Page 102 of Breaking Rules

Mustering all my strength, I put my emotions in a box and lock it up tight before I stand and do my best to show enthusiasm. The Warriors, with forty-one points, are celebrating their win. They deserve all the praise for a well-played game. That’s all that matters now.

* * *

Meg walksin front of me, her fingers curled around mine. I’m dragging my feet, dreading the inevitable talk with Jake. Audrey’s chatter helps, distracting me and easing my anxiety a fraction.

When we enter the family waiting area outside the team’s locker room, some of the players are already here. Audrey rushes to Xander and throws her arms around him, diverting his attention solely to her.

Biting my bottom lip, I scan the crowd until I spot Jake. He’s standing a few feet from Xander, talking and laughing with Marco and Drew Carter. Meg leads me over to them and gives my hand a firm, reassuring squeeze. I flash her a cautious smile and let go of her hand so she can congratulate Marco on their win.

Inhale.

Exhale.

You’ve got this, Bella.

I touch Jake’s arm, and he turns.

“Congratulations! You were incredible.” I turn to look at Marco and Drew. “You guys too.”

“We came determined to win.” Marco winks at me and hauls Meg into his arms.

The way she beams makes my heart ache. Seeing her so happy puts a smile on my face, loosening the tight knots in my rigid muscles.

“Yeah, we stepped onto the field knowing we would be winners.” Jake loops an arm around my waist and kisses the top of my head. “You’re my lucky charm, babe.”

This man owns so many of my firsts: my first kiss, my first sexual experience. My first love. In high school, I dreamed about one day becoming his wife. Now that the dream has the potential to become a reality, it’s the last thing I want.

With Jake, my dreams will turn into nightmares.

He’s manipulative and authoritarian, abusive and cruel. His gaslighting and unfaithfulness are just a few of so many red flags I’ve ignored. I have more than enough reasons to walk away and never look back.

And the cherry on top? I’ve managed to fall for his teammate.

“We’re having a celebratory dinner. Are you guys coming?” Drew asks, eyeing Jake and me.

“Of course!” Jake confirms, his fingers digging into my side. “It’s perfect, because we’re about to have another reason to celebrate.” He squints at me, his lips curling into a grin.

How did I ever think that expression was a kind one? Where I used to see affection, now all I see is malice.

“What do you mean?” Marco asks.

Suddenly, I feel like I’m floating above my body. What happens next plays out in slow motion. Jake kneels in front of me and holds out a little velvet box.

My vision darkens, and my lungs constrict.This can’t be happening.

“Isabella, if there’s anything I love in this life, it’s football…and you. You’re everything to me, and with each day that passes, I fall more and more in love with you.”

The room is silent, suffocating. Every eye is fixed on us, making my skin crawl and my legs quiver.

“Will you be my wife?”

“Oh shit,” Meg says quietly.

Unshed angry tears blur my vision. He trapped me so easily. I was a fool to think I’d be safe in public.

“Isabella, baby, will you be my wife?” he repeats, his eyes flaring in warning.

If I humiliate him in front of his teammates, he’ll make things so much worse for me, especially considering how upset he was when I left him at his mom’s birthday dinner. He’d raise hell if I said no to him now.

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