Page 29 of Changing Rules

What she’s saying isn’t exactly a surprise. I was terrible to her. I didn’t protect her from Miller. I let him get away. I refused to listen to her. I failed her…and I failed Bella.

“Stacey, I’m?—”

“I was in love with you,” she says, her voice a little shaky. “That’s why it was so important for me to talk to you, toexplain what happened. I hoped if you knew the truth, you’d understand. That you would still want me.” She narrows her eyes at me. “Instead, you rejected my calls and ignored my texts. You chose to despise me for something that wasn’t my fault. For a horrible crime committed against me.”

I take a sip of my water, hoping for a little relief from the desert my throat has become.

“My heart was broken,” I finally say. “And so was my pride. It was easier for me to ignore you and pretend it never happened. Thatwenever happened. If I’d known the truth, I never would’ve done that. I never wanted to hurt you. I swear.”

She takes a deep breath, her features relaxing. “I’m over it. Truly. Just please don’t forget that you were at fault too. You broke my heart when you refused to listen to what I had to say.” She wets her lips. “I didn’t tell you that before, but I should have. You need to know. That night, what I did…I did it not only because of what Jake did, but because I didn’t think I could live after the boy I loved cut me out of his life so easily.”

My heart plummets, landing on the floor beneath me with a splat. “Fuck. I’ve never thought about it like that.”

“I know.” Her voice softens. “That’s why I wanted to tell you.”

My thoughts are in total disarray. Past and present mix together, making my head spin.

“I forgave you a long time ago.” Stacey smiles tenderly, her blue eyes shining bright. “I don’t hold any grudges, and honestly, I’d be happy if we could be friends.”

Relief washes over me. “Me too. Friends sounds good.”

“Great.” Stacey squints at her phone on the table. “My time is up. I have a meeting in fifteen minutes. Ready to go?”

“Sure. No problem.”

As we walk to the car side by side, lightness fills my body.

This is exactly what I needed, to clear the air. With any luck, it’ll allow me to finally let go of my past, and it also brought me a new friend.

CHAPTER 9

SHIT SHOW

XANDER

A year and one month ago

July

Fucking Miller!

It’s hot and humid, and I’m drenched in sweat as I crunch up, then down again. The sun is high in the sky, and out here on the field, there’s no hiding from it.

Miller stands about ten feet away with the team’s PT, Leah. He’s flirting with her, making her laugh.

He’s fucking human trash. How can she not see it?

I look away, keeping my focus on my warm-up.

Thirty-one, thirty-two, thirty-three, thirty-four?—

“Walker!”

Annoyance runs through me, heating my blood further. Why can’t he leave me the fuck alone? I have no desire to play his game and act like we’re friends.

“Xander!”

I roll up and hop to my feet in one move. “What?”

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