Unbroken Rules (Rules 3)

“He’s still staring,” Caleb says.

/> “Doesn’t he have Laura to keep him occupied?”

“She’s practically shoving her tits in his face. He doesn’t give a shit. I’m telling you, he’s not over you.”

I wish I could believe him, but I’m done searching for the hidden meaning behind Haze Adams’s actions. His words told me everything I needed to know. I heard them loud and clear.

“He said otherwise.” I peek at Haze from the corner of my eye. Wow, he’s got this whole murder look down. Does he practice in front of the mirror? “Maybe we should go.”

“Good idea.” Caleb grabs my hand and intertwines our fingers. I frown as he leads me to the staircase. I halt my footsteps, hesitant. He murmurs, “Just go with it.”

Torn, I decide that I have nothing left to lose anyway. We disappear up the stairs together, and he turns around seconds before we reach the second floor. “Believe me, once I’m done, you’ll thank me.”

25

One Last Night

“Come on.” Caleb kicks the door to the bedroom shut and walks over to the mini fridge pushed up in the corner. It’s filled with booze.

“Are we even allowed to be in here?” I question.

“This is my friend’s room. We’re good.” Caleb grabs the one bottle of water in the whole fridge.

“Why here?” I sit on the edge of the bed.

“People don’t go up those stairs to play board games, if you know what I mean. I bet he’s losing his mind out there, wondering what we’re doing.” He joins me.

“Yeah, well, he dumped me. He can’t be jealous.”

He lost that right when he tore my heart out of my chest and stepped on it.

He shrugs. “You two will find your way back to each other. You always do.”

I’m surprised. “Caleb, I hope you won’t mind me asking, but a few days ago, you were… I mean, isn’t this weird for you?”

“Because I caught feelings for you?” He laughs quietly. “Nah. When we met up at the coffee shop and I saw how miserable you were without him, I don’t know, I guess I had a revelation. I want to be loved like that. I want to be loved the way that you love him.” He briefly pauses. “I think I fell for you because you were the closest thing I had to a girlfriend, you know? Because we grew up together. But in the end… you belong with him. I have my Winter waiting for me somewhere, and I’ll find her, one day.” He smiles.

It feels like a huge weight’s been lifted off my shoulders.

“I never got to tell you, but… I’m sorry. About everything. It was wrong of me to tell you the truth on your birthday. It wasn’t my secret to tell. I hope you can forgive me.”

After everything I put him through when he had feelings for me, the way I led him on that night, I owe it to him. We both made mistakes. We’re both guilty.

“It’s okay.” I smile.

Several drunk couples walking in and out when they see the room is occupied later, we decide it might be time for us to head back out there. Seconds before we exit the bedroom, Caleb steps in my way and pops the first two buttons of his shirt.

“What are you doing?”

“You’ll see.” He grins.

“Caleb…” I’m not sure I like where this is going.

“You want him to stop lying to himself or not?”

We hurry down to the first floor, and I’m relieved, yet a bit disappointed, not to see Haze anywhere. We enter the kitchen to play beer pong, and I instantly spot him. Chugging down a vodka bottle. Not drinking—chugging. This isn’t good.

No sign of Laura.