Page 13 of Rule Breakers Fall Hardest

This woman is infuriating. If I didn’t need her so badly, I’d be more than happy to march her right out the front door and saysee you later.

“I never planned on staying in this town.”

She cocks her head to the side, but she remains silent, listening.

“I thought I’d leave after college. Move to Manhattan or Chicago or even London and work out of one ofthose offices for my dad. I didn’t… this isn’t what I pictured, okay?”

But if I want to have any chance at a custody agreement and actually being in my son’s life, I need to be here. The court almost always rules in favor of the mother, according to my attorney, so if having a relationship with my kid means I have to stay here in small-town Tennessee, then that’s what I’ll do.

Her shoulders soften, and sympathy floods her face. “That makes sense. I didn’t even think about how much this changes your plans.”

“Mhm,” I hum, rubbing my jaw. “This is what I get for not using a condomone time.” I grind out the last part. Fuck, I was such a fool.

“Well.” She plants her hands on her hips. “All you can do now is make the best of it. So, what do you think of this place? Or should we keep looking?”

I sigh, taking in the details of the room we’re sequestered in—the one she said would be perfect for…Junior.I hate that her ridiculous nickname is sticking in my brain.

“I like this one fine.”

“But you don’t love it?”

I shake my head.

She nods once and heads for the door. “Then we keep looking.”

Hours later,I slide into the booth seat across from Rosie at the steakhouse she chose for dinner. It’s a far cry from the usual place I hang with my friends closer to campus.

Exhaustion sits heavy in my bones, but I put in an offer on the final townhouse we looked at in the historic part of town. Rosie’s eyes lit up the second we stepped inside. Even I had to agree it was nice. A sweeping staircase led to the second level, and the place was wider than the typical townhome. It felt like a home, which is what I’d been searching for but hadn’t been able to voice. When we went out back and there was a playset in the small courtyard, one Lizzie confirmed would be staying, I knew we’d finally found the one.

“I’mstarving.” Rosie scans the menu, swaying slightly in her seat. She used to do the same thing when we were younger. “You’re buying, right?” She arches her brow in question over the top of the menu. “Since you’re going to be my husband and all, you have to take care of me.” She tacks on a wink at the end.

“Yes.” I slide the fancy-looking pepper grinder back and forth to busy my hands.

“In that case, we’re getting appetizers.”

I won’t complain. I scarfed down a bowl of cereal for breakfast and haven’t eaten since. She’s probably in a similar situation, since we looked at homes straight through lunchtime.

Stifling a yawn, she sets the menu down. “Are you happy with your choice?”

“Our choice,” I correct, picking up my glass of water. I gulp half of it down quickly, then wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. I might be an asshole, but I realize that Rosie is stuck with me through this for what could be a few years, so I want her to like the place too. “And yes, are you?”

“I think it’s perfect.”

“Hopefully my offer is accepted.”

With a snort, she pulls a tube of expensive-looking lip balm from her purse. “You offered way more than they were asking. You’ll get it.”

I sit up straighter and swallow past the lump that’s been lodged in my throat since the realtor submitted our offer. “I wanted to make sure we got it.”

“We, huh?” Her lips twitch like she’s trying not to laugh at me.

“It was a figure of speech,” I grind out.

Just then, our perky waitress appears at the side of the table. She’s probably a year or two younger than me, with glossy brown hair, big brown eyes, and pink lips. She’s gorgeous and exactly my type, but alas, I’m celibate for the near future.

“What can I get you guys?” Her voice soft, almost shy.

“We’ll take an order of the avocado egg rolls, and I’ll have a Caesar salad and fries.” She passes over her menu.

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