Page 39 of Rule Breaker

“What?”

“It’s Friday. Aren’t you partying with Dane and Jace?”

“Uh, it’s two in the afternoon, Mad,” Kayden chuckled. “And, hello, we have a game tomorrow.”

Jesus, I’d totally forgotten. Two hours with Kayden and look what happened to me. I was completely out of it.

“Right,” I replied. “So, partying comes Saturday night?”

“Fuck yes.” Kayden nodded. “One of the fraternities has a party planned. Ethan’s frat. Everyone on the hockey team’s invited.”

“Are you going?” I asked.

“Oh yeah. You want to come with?”

“Me? At a frat party?” I scoffed. “Hell to the fucking no.”

“Why?”

“Do I need a reason?”

“Yup.”

I sighed. “I’d rather eat edibles and listen to music.”

“You can do that at the party.”

“Yeah, but there are people there. I’d rather do it alone,” I paused. “Do you…hook up at these things?”

My God, I sounded so lame. What did I care if Kayden got laid? I glanced at his face, his cheeks ruddy.

“Uh, not really,” he muttered. “Sort of. Well, no.”

“I have no idea what that any of that means, but whatever. It’s not my biz.”

We walked in silence as we passed the campus gates. Small-town Sutton was starting to grow on me. Being away from the big city congestion and chaos wasn’t something I thought I’d like, but did. And the quiet here had a way of calming me.

“So, edibles. Care to share tomorrow?” Kayden asked.

“Maybe,” I replied.

Man, I wish I had one now. I was fucking nervous all of a sudden, so I pulled out my pack of smokes. And I didn’t miss Kayden’s side-eye.

“Don’t give me that look,” I snapped.

“What?”

“Judgment. I saw it,” I replied as I pulled a cig out.

“I’d never. But those are gonna ruin your teeth and your breath.”

I shrugged. “Then it’s a good thing I don’t kiss anyone.”

Kayden stopped short. Shit. I shoved the cig in my mouth as my comment sat like a bomb between us.

“Not at all? Like, ever?” Kayden asked, eyes wide.

I fumbled for my lighter and lit up, taking a long,longdrag.

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