Forgotten Rules (Rules 4)

Hurt flashes in her gaze. She knows that’s my way of asking her to look past this Kendrick thing.

“Will,” she whimpers, but I don’t want to hear the rest. I’d rather go deaf than hear what she says next.

She’s going to leave me.

I know it.

I feel it.

“Remember that favor you owed me?” I croak.

She blinks at me, perplexed.

“That time forever ago when you asked me to crash your date with that rapist dude Simon? I said you’d owe me a favor.”

She nods.

My eyes burn with unwelcomed emotions. Shit, am I… tearing up? What the hell has this girl done to me?

“Well, this is it. Right here. I’m calling it in.” I cup her face, choking on my plea. “I need you to fucking stay.”

My request sends gallons of tears pouring down her cheeks. They fall hard and fast, yielding me a sliver of hope. This could either be a good sign… or the worst sign in the world. I hold my breath, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Finally, she answers my first question with a sob. “No, it’s not enough.”

There’s the other shoe.

It feels like my goddamn heart is trying to claw its way out of my rib cage. Trying to run. To escape before it comes.

The end.

“You were right. Maybe we shouldn’t tell him. Maybe…” She sniffles. “Maybe there should be nothing to tell.”

“What? No. Fuck no. Don’t say that.” I clench my teeth together to keep the pain at bay.

She wipes her face. “I don’t want a secret relationship. I’ve been there before, and I promised myself I’d never let it happen again, and I…” Sniffle. “I can’t be your secret, Will. No matter how much I love you, I can’t do this to myself. I’m sorry.”

“What are you saying?” My voice gets stuck in my throat.

“I’m saying…” She’s shaking, her body howling with sobs. “I’m saying it’s over.”

Then she takes her heart and walks away.

Just like that.

I watch her give up on me.

And take it all in. Every scenario, every bit of what my life is going to look like without her. I picture us never speaking again. Imagine things going back to the way they were. Before. Back when she was nothing but my best friend’s controlling sister. Then I realize I don’t have a choice.

And if I do have a choice…

I choose her.

“Go get him,” I command.

She stops cold, gaping at me over her shoulder.

“W-What?”