Page 222 of My Rules

“Let’s face it. I have a type, and I should have known better. Two more weeks and I’m going to end it, and then I’ll go and stay with my parents for a couple of weeks, and by the time I get back, I’ll be stronger. This entire thing is a magnified nightmare because I have to live across the road from him. It’s not like I can never see him again. It needs to be amicable.”

“I can’t believe he lied. I’m honestly so shocked. I wonder, does Henley know?”

“Don’t say anything to Henley,” I say. “Promise me.”

“I wouldn’t, but I can’t believe it still. I’m just so shocked.”

“Jules, why would he lie if he had nothing to hide? Why would he lie?”

“You’re right. I know you’re right.” She puts her arm around me. “Fucking asshole.”

We walk in silence for a little bit longer. “So, two weeks, huh? How are you going to hold it together for two weeks?”

“I’ll be fine.” I smile sadly. “I’m going to be very busy so that I don’t have to see him, and then I might go away for the weekend with Daisy.”

“Maybe we could come too?” She smiles hopefully.

“Thanks, but I just kind of want to get away from everything and read a book with a glass of wine.”

“You’re going to be okay, Bec.” She links her arm through mine. “Whatever happens, you will be okay.”

“I know.”

“Okay, class, let’s pack up our pencils and get ready for this afternoon. The bell is just about to ring.”

The class gets to packing up their equipment. It’s Friday afternoon, and thank god for that. It’s been a long week. “Remember, Monday morning we’ve got the farm animals coming in to meet us. Don’t be late because I hear there are baby sheep.”

The class chatters with excitement.

“Dr. Grayson,” someone yells. “Dr. Grayson is here.”

I glance out the window to see Blake with Daisy on a leash. He’s still dressed in his suit, so he must have come straight from work. What the hell is he doing here?

I walk out the front door of the classroom. “What’s going on?” I call out to him.

He smiles and waves, then walks over to me. “Daisy and I are here to sweep you away for the weekend.”

What?

“I don’t want to go away this weekend.”

“You will when you get there.” He smiles.

Damn it, this is the last thing I feel like doing.

All I know is that if I’m trapped away with him for the whole weekend, we are going to fight. It’s already on the tip of my tongue.

“I’ve got some more things to do. I’ll just be a minute.” I bend down and pat Daisy as she jumps around on the leash. Great, now he brings my fur baby into it too.

“Okay, we’ll be waiting.” He gives me a playful wink.

Ugh . . .

I go back into my classroom and wait as my class packs up their things, and I glance out the window at him standing there in his suit with my dog.

A sense of déjà vu comes over me.

The exotic weekend away.

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