Unbroken Rules (Rules 3)

“You called him?” Kass fails to hide her surprise.

“Technically, he called me.” I put Waze down, walk to the fridge, and grab a water bottle for the painkillers.

“So, that’s why I saw him sneak out this morning.” Will’s insinuations are as clear as day.

“Nothing happened.” I bring his dirty thoughts to a stop. But you wanted it to, a voice in my head taunts.

I can’t help but be disappointed that he took off without a word. He could’ve at least left a note or something. Not that I blame him. He probably thought that I’d kick him out anyway.

“Speaking of.” Allie’s head snaps up. “I came to check up on you this morning. I told Haze to leave.”

Realization finds me. “Oh.”

She’s the reason he left?

Ah. Shit. I hate that I’m mad. I can’t feel this way.

“He asked me to give this to you.” She dives her hand into her pocket and hands me a box. No doubt in my mind that this is what he bought when we saw him at the mall. “And no, it’s not an engagement ring. Or so he said,” she assures me.

I stare at the black box between my fingers and walk back to my bedroom for some privacy with Waze on my tail. I crash on my bed with a speeding heart. Waze lays his head on my lap.

I open the box with trembling fingers. Its contents steals my breath away. It’s a golden bracelet. Very plain, simple. It’s gorgeous. Exactly the type I would wear. Haze knows I’ve never been into tacky, big jewelry.

In the box is a folded note. I pick it up. The five handwritten words inside make my heart swell.

In case you ever forget.

I pick the bracelet up, and my composure dissolves at the tiny yet easy to read quote carved on the inside.

You are the risk I will always take.

Tears come up to my eyes, building up and fighting the heck out of me until I lose and allow one to fall. I remember the moment he said that to me so clearly. It was our second night in town when my mom forced him to sleep down in our creepy basement. I sneaked out and joined him when everyone was sleeping. In middle of mind-blowing sex, I asked him why he was willing to risk getting caught for me.

I was completely oblivious back then.

Maybe, just maybe, this quote is Haze’s way of telling me that the perfect moments we shared before I found out about his lies… weren’t lies, too.

I wipe the tears off my face and reach a point of no return.

I call it the “Fuck this shit.”

I grab my phone and dial a number I know by heart. I can’t believe I’m calling him. But I have to know.

It rings twice.

A familiar voice comes down the line.

“Winter?”

I consider hanging up but decide I’ve come too far to back down now.

“Hey, we need to talk. Can you meet me?”

Pulling up into the parking lot of the small coffee shop near my place, I overthink my decision and consider driving back home. I recall our conversation. He was beyond thankful that I agreed to see him even if I had all the reasons in the world not to. I told Alex, Will, Allie, and Kass that I had to run some errands. Allie and Kass seemed suspicious but let me go without questions.

I push the door open and scan the warm and welcoming coffee shop. The walls are a pale shade of blue, and white Christmas lights hang all around the room. He’s nowhere in sight. I order a cappuccino and sit at a table near the large stone fireplace, waiting for him to arrive.

As soon as he walks in, he gazes around the crowded shop until he sees me. He waves on his way to my table.