Page 110 of Changing Rules

“What time are you thinking? I need to walk Milo and take a shower.”

“They’re meeting for dinner at seven,” he says, his voice quieter. “Then going to the club from there.”

“So ten, maybe? When you know for sure which club, text me, and I’ll meet you there.”

“Okay. See ya.”

“Marco?” I say before he can hang up.

“Yeah?”

“Thank you.”

“No big deal, man. What are friends for?” With that, he ends the call.

I feellike a fucking teenager getting ready for his first date—the jittery feeling in my hands, the way my knee bounced as I drove to the club. I chose my lucky white shirt, black jeans, and white sneakers. It’s simple, but I know she likes the way these jeans hug my ass.

Outside the club, I pull Josh aside.

“I want to be honest, because I don’t like beating around the bush. I love Bella, and I’m not planning to watch from the sidelines while you go after my girl.” I shove my hands into my pockets, holding his gaze.

Josh chuckles. “She’s a stunner, and I had a good time talking to her at the party.” The smile he gives me is an earnest one, not at all what I expected. “But she turned me down—very respectfully, by the way. I don’t have any intention of pursuing her. She made it clear she’s not interested. I respect that.”

My face splits into a grin, unbidden. “Good to know.” I hold out a hand.

Just as he takes it, Marco sidles up to us. “Are we good?”

“Yeah.” I nod.

“Then let’s go.”

There aren’t many places in Boston we can go and not be recognized, and this club is no exception. Though it’s packed, the bouncer lets us right in.

We start at the bar, figuring we can scan the place while we wait for drinks.

“Any sign of them?” I survey one side of the bar, inadvertently locking eyes with a blonde.

She arches a brow and blatantly checks me out.

A shudder works its way through me.No, thank you. Not interested.

“Nope,” Marco mutters, gaze lingering on the crowded dance floor. “You?”

“Unfortunately, no. Should we go?—”

“Hello,boys.”

Marco and I scowl at the same time as we zero in on the blonde I locked eyes with earlier. She’s flanked by a redhead and a brunette.

“Bye,girls.” I set my glass on the bar and take a step back. “Let’s go?” I ask Marco and Josh.

“Yeah.” Josh places his empty glass near mine.

Marco does the same, then leads the way through the crowd. At the edge of the dance floor, he stops and cranes his neck. “I think I saw Meg,” he says, turning to the right. “This way.”

It’s impossible to move without bumping into someone.Fuck. Just brushing up against a random woman as I pass makes me shudder.

A little more than two years ago, I spent my Saturday nights in clubs like this, drinking, dancing, partying my life away. Now? All I want is my girl.

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