Forgotten Rules (Rules 4)

Slogging into the kitchen, I ready my excuse and hope to hell my mom will let me skip dinner. I’m not done moping around about Will yet, and frankly, after the day I’ve had? I’d rather gouge my eyes out than watch Kendrick and his bratty ex pretend to be in love.

My “stomachache” goes up in smoke at the bright smile illuminating my mother’s face. She looks ecstatic to have us all together. I can’t ruin that for her.

It’s just one dinner, Kass.

How could this day possibly get any worse?

Winter comes trailing into the kitchen once we’re all seated. She looks just as annoyed with this fake-girlfriend dinner as I am, forcing a smile as she plops down into the seat next to me. I wonder what my brother meant when he said my cousin was responsible for the fake-girlfriend debacle. I know I insisted I didn’t want anything to do with their mess, but… I’m getting sick of feeling out of the loop.

I’m relieved to see my mom ordered pizza and we’re eating off paper plates. The quicker we get this over with, the quicker I can rush to Morgan’s place and find out if I still have a friend in this cruel world.

Winter’s phone buzzes with a text, but I don’t pay it much mind, too focused on not rolling my eyes along to Nicole and Kendrick’s rehearsed speech. Then, just as we’re about to start eating, we’re stopped by a knock on the door.

My mom lifts off her seat. “Are we expecting someone?”

“Sit down, Mom. I got it.” I beat her to the door. Expecting a stranger to try to sell me something, I swing the door open and—

What

The

Fuck.

Why is Haze Adams standing on my porch? He steps inside before I can slam the door in his face.

Sure, just make yourself at home.

“I’m so sorry I’m late,” Haze says.

It seems to happen in slow motion. He locks eyes with Winter across the room, and the look she gives him sets my suspicions ablaze. She’s mad, panicked… flustered? I knew Winter was fraternizing with the enemy, but this is miles past “fraternizing.” Something is definitely going on between those two.

“I hope you didn’t start without me.” Haze flashes us his million-dollar smile. I may hate the guy, but I have to admit I do get the hype about him.

Winter settles on an emotion.

Anger.

Full-on anger.

He wasn’t supposed to show up, that much is clear. I glance at Kendrick, who’s staring daggers at Haze. I know them to be nemeses in the ring. Odds are Haze is only doing this to piss off my brother—and, by the looks of it, it’s working.

My mom cuts in. “I’m sorry, who are you?”

Haze peels his eyes away from Winter. “Of course, where are my manners? I’m Haze.” He holds out his hand, which my mom shakes hesitantly.

Glimpsing at Winter from the corner of his eye, Haze smirks. Winter bounces to her feet. She knows him. She knows he’s going to say something stupid, but she’s too late.

The damage is done.

“I’m Winter’s boyfriend.”

Yep. She’s going to kill him.

“Honey, why didn’t you tell me?” My mom rejoices, pulling my cousin into a loving embrace. “I knew something was going on. That’s why you were so secretive. You’ve met your first boyfriend.”

I’m so unbelievably drained from the shitstorm that is my life, I don’t even care that Winter didn’t heed my warnings about this guy. I’m not even mad that Haze crashed our dinner.

Hell, I’m entertained.