Page 80 of Changing Rules

“Hey!” She covers my hand with hers. “You’re nothing like him.”

I pull my hand away. I can’t stand the thought of touching anyone but Bella. “I’m worse. She thought she’d finally found aperson who truly loved her, and I did…I loved her. Yet I still betrayed her.” I narrow my eyes at her. “I broke her heart. And when I think back to everything I did, I can’t blame her for leaving.”

“Alex.” Stacey leans in so close, her breath ghosts over my face.

I rear back, keeping my distance. Even being this close to her feels like a betrayal of my love for Bella.

“You’re a good guy, very caring and attentive. I’m beyond happy to have you as my friend. You make me feel alive. Spending time with you reminds me of those carefree college days. It feels good.”

“Itfeltgood,” I correct her, averting my eyes. “The problem is simple. Ultimately, our friendship”—I wave my hand between us—“is what pushed her to leave. She broke her own heart and set me free because she believed I should be with you. She told me to explore what I have with you.”

“What you have withme?” Her voice hitches, and a pink hue creeps into her cheeks as she drops her gaze to my lips.

My stomach rolls in response.Wow. She agreed when I said we were just friends. Was she just saving face? Because this reaction sure as shit makes it seem like she has feelings for me.

How the hell have I never noticed?

Over and over, every one of Bella’s concerns rears its head.Fuck.

I set my mug on the counter and tug at my hair, desperate to anchor myself. An unsettling heaviness in my chest makes breathing painful.

“I love Bella,” I say, my throat scratchy. “She’s the best thing to ever happen to me. Not even football brings me as much joy as she did.”

Stacey grimaces, her chin dropping.

“I lost her because I didn’t set boundaries with you.”

Her lashes flutter as she peers up at me. “Do you hate me?”

“No.” It’s the truth. “I hate myself for the way I made her feel. I’m the one who flushed my life down the toilet.”

Stacey blows out a long breath. “At least now I understand why you said you need space. This means our friendship is done, right?”

“It can’t stay the way it was.” I chew on the inside of my cheek. “I’m glad we reconnected, and I’m happy you’re doing so well, but our meetups need to stop. The texts and phone calls too. Maybe a check-in on occasion, but not like we did before.”

For a moment, she looks at me, her face expressionless. But then her lips tip up. “I understand, and I respect that,” she tells me. “And I have faith you can win Isabella back. If she loves you, she’ll forgive you.”

“I need to make a lot of changes before I’m worthy of her. Once I do that, I’ll let myself think about winning her back.”

As I exhale, a new thought hits me, one that makes my stomach churn.

What if she meets someone in New York? What if she finds a guy who treats her right and cherishes what he has?

“What is destined to happen will happen. If Isabella is it for you, you’ll find your way back to each other.”

“She’s right for me, but that doesn’t mean I’m right for her.” I gulp down the rest of my coffee and stand. “It’s getting late, and I have an early practice tomorrow.”

“Okay.” She pushes herself away from the bar, causing her stool to balance on two legs. Lips parted and eyes wide, she grabs for the counter, but she misses. Both Stacey and her cup fall to the floor, and the rest of her tea spills down the front of her T-shirt.

Wincing, I round the breakfast bar and pull her out of the puddle on the floor. She looks up at me, her cheeks crimson and her eyes welling with tears.

“Everything’s alright?” I ask her, taking a step back.

She snorts. “My ego is a little bruised, but that’s it.”

“You’re fine.” I head out of the kitchen, glancing over my shoulder. “Give me a second. I’ll find something for you to wear.”

CHAPTER 21

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