Page 111 of The Forever Rule

Blakely’s eyes widened. “When did you speak to Isabella?”

“Right before I came here when she yelled at me.”

“She came to your house?”

I nodded. “Yes. I deserved it. Especially if all you saw was the photo, and no explanation.”

Blakely ran her hand over her face. “My best friend is insane.”

“She loves you.”

When she let her hands fall, my heart kicked. She was so damn beautiful. “She does, and I love her.”

For some reason, the word love echoed between us, but I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t because I had no idea what I felt. This had started casual, and it should have stayed that way, but it wasn’t. And that worried me.

“I didn’t kiss her and I’m sorry that you were hurt.”

“I may be making a terrible mistake, but I believe you. It just felt like a slap, and then I got in my own head. Just like before, when you didn’t call, even though that was for a good reason.”

“I’m still an asshole who should have called. Both times.”

She stepped forward and I wrapped my arms around her. She hugged me tightly and I kissed the top of her head.

“I promise to never let my phone die again, and I will tell you the next time a random woman kisses me.” She punched me not so softly, and I grunted. “Too soon?”

“Far too soon. What are you going to do about her?”

“Isabella?” I asked, knowing full well who she meant.

“Sure. Her first.”

“Isabella, I don’t know. Meredith, I don’t know.”

“If something’s wrong, maybe she just needs a friend.”

I pulled back, my eyes widening.

“Andyouwant to be friends with her?”

She grimaced. “Maybe not, but maybe she needs one. I don’t know. Everyone keeps saying the way she’s acting is out of character, so maybe something’s wrong. I just hate feeling like this and I never want to feel like this again. It was like a slap and a punch all at once, and that scares me because I’ve never felt this way before, for anyone. And then the rug was pulled out from under me, and I was lost, and I don’t want to feel that again either.”

Ease settled over me and I nodded wondering if I would do it again. I might not cheat like my father—if you could call consensual relationships like that cheating—but I’d hurt her. Because I’m my father’s son. Because I couldn’t promise I wouldn’t.

Instead of saying anything though, I just held her, and got lost to my own thoughts.

I wouldn’t break my promises, not when it came to fidelity. But I hadn’t called when everything had changed the first time, and I hadn’t called the night before.

So perhaps I really was my father’s son, at least when it came to promises.

And that worried me more than I thought possible.

Chapter Seventeen

BLAKELY

Dear Diary,

Is it okay to believe in forever?

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