Forgotten Rules (Rules 4)

“You weren’t supposed to say it.”

His poker face slips off for a second.

“I didn’t mean it. I don’t see you like that. I can’t. And believe me, I fucking tried.”

My anger fades away too fast for my liking.

“Is your mom home?” He changes the topic.

“Nope, night shifts again. And Winter’s sleeping.”

He nods and peels my arm off his shoulders when we reach my bedroom door, letting go of me to twist the knob. I could pout when he moves away, my inner self whining, “Already?” I hate how addicted I am to his touch.

“Hey, look, we’re alone! You can stop pretending like I’m just your friend’s sister now.” I scurry inside my room.

I’m not done being bitter, apparently.

“I don’t have to pretend. That’s what you are.”

“Really?” I arch an eyebrow. “So, you’re telling me you spend the night with all of your friends’ sisters? That you get into fights for all of them? That you text them all the time? Do you kiss them all? Alex’s little sister has always had a crush on you—is she next?” I snort and drop on my bed.

He focuses on every single thing in the room but me. “Look, I don’t know what came over me. That kiss was a mistake. Let’s just… put it behind us, okay?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. Are we talking about the first kiss or the one where you fingered me?”

His mouth dips open.

Take that.

He clears his throat, slapping his too-cool-to-care façade back on. “I’m going to get you a glass of water. Why don’t you change? You need to sleep it off.”

Just as he’s walking to the door, it dawns on me. I need to get him out of my life. I told him I was trying to get past it. This is not getting past it.

“You never told me how you felt.”

He stops.

“I confessed my feelings to you. Your turn.”

He whisks his head back. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Kass.”

At first, I don’t either.

Until it becomes clear.

“Say you don’t like me.”

He’s startled. “What?”

“I… I think that’s what I need to get over you… For good.”

If he really doesn’t care, he needs to stop with the jealousy, the getting me alone and telling me he misses me, the hints and signs. He needs to let me go. He debates on his next move for a few seconds.

“Fine.” He blows out a breath. “I’ll say it.”

I never thought I could be satisfied and disappointed all at once. I nod, bracing myself for impact.

He steps closer.