Page 67 of Rule Breakers Fall Hardest

“Doesn’t matter.” He picks up the knife and chops the stem off the broccoli. “I dragged you into this mess. They might not know that, but it doesn’t matter. They have no right to treat you the way they did.”

I lower my head as tears spring to my eyes. I don’t want him to see me emotional, but I can’t help it. I have a thick skin, but sometimes, words cut deep. Those girls don’t know me, but that doesn’t stop it from hurting me.

The next thing I know, his hands are on my cheeks, tilting my face up so I’m forced to look at him.

“Listen,” he says, his face a mask of pain. “I know I’m not the best person at times, but I won’t stand for anyone being shitty to you like that. You and me? We’re a team now. You hear me?” He holds tight, his eyes bouncing between mine.

With a sniffle, I nod.

“Good.” With that single word, he releases me and steps back, returning his focus to preparing dinner.

I’m not quite sure what to make of this version of Daire—this Daire who’s going out of his way to protect me like he did when we were kids.

I’m so used to the animosity between us that somehow it almost feels easier.

With a cleansing breath, I shuffle to the fridge. Wine bottle in hand, I pour myself a glass, then I take a seat at the island. I’d be crazy to turn down the opportunity to watch a hot guy cook.

He rubs his jaw and clears his throat. “I, uh—I need to get baby stuff. And I need your help.”

I arch a skeptical brow, spinning my wineglass. “You’re enlisting my help for baby stuff? Why?”

“Because you’re a girl.”

Huffing a laugh, I shake my head. “So because I have a vagina, I’m automatically supposed to know all things baby?”

He presses the heel of his hand into his eye and rubs. “I just figured you’d have a better idea than me. The DNA test is supposed to come back sometime this week, and I’m just… trying to be prepared.”

“I still can’t believe you went through all of this,” I flick my fingers lazily, gesturing to the house around us, then I wiggle my left hand, letting the light catch the diamonds, “before you had the DNA test done.”

He narrows his eyes. “I know that’s my kid. The DNA test is only a formality. The sooner I get things in order, the better, and there are so many things I need to take care of. A new car, the room, stroller, car seat… fuck.” He drops his head back. “My lawyer said I need to set up a trust in case anything happens to me and?—”

“Whoa.” I hold my hands up. “Let’s take one thing at a time. What’s something you can accomplish relatively easily within the next day or two?”

“Um…” He cocks his head to the side and presses his lips into a straight line, looking as though I’ve asked him a complicated math problem. “A new car shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve only put it off because I really like the Porsche.”

“You know you could afford to keep it and still get something else, right?” I mutter sarcastically, but before he can snap back, I wave a hand. “All right, the vehicle situation needs to be handled in the next three days—does that sound agreeable to you?”

He pulls the oven door open and bends to check on the chicken. “I suppose.”

Men.

“You know what else is easy?”

He straightens, facing me. “What?”

I give him a blinding smile. “Shopping. Like you said, Junior is going to need a car seat, stroller, crib, bottles, clothes…” I heave a breath and cringe. “And whatever else babies need. Haul your happy ass to Target and get to shopping.”

His eyes widen. “That sounds horrifying.”

“Don’t be dramatic. Shopping is fun.”

“Maybe for you.”

“Well.” I place my palms down on the cool counter. “I’m not going shopping for Junior by myself, if that’s what you’re getting at. We can go this weekend.Together.”

Daire sighs and pulls the lid off the steamer basket to check the broccoli. “Fine.”

“You should look online—find parenting blogs with recommendations.”

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