Page 164 of My Rules

“I’m not the rebound guy.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Oh my god.” I point to the door. “Fuck off and go home already.”

“All I’m saying is be careful, that’s all.”

“We kissed. You have nothing to worry about.”

“You didn’t have sex?” He frowns.

“We didn’t have sex,” I huff. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

“Good.” He sips his coffee. “Just ... stay cool, okay?”

I screw up my face and hold my hand up. “When am I ever not cool?”

“When it’s Rebecca.” He widens his eyes.

The front door bangs, and Antony comes into view. “Hey,” he says as he walks to the coffee machine. “Carol told me you hooked up with Rebecca last night,” he says matter-of-factly. He pushes the button and glances over at me for confirmation. “So, how’d you do?”

“What?” I snap. “How does she fucking know that? Was she spying through the windows or some shit?”

“Wouldn’t surprise me.” Henley shrugs. “It’ll be on the national news tomorrow.”

“This street is an invasion of my privacy,” I huff as I open the fridge to try and find something to eat. “I have a good mind to move.”

“You should,” Antony agrees. Henley smiles and clinks his coffee cup with Ant’s. “Best idea you’ve ever had.”

“Please go home.” I slam my sad refrigerator shut. “But first, you’re taking me out for breakfast.”

Rebecca

“Hello.” I hear Juliet’s voice as she comes through my front door.

“Hi.”

“So . . . ?” She smiles.

“So.” I hunch up my shoulders in excitement. “I ... kind of got to second base.”

“With Blake?”

My eyes widen. “What ... what makes you say that?”

Oh crap, how the hell does she know?

“I saw him sneaking out of here.” She puts her hands on her hips and raises her eyebrows. “So ... yeah, Rebecca. Do you have something to tell me?”

“Um.” I wince. “I was going to tell you, but I wasn’t sure if I was right about it, and it turns out I was, and now I’m ...”

“Relax.” She laughs as she pulls me into a hug. “This is amazing.”

“Is it, though?” I whisper. “He’s a player and a smooth talker, and I don’t know if ...”

“Stop overthinking this. It’s Blake. He’s the best guy in the world, and if it doesn’t work out, so what? At least you broke the drought with someone you can trust to look after you.”

I wince. The thought is depressing.

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