Page 4 of Changing Rules

“I don’t do itthatoften.” She sticks her tongue out at me. “You’ll thank me on Monday, when I won’t be trying to find a hideout so I can work without distractions.”

I huff a laugh. “As if I’d mess with your work.”

“You do. All the time,” she points out, giggling.

Her reactions are authentically her. She’s so incredibly sensitive to everything. It doesn’t surprise me anymore, even if this Bella is not at all like the Bella I first met. Back then, she was guarded, showing only glimpses of her real self. Now? She has blossomed. I’ve earned her trust, proved again and again that she can count on me. She’s no longer afraid to be herself, and I couldn’t be prouder.

“I don’t remember hearing any complaints from you.” I laugh loudly, startling Milo from his slumber on the floor.

He lifts his head and looks from her to me, dazed.

“Sorry, buddy,” I tell him.

With a huff, he lowers his head again and drifts back to sleep.

When I look at Bella again, she isn’t smiling anymore. I hold a hand out, and she takes it, slowly rising from her chair. Without argument, she lets me tug her onto my lap.

She winds her arms around my neck and studies me, her expression serious. “What was the pissed-off look about earlier?”

“Mom called.” I heave a sigh. “Audrey found a house nearby.”

“How do you feel about that?” Her expression remains neutral as she skims her fingers along my skin, massaging my neck.

God, I love when she does that. Some of the tension that crept back in at the mention of my sister leaves my body, and my muscles relax a fraction.

“I hate the idea,” I mutter, lowering my head. “I love Audrey, I do, but I’m tired of her overprotectiveness. I’m a grown-ass man, but she treats me like I still need her to hold my hand when I cross the street. It’s bullshit.”

Bella presses her lips together in thought. “Your mom doesn’t think this is a great idea either?”

“She knows my relationship with Audrey has been rocky lately, and she doesn’t want it to get worse.” I wrap my arms around her waist and press my ear to her chest, listening to her steady heartbeat. “I’ll call Ryan tomorrow. With any luck, he can help me convince her to find a place a little farther away. Maybe closer to our parents.”

“Let’s hope.” Her barely audible murmur goes straight through my body and settles as a pinch in my chest.

On the surface, Bella and Audrey get along just fine. But upon closer look, the cracks are visible. Audrey has made comments when she thought I couldn’t hear her, and that caused the rift between us to widen. Comments about how my girlfriend is the reason for all the hate I faced after our relationship became public, about how Bella is as selfish and rotten as her ex Miller.I refuse to let anyone, even my sister, hurt my girl, so I need to come up with a plan for how to change things between them.

I pull back and drink Bella in. God, she’s gorgeous. “How about taking a bath together before bed?”

A smile blooms on her lips, her eyes crinkling with warmth. “Sounds great.”

In one quick move, I sweep her up and stride for the bathroom. The place that bound us together. A place full of us and our love. The place where I can’t stop worshiping her body.

Because that’s exactly what she deserves.

CHAPTER 2

SHE KNEW

BELLA

A year and four months ago

April

“Happy birthday, Izzy!”

The second I pull the door open, Meg jumps on me, almost knocking me over.

“Love you, love you, love you!”

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