Page 117 of The Bad Boy Rule

It’s been just over two weeks since my father was arrested, and Saint and I have been together pretty much every day since.

The only time we’ve been apart is when he’s had hockey or a shift at Tommy’s or when either of us has class. I got to experience my very first game last week, and it was… incredible. Not just watching my man in his element, but the atmosphere, the sport itself.

And yeah, it wasinsanelysexy to watch him checking guys against the boards and being all intense and intimidating. When they put him in the penalty box for a two-minute penalty, he looked right at me and lifted his stick, shooting me a cocky, completely Saint-like wink. As if I wasn’talreadyblushing so hard I thought I would catch fire after thinking about the last time we were in there… together.

Then, after the game, there was all of that pent-up aggression and adrenaline coursing through him, and he spent the entire night between my thighs, taking it out on me.

In the best way.

Can’t wait for the next game day.

“She’s going to be comfortable, baby. I told you not to stress about it,” he says with a smile, pushing off the wall behind me.

“I hope you two know how thin these walls are and hownotquiet you are,” Maisie calls through said thin wall between the kitchen and dining room. “Len, no wonder you’re looking so tired lately. Saint, give my girl a break, ’kay?”

My God.

“I’m going to die of embarrassment,” I mutter as I push past Saint toward the table, attempting to busy myself and not think about the fact that my best friend has absolutely heard all of the filthy things Saint says—and does—to me.

He laughs. “I’m pretty sure she knows we’re not playing Go Fish in there.”

I pin him with a look, lifting a brow. “Obviously, I’m more of an Uno kind of girl.”

“I promise I’ll be on my best behavior untilafterdinner.” He lifts his hands in surrender, even though he’s wearing a smile that tells me he’s probably not going to make it through dinner at all. “Oh, did your mom respond?”

My heart squeezes painfully at the question, and I shake my head. “Nope. She… hasn’t responded to any of my messages.”

Saint slips a strong arm around my waist and leans in, pressing a lingering kiss to my forehead that I lean into, sighing. “Just give her some time, baby. She’ll come around.”

I’m not even sure why I tried to reach out to her, but there’s just some part of me that feels like I had to. I guess at the end of the day, I thought that we might be able to fix whatever had broken between us because of my father.

But… she believes it’s my fault that all of this has happened. At least that’s what she said during the one and only time I’ve spoken to her since he was arrested. She blames me for “betraying” our family, for the fact that all of their accounts and assets have been frozen because of the ongoing investigation.

Regardless of what’s happened between us, there’s a part of me that’s still the little girl who just wants her mom, who hopes that we can repair what’s broken. But I guess only time will tell.

“Yeah, so it’s just going to be us, Maisie, Tommy, and your mom,” I say.

It’s the first time I’ve ever celebrated a holiday without my parents, and even though there’s still a twinge of sadness that remains, I’m comforted by the fact that I’m surrounded by the family that I chose.

The ones that chose me.

And it really doesn’t feel like I’m missing anything at all.

Saint walks over to where I’m standing at the dining table and reaches for my hands, threading our fingers together. “It’s going to be great, and I can tell that you’re anxious, but it’s goingto be the best Thanksgiving either of us have ever had. Especially because Tommy’s bringing his fried turkey.”

I roll my eyes with a laugh. The man is always thinking about one of three things. Food, hockey, or sex.

“I know. You know, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.” Untangling our hands, I reach for the thin chain around his neck that still holds my ring, and I curl my fingers around it, gently pulling him to me. “And I’m thankful for a lot of things today, but it’syouthat I’m the most thankful for. Thankful that you crossed that line every single time that I told you to stay on your side, that you pushed my buttons and drove me insane. That you didn’t let me quit when I wanted to give up. I’m thankful that I get to love you, Saint. And that I get to be lovedbyyou.”

He shakes his head. “You have no idea how crazy I am about you. How obsessed I am with every single part of you. How much I love you. You’re the most pure, good thing I’ve ever known.My Golden Girl.”

Saint swipes away my tears. Undoubtedly, the happiest ones I’ve ever cried.

“You know, before all this started, Maisie and I made a rule. Never fall for the bad boy…”

His lips curve into my favorite cocky smirk. “Then break the rules for me, baby.”

EPILOGUE

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