Unbroken Rules (Rules 3)

“I hope you know this doesn’t change anything,” Allie says.

“I know.” Boy, do I know it. “She just didn’t want to be alone last night.”

“You should go before she wakes up,” Allie advises.

“Yeah, you’re probably right,” I agree half-heartedly. “Can you please make sure she gets this?” I sneak out of bed and tiptoe around the room. Picking my coat off the floor, I pluck the black box I got for her out of my pocket and hold it out to Allie.

She takes the box hesitantly. “Haze, if it’s what I think it is…”

“It’s not an engagement ring if that’s what you’re wondering. Just give it to her, okay?”

She gives in, nodding and closing the door as quietly as she can. I throw my T-shirt on, pick up my coat, and walk to the nightstand to open its drawer. I reach for the painkiller bottle I keep in there, spread out a few pills on the nightstand for Winter to see when she wakes up, and give her one last look…

Before I leave the only person who feels like home.

WINTER

I wake up with a sledgehammer rattling my skull—at least that’s what it feels like. Wincing, I peel my eyes open, only to squeeze them shut right away. The pain is slightly more bearable with my eyes closed, but the pounding in my head doesn’t lie: six tequila shot was definitely over my limit.

The memories of the previous night burst through my mind uninvited, and my eyes fly open, headache be damned.

Haze is gone.

He left.

A handful of confusing emotions seep into me: relief, regret… disappointment? I wish I could say I don’t remember the previous night, but I do.

I remember everything.

Haze calling. Me picking up in a moment of weakness. Him rushing into the club and getting into an argument with some dude at the bar. I remember him trying to change me out of my yucky dress. The way I practically threw myself at him. His teeth on my nipple, his tongue on my neck, my moans…

How fucking pathetic can I be?

I even asked him to stay. So much for being mad at him. I face palm myself and glance sideways. Painkillers are laid out on the night table. I reach over and capture the pills into the palm of my hand with a small smile. I know he left them for me. After all this, after I flat out told him he was a moron last night, he still couldn’t help himself.

I grab my phone, secretly hoping to see a text from him. There isn’t one. I do, however, have a message from Caleb. He’s been blowing up my

phone, too.

Caleb: I didn’t tell you everything. There’s more.

I delete the text with a swipe of my thumb. I’m not letting him hurt me anymore. I glance down at the oversized T-shirt swallowing my body whole. Pain radiates off the fabric, digging into my skin and reminding me of who the shirt belongs to.

When I step into the kitchen, I’m greeted by an excited puppy, Allie swallowing pills, Will and Alex eating cereal, and Kass cooking eggs. I hear the shower in the distance and assume that’s where Kendrick is.

“Damn, Winter. You didn’t tell us you got cast in The Walking Dead,” Will grins at the sight of me, and I roll my eyes.

Kass turns at the sound of my name. “Hey, what happened to you last night? We couldn’t find you anywhere.”

She and Will exchange a not-so-subtle look.

The look.

“Not that we were really looking,” Will mutters, so quietly I almost don’t hear him, and keeps eating.

A smirk creeps onto my lips as I pick up Waze and kiss him like a maniac. I’d pay to know what happened after I talked Will up last night. Did he finally grow some balls? Did he win her back?

“I was…” I’m hesitant to tell them. “I was wasted, and Haze picked me up.”