Page 77 of Rule Breakers Fall Hardest

Shaking my head, I reach for conditioner. I squeeze a dollop into my palm and apply it to the ends of my hair. I take my time, stalling before I return downstairs and face him again. Things are changing between us, and while I hope it’s for the better—while Ithinkit’s for the better—I can’t help but want to protect my heart.

He already broke it once.

Who’s to say he won’t do itagain?

19

DAIRE

The child CPRclass is filled with a mix of expecting parents, young women—probably nannies—and teenage girls that I assume are here because they’re babysitters. Then there’s Rosie and me.

“Like this.” The instructor demonstrates CPR on the infant doll in front of the two of us. “You’re being too rough. You don’t want to crack ribs, do you?” She shoots me an accusing look.

“Sorry,” I mutter at the chastisement, my face heating.

This is a lot harder than I expected. Especially since I took a CPR class my freshman year. Coach requires it of all his players. He’s never explained why, but rumor is that when he was younger, a friend collapsed in front of him, and no one knew how to do CPR properly. Whether it’s true is anybody’s guess. Most of my teammates are full of shit, so there’s a good chance it’s not.

“No, no, no.” The short, older woman chastises me yet again. To Rosie she says, “Big men like this one here want to show off how strong they are. But death isn’t cute.”

The heat in my face has officially spread everywhere, and I’ve broken out into a sweat. I’m trying to do this right, but clearly, I’m failing at every turn.

“Fingers,” she says, holding up her index and middle finger. “Like this.”

She demonstrates again.

I shoot a pleading look in Rosie’s direction, but from the twitch in her lips, she’s far too amused to be any help.

“Now try.”

I take a deep breath. At this point, the entire class is staring at me.

I try again.

She closes her eyes, pinching her brow. “Dead baby,” she mutters.

Tossing my head back, I groan. “Please, help me. I need to learn this.”

For the first time, she looks at me with a hint of sympathy in her expression. Like maybe she gets how desperate I am. “Give me your arm.”

I obey, extending my arm.

“You need to be firm.” She presses her fingers into my skin. “But nottoorough. Do you feel that pressure?”

I nod in answer.

“Good. Now try again.”

Playing in front of an entire arena of hockey fans?

Not a problem.

Attempting to give this doll CPR while a dozen people watch me? I’m ready to run out the door and never come back.

This is for Sammy.

With a fortifying breath, I do my best to mimic the pressure she demonstrated and try again.

She nods in encouragement, so I continue. For a solid minute, no one moves or speaks while I practice, but eventually, she claps.

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