Unbroken Rules (Rules 3)

She nods. “Okay. When are you leaving?”

“After breakfast.”

“Will you be back for dinner? I’m making my dad’s favorite to welcome him home.”

“Sure.”

I bite back a grin. I love this woman, but she can’t cook. This dinner will mostly consist of people spitting into their napkins when she’s not looking.

Winter wasn’t finished, still writhing with my face between her legs when we heard the car door close in the driveway yesterday. We had to get up, get dressed right in the middle of it, and I swear I’ve never seen my baby this moody. I had to take care of that when everyone went to bed. She went back to her regular self once I was done with her.

She kisses my cheek. “You hungry? I think I smell bacon.”

We hear laughter downstairs. I conclude that Kendrick and Allie are already here.

“Let’s go. I’m starving.” She slips out of bed.

“Right behind you.”

WINTER

“For the billionth time, they’re not mine,” Jay shouts as Kendrick chases him around the house with a box of condoms.

“Then what were they doing in your backpack, Jay Jay?”

We’re all laughing so hard we can barely breathe. We spent the day fixing up the house to make life easier for my dad. He truly appreciated the gesture, but it sucks to know whatever we do to help won’t do as much good as having a professional to take care of him would. Kendrick found condoms in Jay’s bag while moving stuff around.

Jay’s fourteen. He obviously knows about sex at this point, but he’d rather die than admit it to my dad.

“Fine, they’re mine. But it’s not what you think,” he pleads.

Kendrick scoffs. “Not what we think? Then what were you doing with them, Jaden? Water balloons?”

“Leave the poor kid alone.” I laugh harder.

“Is that for that girl I saw you with when I picked you up from school the other day? Charlotte, is it?” My dad joins.

My brother flushes.

“Jay Jay’s in love!” Kendrick gasps dramatically.

“Okay, I’m out,” Jay growls and launches up the stairs.

We’re still laughing five minutes later.

My dad asks us to help him get to his room shortly after. He needs the rest. This has been a long day. I decided not to cook because, apparently, no one wanted to eat my food, not that I’m surprised.

“Shouldn’t Haze be here by now?” Allie reminds me when we spread across the couch.

“Uh, yeah, actually, he should.” I check the time on my phone. “I’ll call him.”

It rings one time, two times, three times. He doesn’t pick up. I’ve been texting him throughout the day, but he didn’t answer, probably busy with his best friend.

“I’ll call Vic. Haze’s phone is probably dead.”

It rings a few times.

“Hello?”