Unspoken Rules (Rules 2)

I feel at peace, like nothing could possibly ruin this. Like nothing could possibly ruin us. I know he just set another one of my records. He just won another award. Not only will no one else ever make me feel the way he does…

I’ve also never loved anyone as much as I love him.

The sound of the shower pulls me out of slumber, and I open my eyes a crack, memories of the previous night resurfacing along with my senses. I catch myself smiling like a fool and suppress a squeal of happiness at the sight of my dress on the bedroom floor. Last night was so out of this world I don’t think I could fully comprehend what the step we took meant. It was like a dream. A blissful, amazing dream. The soreness between my legs finally seems to be enough for the truth to hit me.

We’re together.

Haze is my boyfriend.

My boyfriend who isn’t lying next to me, might I add.

I hear the water running in the bathroom and know that’s where he is. I probably would’ve spent another thirty minutes smiling like a dumbass if it wasn’t for Haze’s phone incessantly buzzing on the nightstand. I eye it and fight the curiosity boiling inside me. On text message number five, I give up.

Five? Seriously? This may be an emergency. I feed myself the excuse I need to capture the phone in my hand and peek. On his locked screen are a few messages. I frown when I read the name of the first sender.

Bianca.

Bianca: Why aren’t you calling me back? Where are you?

Bianca: I don’t believe what you said. We’re not over. You’re just confused.

Bianca: Are you with that Winter bitch? Is that why you left town? She’s not at school either.

Bianca: Haze?! Answer me.

I wince at the texts. She’s right though. He is with me. Poor girl’s talking to herself. It’s been a while since he told her that they couldn’t be friends with benefits if she had feelings for him, but she’s still acting like he broke up with her when they were never together in the first place.

I use my thumb to scroll down to the sixth and final text message. My stomach lurches with nerves when I read the name of the sender. At first, I try to convince myself that I read it wrong. But then I read it again.

And again.

And again.

Riley.

It echoes in my head like a song I hate but still can’t stop singing. Seeing Bianca’s name was nothing… nothing compared to this.

But that’s not the worst part.

Not even close.

The worst part is the text message that comes along with it.

Riley: I’ll see you tonight.

15

Truth And Exes

Haze isn’t the type to take long showers, but for some reason, this one seems to last forever—and by forever, I mean the “I swear this class started an hour ago but the clock says it was five seconds” kind. I draw in a breath when the water stops. The few minutes he spent in there felt like years, and I’ve never been more nervous to see someone walk out of a dang bathroom.

So many questions eat at me.

Why didn’t he tell me that he got in touch with his ex-girlfriend slash possible baby mama? When did that happen? How did he even find her? Is that where he went yesterday? To see her?

Is he cheating on me?

I mean, come on, we haven’t been dating for a whole twenty-four hours yet.