Forgotten Rules (Rules 4)

I make my way over to her.

“Go get your brother. We’re telling him. Now.”

She’s shocked, keeping quiet for an excruciating while.

“R-Really?” She cries harder.

I nod.

“I don’t care what I have to do. I’m not losing you.”

I’ve never, in the many years I’ve known her, seen her look this happy. She flings her arms around my neck, planting a salty, tear-soaked kiss on my lips. I pull her into me, relishing in every second. Usually, she’d take my breath away, but rig

ht now… her kiss feels like CPR. It lets me breathe again. Fills my lungs with missing air.

“God, I love you,” she cries.

“I love you, control freak,” I say, and she laughs through the tears.

“Are we really doing this? I mean… are you sure?”

“As sure as I’ll ever be.”

“Okay, I’ll go get him.” She squeals and pecks my mouth. “Stay here.”

She takes off running toward the house. The moment it engulfs her, I feel relieved.

Free.

I haven’t even told Kendrick yet, but knowing this will all be over soon is the equivalent of getting out of jail—except I chose to step inside the cell. And I was holding the key this whole time.

Fifteen minutes go by.

Not that I’m surprised. Might take her a while to find Kendrick in there. If I had to guess, I’d say he’s somewhere upstairs getting someone pregnant. My phone chimes with a text from Kass.

Control freak: Found him. On our way now.

Just as I’m typing a reply, a laugh flares behind me.

“Seriously? Your best friend’s sister? You haven’t changed at all, have you?”

I stop moving.

Breathing.

Doing anything that requires functioning like a human being.

That croaky, honeyed voice…

I know it.

I swivel around, my throat feeling clogged when I drink in the ghost staring back at me. I saw that pink shirt earlier tonight. My eyes dip to her necklace. To the name written in gold.

Mia.

What the fuck?

“Are you going to say something or…?” she mocks.