Unbroken Rules (Rules 3)

She has a point, I know she does. Does that mean I’m going to have a go at my cheater of an ex-boyfriend while sober? Absolutely not. Allie tells me she’s going to go to the bathroom, and Kendrick follows, which tips me off about what he really intends to do in there. A few minutes slip away. Still no sign of them.

So not cool, cousin.

Haze is still on the couch, downing beer after beer, as I lean back against the wall with crossed arms and watch wasted people dance. Four girls, all bearing drinks, stop next to me, and I step sideways to give them room.

My eyebrows shoot to the ceiling.

Amongst them… is hoop earring girl.

The girl Haze cheated on me with.

She looks right through me. She doesn’t recognize me. Why would she? She doesn’t care that the guy she banged after a night out had someone in his life. She was out to have fun, and I can’t even blame her. The one I should hate is Haze. And I will hate him… In time.

“Holy shit. Who’s that?” The brunette alongside Hoop fans herself.

“Who?’” Hoop says.

“The hottie next to Vic.” Her friend points at Haze.

Of fucking course.

“Oh, new guy,” Hoop figures out.

“Damn,” friend number tw

o agrees. “Is he single?”

“Trust me, you’re going to want to pass on this one.”

“Why?” the brunette questions.

“I know he’s smoking hot and all, but he’s got issues.” Hoop guzzles the contents of a red cup.

“Girl, send him my way. I can deal with his issues anytime.” The brunette smirks, causing her friends to snicker.

“I’m telling you. He and Vic were at the pub the other day, and he came up to me, straight up asked me to go back to his place. I was like Yes, please.”

I wince. I can’t listen to her talk about how she slept with Haze. I just can’t. I give myself a slight push off the wall and start to walk away, but what Hoop says next keeps me in place.

“Then nothing.”

“What do you mean nothing?” Her friend frowns.

“He literally paid me a hundred dollars to crash at his place and do nothing. Dude wouldn’t even look at me. Like I had a fucking disease or something. Then, in the morning, he just kicked me out at a specific time. It was so sketch, and I lost my favorite earring.”

My heart flips.

“I think he was trying to get some girl off his back. I remember seeing some chick in the hall, but I mean, goddamn, a hundred dollars for someone to take a hint. Just dump her and be done with it.” She cackles.

It’s a wonder my knees haven’t given out when one of them suggests hitting the dance floor and they scatter away.

Baffled, I grip the nearest piece of furniture.

Haze didn’t cheat on me.

Haze didn’t cheat on me.

He paid that girl to be there.