Page 14 of Rule Breakers Fall Hardest

“Uh… the filet for me. Medium.”

“Any other drinks?” she asks.

Elbows on the table, Rosie laces her fingers and rests her chin on the bridge they form. “Your most expensive bottle of wine.”

“Oh?” The waitress smiles at her. “What are you celebrating?”

Rosie pastes on the biggest smile. “Our engagement.” She holds up her left hand. “No ring yet. He was justsoexcited that he proposed without one. When you know, you know.” She winks over at me.

I cover my face and huff out a long breath.

What the hell have I gotten myself into? Why didn’t I listen more in sex ed?

“Wow.” The waitress looks back and forth between the two of us. “That’s so romantic.”

“That’s my little snuggle muffin.” Rosie reaches across the table for my hand. “Such a romantic at heart. He learned to crochet this past Valentine’s so he could make me a bear.”

I’m pretty sure the girl waiting on us is about to swoon over these scenarios Rosie is fabricating.

“A bear?” she gushes. “That’s so cute. Can I see your IDs first?”

Sitting up, I pull out my wallet and license, then slide it over. Rosie does the same.

“Great!” She hands our IDs back. “Let me go put this in and bring your wine.”

“Thanks, Brittany.” Rosie’s voice is pure cheer.

“Her name’s Brittany?” I ask, frowning at our server as she crosses the dining room.

Rosie rolls her eyes. “Yeah, she came up to the table and saidHi, my name is Brittany. What can I get you guys?Were you not listening?”

“I missed that first part,” I mumble.

She takes a sip of her water and bites down on the straw as she mutters, “Of course you did.”

I check my phone, hoping to find texts from my friends waiting, but there’s nothing. Irritation has my teeth clenching. My world is imploding, and Cree is too busy running after a girl he thinks is the one who got away. Newsflash, she’s just a girl. Nothing special. I shoot him a text, just a simpleHey, what are you doing?but I doubt I’ll hear from him anytime soon.

“I don’t think I’ve ever known of you to be this quiet.” She takes another sip of water. “It’s weird.”

I look up and set my phone face down on the table. “I have a lot on my mind.”

“Right.” She cringes. “Makes sense.”

Awkward silence settles around us. It’s weird sitting across from someone I used to know everything about who is now a virtual stranger.

“What’s your major?” I ask her.

She arches a manicured dark brow at me. “You’re seriously asking me about my major? That’s like talking about the weather.” With a shake of her head, she adds, “I’m studying to be a nutrition therapist.”

“Because of your mom?”

She nods sadly, her eyes dropping to the table like the whorls in the wood are the most fascinating things she’s ever seen. It pisses me off to know that her mom is still so obsessed over Rosie’s weight. She’s perfect the way she is. She always has been. “I’m sorry.” I don’t know what else to say. Sorry doesn’t make it any better, and it certainly doesn’t fix the problem.

“It is what it is, but yeah, she’s why I wanted to go down this path. Not that I need to work, but…” She trails off, shrugging her shoulders.

She’s right. Her dad is the sole heir to an entire chain of hotels, so she’s set for life. I can’t judge, not when I’m in the same situation with my own father. I have to applaud Rosie for going to college and working to get her degree when she could’ve spent the last few years partying and traveling. Her parents are far more lenient than my dad, who insisted that all of us boys attend college.

“Here’s that bottle of wine for you guys.” The waitress sets down two glasses, then she opens the bottle and fills each one halfway.

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