Forgotten Rules (Rules 4)

“Hey, Willy. What’s up?” I falter, my confidence crumbling.

He cuts to the chase. “I thought you said you weren’t into him.”

“Oh, Luke? Yeah, I know. But I changed my mind. You’re right. I should give him a chance. Hey, you should bring a date, too. I’m sure Callie’s available.”

His jaw drops.

What’s wrong, Willy? Was I not supposed to know about that?

I’m long gone before he can even think of getting a word in. I push my way through the crowd, forbidding myself from enjoying this as much as I am.

Winter is nearly done packing her stuff by the time I reach our locker and shove my books into my backpack. We make small talk, steering toward the exit together. I also try to convince her to go to the pool party with me since I know Zoey will most likely bail on me the minute we get there, and Morgan, well… Morgan hates people.

Winter absentmindedly agrees, her gaze combing through the halls. Haze hasn’t been at school much lately. That’s his thing. Disappearing whenever he feels like it. Something tells me he’s to blame for my cousin’s half-assed answers.

Winter tells me Will is giving her a ride home tonight, and I have to stop myself from asking why she’s randomly riding with him instead of me. What trouble has their street fight mess lured them into now?

We part ways a few steps out of the building. I’m working tonight, and the last thing this crap day needs is a warning from Jenny for being late. I unlock my car door, my phone pinging with a text just as I’m dropping into the passenger seat.

It’s Will.

Willy Wonka: Thanks for the advice. Callie said yes. I’ll see you at the party.

Kassidy

Kass: Hey. Is it true you’re banging Callie Cooper?

Sitting on the edge of Zoey’s unmade bed, I huff out a laugh at my own text and practically assault the Delete button. Like I’d ever have the balls to send him that. Granted it’d probably make things a lot easier—in the beginning, at least. Then it’d dig up secrets better left buried, shine light on questions better left in the dark.

Asking him would mean I give a damn.

A bit more than I should.

Shit… is Morgan right?

Do I like Will?

I didn’t message him back after he texted me he’d found himself a hot date yesterday. Felt weird. Turns out I got used to our 3:00 a.m. banter. I hate to admit it, but…

The little fucker grew on me.

“Perfect. See you there.” Zoey trails back into the room, hanging up her phone and securing it inside her bikini top.

“Who was that?” Morgan interrupts her wrestling with a curling iron to ask.

Yes, Morgan decided to come to the pool party, although she skipped the swimsuit part. Something about her cousins telling her she’d end up marrying books when they came to visit. She said one party couldn’t hurt.

Still waiting for the hidden cameras.

“Callie,” Zoey says, checking out her outfit one last time. Our ride should be here any minute.

I fidget with the short, sleeveless white dress I threw over my aqua bikini, tugging it up my cleavage for the fifth time as though I’m hoping it’ll magically turn into a hoodie.

“She’s making her move tonight,” Zoey elaborates, swiping red lipstick across her mouth and smacking her lips together.

“What move?” I question.

“What do you think? Hottie Blondie asked her out to a place that is not the back seat of his car. She’s freaking out. Thinks he’s finally interested in dating her.”