Page 116 of Breaking Rules

Wakingup with Bella may be the highlight of my life. Her body is pressed to mine, my hand possessively splayed over her hip bone, her skin warm and velvety to the touch. She’s wearing my tee and her lacy red panties, and fuck, is it the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. Her dark brown hair is spilled over my pillow, tickling me.

I don’t want to leave her side…but I can’t be late for morning practice.

I ease out of bed, making sure she’s undisturbed. When I press my lips to her forehead, the corners of her mouth tremble, and a full-blown smile stretches across my face. How am I supposed to focus on the game against Washington when all I want to do is climb back in bed and spend the next few hours fucking her, tasting her, kissing her?

As much as I’d love to fuck with Miller, I’ll have to wait. I can’t stop myself from comparing this to a turnover. No one knows Miller lost Bella, but I’ve already intercepted, caught her in my arms, and I don’t plan to ever let her go.

I can only hope that when I finally tell her about what happened in college, she won’t push me away. Thinking about our upcoming talk makes me feel like there’s a rock in my stomach.

Shaking my head, I force myself to focus on getting dressed. I’ve got the leash clipped to Milo’s collar when an idea strikes me. I leave him waiting near the front door as I rush into the kitchen and write a little note to Bella, explaining where I’m going and asking her to wait for me. The inevitable truth looms over my head like the sword of Damocles, but I can’t let my past rob me of my future.

I just hope she’ll understand.

* * *

“Practice was a little rough today,don’t you think?” Carter asks me, tearing me out of my thoughts.

I force myself to smirk at him. “I didn’t notice.”

“You’re too cocky. If you’re not careful, it could be your Achilles’ heel.” He chuckles. “Though maybe you’re just speaking your truth. You’ve been the star of our team since the moment you got here.”

“I’m trying my best, man. Hoping we can push through the rest of the season and make it to the Super Bowl.”

“I admire your determination.” He wraps a towel around his waist and heads for the showers. “See you tomorrow.”

Despite the grueling practice, as I walk to my car, my mood is good, my mind clear. Miraculously, Miller’s presence didn’t bug me one bit today.

Revenge is a dish best served cold, and I think I served mine frozen solid.

When I press the ignition button, the engine comes to life, and a Post Malone song blasts from the speakers. All the way home, I tell myself Bella is there waiting for me. She has to be.

Seeing Miller propose to her gutted me. So did walking away from her after Audrey caught us kissing. As much shit as I’ve been through, nothing compares to the pain I felt when I thought I’d lost Bella.

I’m in love with her. It hit me hard when Miller dropped to one knee in front of her, and I’ve been dazed ever since. I was worried I might have lost my chance with her. For years, I’ve told myself I don’t do relationships, certain I didn’t have the ability to fall in love. But I did, and it’s the most overwhelming feeling I’ve ever experienced.

I sit in my car for a moment, willing the anticipation stewing inside my chest to settle. I’m ready to cross my fingers, ready to pray to God that I’ll have the chance to explain myself to her. She needs to know the truth about my college years, about Miller. I want to explain my behavior too…but that might change the way she feels about me. It might ruin my life and our potential future, but I have to be completely honest with her. I’m ready to risk it all for a chance.

I walk into the house, and when the sound of the TV registers, my heart fucking flips over itself.

She’s still here.

Scared shitless but wanting to take the leap, I head straight for the living room. I’m tired of hiding the truth from her. She doesn’t deserve it.

She’s on the couch with Milo, her hair in a messy bun on top of her head, a few wild locks framing her face. When she sees me, she takes the remote from the coffee table and presses pause. My dog lifts his head and finally notices me, his tail wagging lazily.

Yeah, buddy, I’d prefer her company over mine too.

“Hey, you’re back,” Bella says as I trot to the couch.

“And you’re here.” I sit beside her, taken by her beauty. She’s still in my tee, her bare legs pulled up beneath her. Milo’s head rests on her lap, her fingers deep in his fur. She feels like home, full of comfort and hope.

I’m not my usual self when I’m with her, but I like this version of me better. It’s who I was before all the shit that went down in college. Bella brings out the best in me.

“How was practice?”

“It was great. I have a good feeling about the game this weekend.” I squint at the TV. “What are you watching?”

“It’sHowl’s Moving Castle, my all-time favorite anime. I’ve probably seen it fifty times. The books are great, but the movie? Unmatched.”

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