up her windpipe but she bit it off. Instead of dissipating, it expanded in her chest, aching and trembling until she let it out. This always happened with the men she dated. Things started out great—chemistry, fun—then reality hit. The slap in the face that reminded her that when it came to a deeper connection, she didn’t get that. It was the same thing with Dylan, she just hadn’t realized it was happening because it stretched out for months. Months! When was the last time she gave a guy months to break her heart? She’d been pulled into some spell by the idea of soulmates and perfect matches and all that bullshit, but maybe that wasn’t in the cards for her after all.

Her knees buckled and she lowered herself to the floor, bawling. She stayed there for what seemed like hours, sobbing and wiping at her nose until finally her breath steadied.

She rinsed off the rest of her makeup and pulled her hair up into a ponytail. She’d already changed into her pajamas and there was a pint of ice cream with her name on it, but she was done crying. Screw Dylan and his smug face and stupid green eyes and every goddamned sweet thing he’d ever lied. She’d cop to having trusted him when she shouldn’t have, but she wasn’t blaming herself for this mess. They were friends. That was why this was supposed to work, but friends didn’t do this to each other. They didn’t lie to each other’s faces—humiliate each other in front of a room full of people. And they certainly didn’t pretend to be falling for one another.

No. She and Dylan weren’t friends. They weren’t anything at all.

Thirty-four

“How are you?” Cat asked,pulling Dani into a tight hug. Well, as tight as she could with the little bowling ball between them.

Dani kissed her fingertips then pressed them to Cat’s belly. After she’d finished her ice cream last weekend, she’d broken down and called Cat, telling her the whole story. At least Cat wouldn’t give her an “I told you so.” She’d believed Dylan too.

“I’m fine,” she said. “And I don’t want to talk about it.”

Cat rolled her eyes. “Do you really think that’s smart?”

“I do actually. Aren’t you freezing?”

The sky spit barely-there snowflakes as they walked down the sidewalk to the shopping area, but instead of boots and a coat, Cat had on a cropped cardigan and ballet flats.

Cat tossed her dark ponytail over her shoulder. “I’m actually in a constant flop sweat. It’s really attractive. And my winter coat wouldn’t zip, anyway. I’ve been wearing one of Josh’s coats, but I’m already sick of looking like a troll. Thanks for coming shopping with me.”

“You have an excuse to buy a whole new wardrobe! Of course I’m here.”

“You just think it’s fun because it’s not your pants that won’t button. And don’t change the subject. Are you really okay?”

“Of course. It wasn’t a big deal to begin with, so no sense in crying over spilled milk.” Her throat tightened around the words, but she tried to make herself feel them, tried to make herself forget that her eyes were bloodshot and her throat was hoarse from crying for forty-eight hours straight. God, she was such a liar.

And Cat was having none of it. “Dani. It’s okay if you’re upset. I’m upset. He came over to see Josh yesterday and I couldn’t even look at him.”

Dani’s shoulders fell. “Look, thanks for the second-hand anger, Cat. I really do appreciate it. But Dylan wasn’t going to change and I learned that pretty early on. I should be relieved.” That was her mantra and she was sticking to it. Even if she had to cry it into her pillow for a little while longer.

She opened the door to the baby store and tugged on Cat’s arm. “Now please, let’s stop talking about Dylan because this is much more fun.”

“Okay,” Cat relented.

“Oh my God. Look at this!” Dani lifted a pair of grey knit booties the size of her palm and squealed. “How do they even make them this small?”

Cat took them from her and her eyes started to mist.

“Don’t cry. But definitely buy these.”

“Okay.” She tossed them in her shopping basket. “But we’re supposed to be looking at maternity clothes. I can’t buy all the baby stuff yet.”

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