Page 41 of Breaking Rules

“Xander.” My name is a warning. She doesn’t want to discuss it.

Her defiance only fuels my determination. “If this man did something to you?—”

“Stop!” she bites out. “It’s in the past. End of story. I have no desire to revisit any of it.”

Though fury roils violently in my gut, I force my muscles to relax. I put my hands on top of my head, locking my fingers. All I can do is breathe through the urge to punch a hole in the wall.

Fuck.

“But—”

“I asked you to stop,” she says. “Please, let me leave the past in the past.”

Taking a deep breath, I unlock my fingers and stand. “Fine.”

Face tilted up, she gives me a blank look, as if she’s completely unbothered. It shouldn’t be like this. She shouldn’t be so chill about being treated so poorly by her parents. Or Miller.

But she made herself clear, so I keep my tone even as I say, “Good night, Isabella.”

It takes all my strength not to slam the door behind me. I don’t know how to help her, and fuck if that doesn’t make my head hurt and my chest squeeze tight.

CHAPTER14

FAMILY MATTERS

BELLA

August

The momentI open my eyes, I regret it. With my gloomy mood, even the sunlit room is annoying. I pull a pillow over my face and fight the urge to scream into it. If I do, Xander will definitely think I’m nuts.

Though, if the way he left so abruptly last night is any indication, he already thinks so anyway.

His response is exactly why I don’t talk about my past. The smallest memory can rip through my entire body, every vein and muscle. Sorrow. Fear. Misery. I do my best to keep the emotions locked away in the back of my head. I don’t want to give them power over my mind or my life. I survived it. It’s easier not to talk about it.

Even though it’s gut-wrenching to deal with alone.

I sit up in bed and take in the room. I gave it a cursory glance the first time I was here, but now I take my time cataloging the details. The room has a full-length mirror, a gray dresser, and two nightstands. Xander’s bedroom is cozy and eye-catching, but this one has its own aura. I feel good here. Lighthearted, even. It’s like just stepping into the space eases my worries.

I dress quickly, eager to get out of here before Xander can ask more questions, but when I pass his room and discover his door is open, I tense.Shit. Is he already awake?I creep to the door and peek inside. Apparently it’s my new habit, watching him when I shouldn’t.

Xander is lying on his stomach, hugging a pillow, and Milo is fast asleep in his own dog bed. For a moment, I watch the gorgeous man breathing steadily. I study the tattoos on his back. So many drawings, entwined together with colors and lines—a dream catcher, a wolf, hands clasped together in prayer, a lion. I can’t make out some of the smaller tattoos from here.

I sigh. He was right when he said I’m weird. I’m watching the guy sleep—admiring him, even—while he isn’t mine. He’s Jake’s friend, his new teammate. I can’t allow myself to think of him as anything more.

Cursing myself for getting caught up in him, I turn and head back down the hall. I only make it a couple of steps, though, before a deep, gravelly voice startles me, making my heart lurch.

“Bella? Are you leaving already?”

Inhaling deeply, I steady myself and return to the doorway. “Yeah.”

Xander sits up, his brown hair messy, his jaw covered in scruff. “What time is it?”

“I have no clue.”

With a groan, he leans over and snags his phone from the nightstand. “It’s eight. That means you got, what? Five hours of sleep? And you’re already running away?” He raises a brow. “Stay. Miller’s probably still asleep. You’ll wake him up, and he’ll be moody.”

“I barely slept.” And I’m not going home yet. That’s out of the question.

---