Page 10 of By His Rule

Laughter erupts from me, making Tate frown and study me as if I’ve gone mad.

Maybe I have.

Too fucking good to be true, that’s what Matt was.

I should have seen it.

All the red flags and warning signs were there.

How he’d fall off the face of the Earth for days at a time. How when his “grandmother” died, he wouldn’t respond to anything I sent. How he refused to give me his parents’ address he was apparently staying at so I could send flowers for his mom.

It was all right there, screaming in my face.

But when we were together…

Fuck. I’m such a moron.

“He has,” I confess quietly.

I should be relieved of that fact. I mean, I am relieved. Having him hounding me from dawn to dusk, begging for forgiveness, was only making things worse.

Maybe he was telling the truth about it being over with his fiancée. Maybe they have now finally called time on the relationship and canceled the wedding.

Or maybe he is just a compulsive liar who will tell me whatever I want to hear so that he can continue getting his rocks off.

I let out a sigh that feels like it comes from the pit of my soul.

“So, what’s this about?” Tate asks, plucking the half-empty bottle of vodka from my fingers and waving it in front of my face.

Was that full when I started?

I can’t remember.

“I got—hiccup.” I pause, staring into the compassionate eyes of my best friend.

Changing tactics, I reach for her bump.

“How’s my favorite girl?” I ask, gently caressing her belly.

Honestly, we have no idea what the sex is. But I can’t imagine my bestie growing anything but a fierce little lady.

Plus, it’ll be hilarious watching Kingston get his ass handed to him by both his wife and his daughter on the regular.

“She’s fine. Now stop deflecting. Why are you here with Whitney instead of hanging out with me?”

Guilt twists me up inside.

“I’m sorry I forgot.”

Taking my hand, Tate tugs me toward the couch and doesn’t let go until I fall onto it beside her.

“Talk to me, Lor. What’s going on?”

Her eyes bounce between mine, trying to read the truth within them.

Tears come faster than I can control, and before I know what’s happening, I’m in her arms.

I sob as if I hadn’t already purged the anger and disbelief in my bedroom when I first got back.

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