Page 106 of Changing Rules

“Why can’t it be both?”

“Fair enough.” We continue silently for a moment, but as we turn the first corner, he says, “How did you sleep?”

Really?

“Very well,” I lie.

“Me too. It was my most peaceful sleep in months, all because you kissed me back.”

I swear, his smugness is palpable.

My stupid heart pangs.Quiet, you little traitor.I blow away the rogue hairs brushing my face.

“It was a mistake.”

The corner of his mouth quirks up. “Agree to disagree.”

Stopping abruptly, I put my hands on my hips. He stops two feet ahead of me and turns, still wearing that smile I want to slap off his face.

“Why are you here?”

“I wanted to see you.” He takes one step forward. “Wanted to talk to you. I want to hear all about your life in New York, about your classes.”

Despite my best efforts, the fluttering in my stomach grows stronger. The butterflies are no longer tethered. My heart has officially taken the reins from my brain.

I huff, forcing a scowl. “I told you yesterday, we have nothing to talk about. Besides, you’re messing with my run.”

“I would’ve called, but you blocked my number.” His deep blue eyes sparkle with warmth. “How about grabbing a coffee with me?”

“My answer is still no. You don’t need to know about my life.” I veer to my right and take off running again.

“I actually follow you on Instagram. I know at least a little bit about your life.”

Heart sputtering, I turn and gape at him.

“About school, about your friends, your work. Your favorite places—Central Park, Bethesda Terrace, the Met, and that little bookstore you found in Brooklyn. The coffee shop where you liked to study. Books you read. Movies you watched. Your anime marathons. I’ve seen every post. I’ve spent hours scrolling your feed, wondering how you are and admiring who you’ve become.”

“I-I never saw you interact,” I stutter. I bite the inside of my cheek and assess him. Could it be him? The person who likes my photos and views my Stories but never comments?

“Is your profile picture a setting sun?”

He shakes his head.

“Did you use Audrey’s account?” I thought I blocked her, but maybe I’m wrong.

“No. My profile picture is a little corgi.” He slips his hands into his pockets. “And I don’t talk to my sister anymore. I set boundaries while we were still together, but after you left, I finally did what I should’ve done a long time ago. Not everything is her fault; I take full responsibility for destroying our relationship. But without her toxicity and manipulation, I don’t think we would’ve ended up here. So, I cut all ties. I figured she’d take a step back and realize what she’d done, but I was wrong. So, I keep my distance.”

“Oh.” I shuffle my feet, at a loss for words. I didn’t expect to hear any of this. Jess has to know, yet she didn’t tell me.

But why would she? She knew I didn’t want to talk about him, and she honored that.

“Excuse me! Are you Alexander Walker?” The shout startles me back to my senses.

Shit. The last thing I need is to be seen with Xander. So, I turn on my heel and run.

The two men approach, asking for a photo, unwittingly allowing me to escape.

As I jog, question after question cycles through my mind. What is his goal? To apologize to me? To be friends again? Or does he want more? Does he want to try again?

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