Page 126 of Breaking Rules

After Pauline’s delicious dinner,I put the dishes into the sink as she instructed, finding it hard not to smile. I’m content here, in this house. Almost as content as I am at my aunt’s.

This house is a home, full of warmth and comfort, love and happiness. It seems silly now, how worried I was about meeting them. They welcomed me, and they treat me with respect and kindness simply because Xander loves me.

“Did you have a good time?”

Startled, I turn and find Audrey in the doorway. “Yeah. Your parents are amazing.”

“They are,” she says with a nod.

Silence follows her words. At a loss for how to fill it, I straighten the invisible wrinkles from my skirt and cross my legs at my ankles.

“I was wrong about you.” She lifts her chin, assessing me. “You are nothing like your ex, and you…you love Alex. I believe you.”

She believes me?

Relief washes over me. “Thank you.”

“I still don’t like the way you two got together. Sneaking around, hiding from everyone. It looks more like an affair than anything, and it makes Alex look bad.” She folds her arms over her chest. “People love him. I just hope it stays that way once you two go public.”

A lump forms in my throat. “I hope so too.”

Audrey narrows her eyes then sighs. “As long as he’s happy, I’m happy. It’s nothing personal, Isabella. I just want to make sure my brother doesn’t get hurt.”

“I love Xander; hurting him is the last thing I want.” I uncross my legs and head to the doorway. When I pass her, I pause and hold her gaze. “I’m not your enemy.”

She nods and steps aside to let me through.

In the living room, Xander pulls me down next to him on the couch. The moment we’re touching, the stiffness in my shoulders dissipates. Exhaling, I put my head on his shoulder and listen to him and his dad talk about the team’s chance at the Super Bowl.

“Love you.” His whisper caresses my skin as he kisses my temple.

“I love you too,” I whisper back.

He is my constant, always on my mind. He has burrowed so deeply into my soul that as long as I have him, I’ll be content. Xander is the sweetest poison, filling the world around me with vibrant, eye-catching colors and warmth.

He stole my heart…and I’ll gladly let him keep it.

CHAPTER40

THE CARDS ARE ON THE TABLE

BELLA

December

“Time for a walk,”I say, rushing inside. I only have a couple of hours before Ben’s party. I’ve spent most of the day with Aunt Millie, helping her prepare for his surprise. Xander left for practice before I woke up. Practice, gym, strategizing—football is the only thing he thinks about these days.

I just hope he’ll be home on time.

Milo walks over to me, yawning and lazily wagging his tail.

I smile at the sight. He has become my almost constant companion. When I work, he’s always near me, putting his head on my lap or trying to catch my attention so I’ll play with him. Thanks to him, I never feel lonely, even when Xander is out of town. He’s my little savior.

Outside, I let Milo lead me down our usual route, anxious for tonight. Tom is planning something big—if I had to guess, he’s going to propose to Ben.

When my phone buzzes, I assume it’s Xander, calling to confirm he’s picking up the cake I ordered. Instead, I find Meg’s name flashing across the screen.

“I don’t want to freak you out,” she says when I answer, “but I think Jake knows about you and Xander.”

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