Forgotten Rules (Rules 4)

My footsteps are fast-paced, decisive. I can barely breathe as I lurch down the hall toward Zoey’s locker. Crushing my phone into my fist, I pray that she hasn’t gone home yet. That she can explain what the hell she just sent me.

I need to know how she took the picture, where she took it. I need to know everything before I bring it up to Will’s attention. There has to be a good explanation for this. This can’t be true. There’s no way that Will cheated.

Maybe I’m dumb.

What else do you do in a motel room?

Kass, stop.

Is that where he ran off to every night he wouldn’t stay with me? To a motel room? Anxiety burns within me. I’m such a mess I have to stop and gather a breath to prevent my emotions from rolling down my cheeks.

I spot the back of Zoey’s head in the distance. She hasn’t noticed me yet, emptying her locker into her bag.

“What the hell?” I blurt, holding my phone up to her face.

“Oh, hey, Kass. Yeah, sorry about that. Truth hurts, doesn’t it?” She slams her locker shut, heading for the exit.

If she thinks she’s leaving, she’s got another thing coming.

“Where did you get that? You’re going to tell me everything. Now.”

She huffs a laugh. “And why on earth would I do that?”

“Gee, I don’t know. Maybe because you don’t want me to tell Sean about what really happened on your birthday.”

Fear flashes in her gaze. “You do that and Kendrick finds out all about you dating his best bro behind his back.”

It hits me.

She shouldn’t know this. I didn’t tell her that we’re officially dating. That would require communication, and I’ve completely shut her out of my life.

“How do you know about that? I never told y—”

“You know, you should really be more careful which boy you lead on. Luke Jenson is quite the blabbermouth.”

Ah. Luke was there the night Will showed up at my house to tell me he wanted to be with me. Luke left before we got to the—ahem—good part, but Will’s intentions were clear as day. I’m guessing he put the pieces together afterward, and Will’s poorly concealed rage at Luke setting me up with another guy must’ve confirmed any suspicions he had.

“Why haven’t you told Kendrick?” I ask.

That’s Zoey. She enjoys making others suffer. I’ve had the proof of that during our countless years of friendship. I would’ve expected her to tell Kendrick the truth about me and Will the second we stopped being friends, but… she didn’t.

Why?

“And spare you the fear of getting caught? Nah. Luke and I thought it’d be better to sit back and watch you kill yourselves trying to keep it a secret.” She bounds out of the school.

I follow as Zoey saunters toward Callie’s running car parked out front. Her replacement best friend sits inside, waiting for her.

“Zoey!” I snap, and she stops dead in her tracks. “Look, I get it, you hate me, but we didn’t always hate each other. We used to be best friends, remember? If you ever cared about me at all, you’ll tell me about the picture… Please.”

She considers her options for a long, unbearable moment, then swivels around.

“Fine. Callie’s new fuck buddy works at the gas station across the street from some shitty motel. She saw Will sneaking into a room when she stopped by a while back and snapped a picture. Her boy toy said he’s been going into room thirty-five every night at around nine for days now.”

My heart tightens.

Nine is usually when he comes up with an excuse and leaves.

Do I even know this boy?