Page 96 of Rule Breakers Fall Hardest

My cheeks heat, and a smile splits my face unbidden. “He said he didn’t want anyone to doubt I’m his.”

I’m still swooning over that note.

“Wait,” she leans in close and lowers her voice, “does this mean things are getting real?”

“I don’t know.” I shrug, biting my lip as my heart thumps hard against my breastbone. “But I think so.”

The scream that flies out of her has the people nearby turning to look at us.

“We’re fine.” I wave. “She thought she saw a spider.”

Most everyone returns to their own business, though several girls in a group nearby look around in pure panic at the thought of a spider.

“We need to get to our seats. I don’t want to miss anything.”

Ironic, since I didn’t even plan to attend until Daire asked me to and provided me with the two tickets.

When we’re finally in our seats, Bertie starts in again. I’d expect nothing less from her.

“He put his name on you. WithMrs.”

“Wearemarried.” I take a sip of my soda and survey the ice without really paying attention.

She swats at me. “You know what I mean.”

I can feel the glares from the girls around us, but I do my best to ignore them and whatever venom they might spew.

Stealing a nacho from Bertie’s order, I pop it into my mouth.

With a glower, she pulls the tray into her chest. “Mine.”

I smile back. “You know you don’t mind sharing with me.”

“Only when I’m not hangry. I skipped lunch.”

“Bertie,” I scold lightly. “Why didn’t you eat?”

She shrugs, pinching the cheesiest nacho chip she can find between her fingers. “I was busy and forgot.”

Growing up with a mother who constantly skipped meals and claimed to forget means my first instinct is to question whether she’s being honest.

But by the way Bertie goes to town on her nachos, I believe her when she says she forgot, so I keep my mouth shut.

I need to talk to her about coming with me to try on dresses. There’s no way I want to endure what my mother might say without some sort of backup. But this isn’t the place to talk about it, not with potential eavesdroppers around us.

As the game begins, Bertie holds out a chip. “You can have one more.”

I laugh, taking it from her. “Thanks.”

As I’m chomping on the chip, Daire skates by and stops, ice spraying up around him. He taps the plexiglass with his stick, as if I don’t see him already. He waves, and some of the girls around me giggle like he’s waving at them. He frowns as he scans the bleachers around me, then points directly at me and makes a heart shape with his hands.

I try, and fail, not to smile. He taps the glass with his finger, waiting for…

I roll my eyes and make a heart hand back at him.

Cree skates up to him then, clapping him on the shoulder and pulling him away.

Bertie leans over, finding my ear. “Either he’s got it bad for you, or he really doesn’t want these bitches talking about you.”

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