Unbroken Rules (Rules 3)

“Since when do you have a boyfriend?” he deflects.

“A few months ago,” I say and watch him head for the fridge. He finds out, just as I did, that it’s empty and groans, settling for a glass of water. He walks by us, heading back to the living room. But then he turns around and our eyes lock. He gives me a look I don’t want to see. I know that look.

I hate that look.

“So… How does Caleb feel about this?”

It’s a simple question, short and straight to the point, but somehow it holds so much meaning. Haze frowns, lifting his eyes to me. Jaden smiles victoriously and walks off. I’m sure he’s just being an asshole because A, he’s threatened by the new guy in the house, and B, he’s in his “I’m mean for no reason” phase, but I could strangle him right now. He probably guessed I didn’t tell Haze about what happened.

I can feel Haze’s confused gaze on me. He opens his mouth to ask, but the front door swinging open keeps him from it. My mother, father, and sister walk in, radiating happiness and carrying takeout bags.

“Hey, pumpkin.” My dad smiles at the sight of me. “You two hungry? We got leftovers.”

“Yes, please. I’m starving.” I jump at the opportunity. “Want some?” I ask Haze. He forces a smile, nodding as I take the food my Dad is offering us. We sit around the table, and I hope to hell the questions my father bombards Haze with will wash away the memories of what just happened. But I know better than to think it won’t come back up. And I might’ve avoided this talk for now… but I won’t avoid it forever.

7

Laundry

Silence. It’s all I can hear. Lying in bed with my eyes open, I contemplate how the average human will spend the majority of his life sleeping. Funny that, right now, sleep is avoiding me like some deadly disease. Ha. Just as every boy

I flirted with during my freshman year of high school.

Tossing and turning, I reach for my phone on the nightstand. It’s 3:00 a.m. I can’t stop thinking about Haze alone in the basement. My mom wasn’t kidding about us sleeping apart. We even had a curfew. She sent Haze to “bed”—the crappy pull-out couch in the corner of our laundry room—at 10:00.

After my parents came back from the restaurant, we couldn’t dream of getting one moment alone—luckily for me. I’m sure if we had, Haze would’ve asked me about my brother’s comment, and I really didn’t want to discuss this in a house full of people.

What happened between me and Caleb is in the past. We agreed to forget about it when he pulled me aside at the pub, but I don’t plan on hanging out with him any more than I have to. We may be on good—well, better—terms now, but it doesn’t make his presence any less uncomfortable for me. I feel guilty every second that I’m around him, and I can’t stand it. It doesn’t exactly help that there’s a good chance I’ll have to see him again since he’s still very close friends with Allie, and I could never bring myself to tell her about that night.

Unplugging my phone, I let my fingers sail the empty space where Haze should be. I’ve gotten so used to the warmth of his body next to mine, to his arms around my waist, even to the sound of his breathing, that trying to sleep without him feels… unnatural. I’m on a goddamn Haze Adams withdrawal.

I consider texting him for five minutes, talk myself out of it for four, and eventually give in.

Winter: Can’t sleep without you. Look what you did to me, Adams.

A few minutes go by. Radio silence. He must be sleeping. I’m about to put my phone down when three dots pop up on my screen.

Haze: I haven’t done anything to you.

Haze: Yet.

My lips pull into a smile.

Winter: Idiot. Did I wake you?

Haze: Nah. I can’t sleep. Your basement’s full of spiders.

I literally have to laugh into my pillow as memories of the day he took me to the abandoned high school rooftop and confessed his fear of spiders fuel my laughter.

Winter: Aw. Do you want me to come and protect you, princess?

The dots pop up again.

Haze: I mean, I’m definitely okay with the first part of your sentence.

I frown in confusion and reread my text. Do you want me to co…

Oh.