Unspoken Rules (Rules 2)

We’re interrupted by Ryder coming back to the table with way too many drinks. The guys have been treating him like their service boy. That’s the price to pay for being the newbie, I guess.

Kass says she has to go to the bathroom and leaves us alone. A blonde I noticed Ryder was chatting with while waiting in line comes up to him and drops a Post-it on the table. It has her number on it. Ryder cracks an uncomfortable smile as she walks away. I laugh at his expression.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. She

’s just… not really my type.”

She’s absolutely gorgeous. The guy must be blind.

“And what exactly is your type, Mr. High Standards?” I take a sip of coffee.

“I don’t know. I have a very specific type, and she’s just not it, I guess. I prefer brunettes.” His voice is full of suggestion.

Is he talking about me? I don’t have the energy to overthink it. I wasn’t into him then, and I’m not into him now.

“Hey, listen. There’s something I need to tell you.” He glances at the bathroom like he’s afraid Kass will come bursting through the door any second. I don’t reply, sinking in my seat. “I’m sorry… for the way it all started. I know you must think I’m a jerk. Truth is, that day at the restaurant, me pulling the same trick on another girl was a dare. Kendrick and I were bored out of our minds, and he challenged me to try and see if it could work again. It was wrong of me, and I felt guilty as soon as it happened. I just want you to know that.” His dark eyes seem sincere.

Ryder’s a really attractive guy. To most girls, at least. Like I said, I’d probably be into him if things were different. I know he’s probably close to Haze in the looks department but not in my heart, he isn’t. I begin articulating a reply, but I’m interrupted by an unexpected text message popping up on my screen. I furrow my eyebrows. Apart from Kass, Maria, and Allie, I don’t have lots of people to text.

This is the part where I wonder where to buy myself a life.

I pick my phone up, and worry devours me. It’s from an unknown number. I’ve never been the luckiest with unknown numbers, that’s for sure.

Unknown: This prick again? I thought you had better taste, Kingston.

My heart stops. I glance around the coffee shop nervously.

There’s no way.

No way that he’s here.

I would’ve seen him. You don’t just miss Haze Adams.

Ryder asks me what’s wrong, but his words are wiped out by my heart pulsing in my brain. My eyes refuse to stop searching for his face.

He’s here.

He has to be.

That’s when I see him.

Walking inside the coffee shop with a smug face and wandering eyes. Just like that, I lose track of, well, everything. Heads begin to turn. I hear one of the girls—who I recognized from school—at the table behind us whisper, “Is that Haze Adams?” and her friend snorting, “Yes, I heard he got back yesterday. I wonder why. No one’s seen him in a while.”

He raises his eyebrows at the sight of me and smiles. It’s that easy. With just one look, all the lies I’ve been feeding myself since I left Colton Gate crumble to pieces. They’re right.

The notorious bad boy is back in town.

But what they don’t know is…

He’s back for me.

22

Unforgivable

“Is everything okay?” Ryder, whose back is facing the door, asks. He has no idea that the person responsible for the dark bruise under his eye just walked into the coffee shop.