Page 85 of Rule Breakers Fall Hardest

I eye him over the rim of my cup. “Why do I feel like I should be worried?”

“I’mworried. There’s no telling what those fuckers have planned. Jude in particular.”

“Should I wish you luck?”

He finishes the last dregs of his hot chocolate and sets his cup down. “Probably.”

I pat his hand and grin. “Good luck.”

This camaraderie we’re building is all too reminiscent of our long-ago friendship. A part of me can’t help but wonder how I’ll survive it if I lose him a secondtime.

21

DAIRE

Now that I’mnot living with Cree and Jude, it’s hard to see them. Cree and I practice together every day, though there’s no time to really talk. And Jude’s on the football team, and our schedules don’t line up. When they cornered me earlier today and said they wanted to take me out for a bachelor party of sorts I was more than a little concerned about what they might have up their sleeves. Especially considering all the shit we’ve been known to get up to. I’ve been on my best behavior for weeks, avoiding anything that might make it seem like I’d be an unfit father. I haven’t even gone to Harvey’s—the bar on campus that’s been a staple for me and my friends for the last few years.

“Where are we going?” I gripe from the back seat of Cree’s Bronco.

Jude’s up front in the passenger seat—after the truth came out about Jude and Cree’s sister, they’ve been surprisingly amicable. Cree can’t be too mad when it’s fucking obvious that Jude’s obsessed with Millie. The guy worships the ground she walks on.

What was even more of a shock was finding Luke Covey in the back seat when I climbed in. He’s always sort of floated on the outside edges of our friend group. Since he doesn’t go out much, it makes it hard to get to know the guy.

“To get Mexican food and celebrate your nuptials. I still can’t believe you’re fucking married, dude.”

“I feel like I’m being kidnapped.”

At my grumbling Luke actually manages a laugh.

“Dude.” Jude turns around, clutching the back of his seat. “You’re too old to be kidnapped.”

“We’ve been driving forever.”

I might be a little cranky too. Practice was rough, and I’m pretty sure my ribs are bruised.

“Good food is worth the drive.”

I look to my left at Covey. “How’d you get roped into this?”

He flicks his fingers lazily at the two guys in the front of the car. “I heard tacos, and I was sold.”

“Fair enough.” I watch the world pass by outside the window, wondering what Rosie is up to. We’ve gotten along well since we finally talked about what happened our junior year. We might be the two biggest idiots on the planet, but we were teenagers, and it became so much bigger than it needed to be.

After what feels like one hundred years, we finally pull into the restaurant parking lot.

“I gotta piss,” I say, pushing my door open. Mostly, I just need to get out of the car.

For years, I’ve been hanging out with these guys, but suddenly, it feels weird. They’ve been caught up in their own lives for the past few months, and it’s safe to say that I’ve gotten used to not going out. I hate to admit it, even to myself, but I’d rather be at home on the couch watching a game.

By the time I come out of the restroom and find the guys, they’re already seated at a booth, but there’s one new addition.

“Teddy?” I ask as I approach.

He graduated last year and moved to New York City. He popped up earlier this year when he stayed with his mom for a bit and I was still living with the guys, but I haven’t seen him in months.

Teddy stands, a sombrero wobbling on his head. “You think I’d miss your bachelor party? Never.” To Cree he says, “Who turns down an excuse to drink tequila? And don’t worry, I got you a hat too.”

He holds one out to me, and suddenly, the other guys are wearing them too. Luke is paler than he was before, his lips turned down in a frown. I bet he’s regretting wanting tacos now.

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