Page 102 of The Bad Boy Rule

“Oh, there they are,” Maisie says, and my gaze travels along hers to see Saint, his hulking, broad body squeezed into a booth in the corner. Sitting across from him is a guy with dark, dirty-blond hair, around the same height and even a similar build.

If I had to guess… one of his teammates.

I feel Saint’s eyes on me as I cross the room, and when I lift my gaze, he’s smirking, that signature cocky, small tilt to his lips that I’m admittedly a little obsessed with.

I think I might be becoming obsessed with him just in general, if I’m being honest.

“Hi.” I smile, sliding in beside him. He dips his head to my ear to where only the two of us can hear and whispers, “Yet another little outfit that I want to flip up and fuck you in.”

My eyes widen, nearly popping out of my head at his filthy words. God, it’s ridiculous how much of an effect he has on me. I’m clenching my thighs together beneath the table.

Something he’s all too aware of.

“Behave,” I mumble, pulling a low chuckle out of him. Turning back to Maisie and his friend with my cheeks currently burning as if they’re on fire, I make introductions. “Maisie, this is Saint. Saint, this is my best friend, Maisie.”

He gives her a nod and a small smile. “Hey. This is Bennett.”

“So youdohave friends?” Maisie smarts as she angles herself toward who I now know is Bennett and extends her hand. He flashes her a bright smile and slides his into hers.

He reminds me of a Ken doll, but the dirty-blond version. Charming smile, broad shoulders, a dimple in his cheeks.

“Guess so,” Saint mutters.

Bennett grins. “Don’t listen to him. He loves me. He’s just afraid of commitment, so he does it secretly.”

“Itolerateyou. Big difference,” Saint retorts.

Both Maisie and I are wearing the same smile as we watch the two of them go back and forth.

“You staying in the group chat says otherwise. Just admit it—we’re friends, and you love me,” Bennett says, and Saint just shakes his head.

“Because you kept adding me five thousand goddamn times. My phone kept going off 24/7.”

“Potato… po-tah-to. The point is you stayed,” Bennett responds, clearly very proud of that fact.

And honestly? He should be. Saint doesn’t make it easy, and I know that firsthand.

I’m glad that Bennett hasn’t given up and he’s forcing Saint out of his comfort zone. He needs friends. People who show up for him, who show him that he’s not unlovable.

It’s slightly ironic that Bennett is the golden retriever to Saint’s black cat.

Clearly night and day.

Saint doesn’t get a reply in, even though I’m sure there’s one on the tip of his tongue, because the waitress comes over to take our order. Obviously, we all get pizza burritos.

“Lennon, you and Mais gonna come to one of our games? We can get you good seats. Perks of being the star goalie,” Bennett says before shoving half a breadstick in his mouth in one huge bite.

I steal one off the plate in front of me and shrug, unsure. “Yeah, if he wants me to.”

“I’m pretty sure you’re the only reason this dude has ever smiled. Literally,ever,” Bennett deadpans.

Saint snorts beside me, but when I look over to see the shadow of a faint grin tilting the corner of his lips, my stomach does incessant flips.

“I’ve actually… never been to a hockey game,” Maisie says with a shrug. “But I’m down to go to the boy aquarium.”

A deep laugh slips out of Bennett, his head shaking. “Boy aquarium? The fuck does that even mean?”

She shrugs. “Glass… with hockey boys inside. A…fishbowl? You know what? Never mind.” Her laugh is soft, suddenly shy as she drops her gaze and looks down at the empty straw paper on the table.

---