Unbroken Rules (Rules 3)

“Well, Haze’s going to want his money back because I told him I’m not touching him until he agrees to get a dog. First one to flinch and touch the other loses.”

“No way? How’d he take it?”

“Almost beat down the bathroom door when I left him with a hard-on, so, not well?”

What? Girls conversations aren’t always classy. Known facts.

“Who do you think’s going to win?”

I pause for a second, thinking back to the tension filling up the car when Haze dropped me off.

“I was pretty confident this morning, but now, I’m not so sure,” I admit.

“That good, huh?”

“You have no idea.” I bite on the inside of my cheek.

Maybe I made a mistake taking on a challenge I can’t win. No, Winter. Do it for your dog. Do it for Waze—yes, I might have already named the dog by combining our names. Sue me.

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Allie’s eyes widen when she sees the time on her phone. “Is it really five already? I thought Haze was picking you at four thirty.” Anxiety flares in her voice.

“Uh, yeah, I’m sure he’s just stuck in traffic. Why? Are you expecting someone?” I joke, unsuspecting that I am right on.

“Actually…”

A knock on Allie’s door cuts me off.

“See, he’s here.” I get up and glide down the hall.

“Winter, wait.” She follows me. “It’s not—”

I open the door and instantly regret it.

“Haze,” she finishes.

Caleb.

I haven’t talked to him once since the night of my housewarming party. He’s been trying, to the point of insanity, to get me to talk to him: texting, calling, even sending letters to my apartment—you name it, he’s done it. I’ve been giving him the cold shoulder, certain that we can never be as close as we once were again. I destroyed our relationship beyond repair, and I have to learn to live with that.

His eyes grow at the sight of me. “Winter, hey. I didn’t know you were here.”

Allie’s eyes apologize profusely.

“Just a second,” she tells Caleb and practically shuts the door in his face. “I’m so sorry. You weren’t supposed to run into each other. I thought you’d be gone by the time he showed up. I told him to come at fi—”

“Al, it’s okay.” I gather a reassuring smile. “You’re allowed to still be friends with him. I think we can manage a few minutes together.”

“I’m sorry,” she says again and opens the door. “Come on in.” Caleb obliges, but barely two steps inside, Allie shrieks, “Hey, shoes off!” She takes in the poor appearance of his muddy shoes. Gee, where’d he go? “Who do you think I am? Cinderella?”

Caleb gives out a faint laugh and kicks his shoes off. “Sorry, Mom.”

Because my life is unfamiliar with the concept of good timing, I hear a car door closing outside. I draw the curtain off the closest window with the back of my hand.

Haze. Crossing the street.

Soon after, he rings the doorbell. I swing the door open, dreading the possibility of a messy boyfriend versus ex-best friend confrontation. Haze’s eyes lock on Caleb the second he comes into view, but Caleb doesn’t flinch, drilling holes into Haze’s head from inside. Haze frowns but abstains from commenting.