Page 99 of Changing Rules

“It’s been great. The guys are like family to me already.” Josh half stands and picks up a bottle of whiskey, pouring himself adrink. “Hoping we make it to the finals this year. I’m chasing my first championship.”

I give him an encouraging smile. “I hope you pull it off.”

Across the table, Meg clears her throat and stands. “We’re so happy you could all be here tonight, and we hope you enjoy dinner!” She raises her glass. “Cheers!”

“Cheers.” I raise my own glass and give her a wink. She kept it simple without making it about me, and I’m grateful.

Just a nice evening with pleasant company.

“Cheers, Isabella,” Josh says.

A thrill shoots up my spine. My name sounds nice on his tongue.

I turn to him and tap my glass against his. “Cheers, Josh.” I bring my wine to my lips, holding his gaze. A warm, anticipatory sensation rises in my chest. It’s been a long time since I’ve been openly admired by a handsome man.

My belly is full,and my cheeks ache. I don’t remember the last time I smiled so much. Through the entire meal, Josh has kept me entertained with his stories and jokes. He’s easygoing and very respectful at the same time.

I can’t deny I’ve ogled him a little. His dimples are hard to ignore. Even his thick stubble doesn’t hide them. His nose is crooked, and though we’ve only just met, I’m already privy to the story behind each of the five times it was broken.

And don’t get me started on how big he is. He’s a wall of muscle, and yet his movements are graceful.

“Which parts of New York did you like the best?” Josh asks, swirling his whiskey, the amber liquid sloshing against the glass.

“Central Park.” The answer is easy. If there’s one place I’d recommend in the Big Apple, it’s there.

“Only Central Park?” He chuckles.

“Bethesda Terrace,” I muse. “Culture Espresso, a coffee bar near Bryant Park. The Met.”

Memories of my time in New York flash in my head, filling my heart with melancholy.

“Those are my favorite places, but honestly, I love everything about the city. The Top of the Rock has the best view in all of New York. Up there, I felt like I could do anything.”

He studies me with his eyebrows knit together. “Why’d you move back?”

“My program ended, and my internship in Santa Clara doesn’t start until May. I figured I’d spend some time with my family and friends before moving across the country.”

“Makes sense.” He nods. “I did the same, spent as much time with my parents as I could before I moved to Boston.”

“I’m not close with my parents,” I say. The wine has clearly loosened my tongue. “Only my cousin and my aunt.” I shrug.

Not that it stops my mother from sending messages here and there, just to make sure I know I’m a useless whore who ruined her marriage and her perfectly organized life.

Coincidentally, Kevin’s life only improved once he left her. Or it was beginning to before I blocked him. For a while, I ignored his occasional messages. He never bombarded me with texts or got angry. I don’t think he expected me to respond. My best guess is, it was his way to keep me close without putting in too much effort. Not that it would’ve been fruitful regardless.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

His words put a smile on my face. “I appreciate it, but how about we change the subject? I don’t know why I even brought up my family.”

“Gladly,” Josh murmurs, leaning in.

When his arm brushes mine, I’m suddenly very aware of how close we are.

“Any chance you’d want to meet for coffee? To talk about more pleasant stuff? Not family related, of course.”

A snort escapes me before I can stop it. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”

He cocks a brow. “Why not?”

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