Page 13 of Breaking Rules

I chuckle.Indeed, it still stands.

“Go. I’ll order lunch.”

With a wink, he strides to the bathroom buck naked. I take him in, my focus landing on his butt. Another vision of Xander and the blonde pops into my mind like I’m reviewing a play.

Before I can stop myself, I’ve compared Jake’s ass to Xander’s, and my boyfriend isn’t the winner.

What the hell is wrong with me?

“Order pizza,” he says as he closes the door. “Get two. I’ll see if Walker wants to stay.”

Just my luck. With a palm to the face, I fall on my back. Staring at the ceiling, I allow myself a few seconds for a pity party. Then I sit up, unlock my phone, and order the pizzas.

Thoughts swarm in my head like bees in a hive. I have two options: I can complain and act like a baby, or I can be a grown woman and stop worrying about Jake’s friend.

I like the second one better, so I’ll stick to that.

* * *

Jake and Xanderare sprawled out on the sectional, the coffee table in front of them littered with pizza boxes and empty beer bottles.

“Babe, can you go upstairs and get my phone?” Jake says as I return with the plate of snacks he requested. It’s not the first time tonight he has ordered me around.

“Why don’t you get it yourself?” I respond, setting the plate of cheese cubes and ham on the table.

“Isabella, please. Do it for me.” He gives me ridiculous puppy dog eyes. “Please?”

Irritation hot in my veins, I open my mouth to tell him to fuck off. But with a deep breath, I rein in my anger and snap it shut again.

“Fine.” I head to the hallway.

“Thanks, babe,” he calls out as I hit the stairs. “See? She never says no to me,” he murmurs.

I pause halfway up the stairs. He’s not lying. Fuck, I hate that I’m doing this, but I can’t stop myself. The need to be convenient was instilled in me at a young age, and now I’m struggling to break free. Plus, it’s easier to go along with things than to make the kinds of changes that would make me happy. For now, I’d rather hide inside my head, in the worlds of the books I read, in the anime I love.

I deliberately take my time using the bathroom, fixing my ponytail, and steadying my breath. Once I’m a little calmer, I go back to the living room, and both men home in on me when I enter.

“What did I miss? What were you talking about while I was gone?” I ask, putting Jake’s phone on the table.

He doesn’t touch it. Maybe his request was just an excuse to boss me around so he could show his friend what a pushover I am.

I skirt the coffee table, intending to sit on the couch, but as I pass him, Jake bands an arm around my waist and pulls me to him. Caught off guard, I flail, nearly falling on top of him. He bursts out laughing while I plop down on the cushion beside him and glare.

When his laughter subsides, he gives me a smug smile. “We were talking about college. Our buddies, girls, that kind of shit. Xander and I havea lotto catch up on.”

“Definitely.” His asshole friend smirks. “I’ve got all kinds of stories about your boyfriend. I could tell you everything, even the dirty secrets.”

“No, thank you.” I hold his gaze, making him chuckle.

I’m not particularly interested, and after Jake spent the night partying with his friend, who ended up fucking a girl in this house, this whole situation makes me uncomfortable.

Even so, I can’t help but dig for information. “So, how was the club?”

“If I’d known the clubs in Boston were so much fun, I would’ve signed a contract way earlier.” Xander barks out a laugh, picking up his beer bottle. “Good booze, hot chicks.”

“He knows what he’s talking about, babe.” Jake hauls me to his chest, his palm instantly on my breast.

Cheeks flaming, I glance at Xander to make sure he didn’t see. I slant my body away from Jake and fidget in my seat, my heart sinking. It’s like he doesn’t respect me at all.

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