Page 138 of Changing Rules

“I’m fine. I worked all morning and then had lunch with Jess. I planned to get more work done this afternoon, butyouhappened.” I side-eye him, only to find him wearing a satisfied grin. “Did you know Jess and Josh are seeing each other?”

He arches a brow. “Josh Bowman?”

“Yeah.”

“No, I had no idea.” A smile forms on his lips. “Though I definitely noticed how he looked at her when we were at the club.”

“She lights up when she talks about him.” Milo stops short and sniffs the leg of a bench, so we stop and give him a minute. “I’m rooting for them.”

“And I’m rooting for us.” He loops an arm around my waist and pulls me to his chest. For a moment, all we do is stare at each other. Then, slowly, he tips his head down.

Heat spreads through me, anticipation setting my blood on fire.

“It’s really hard to stay away from you,” he whispers. “Every day we’re apart feels like torture.”

“I miss you too,” I confess, pressing my forehead to his.

“What do you think about coming to stay with me when I get back from this next game? Just for a few days?”

The heat already humming in my veins sparks. I smile and nod. “I’d love to.”

He kisses the tip of my nose, then twines his fingers through mine as we resume our walk.

I standin front of the bathroom mirror, taking in my reflection, my thoughts racing. I didn’t know how I’d feel being back in his house, but so far, the prevailing emotion is comfort.

Even after more than a year…his house still feels like home.

Because heismy home.

I return to the living room, where he’s relaxing on the couch.

“What happened to the mirror?” I ask, lowering myself beside him. “That’s not the one we picked out.”

His cheeks turn a shade of crimson I’ve never seen on him. “I smashed it the day you left. I couldn’t look at myself. Not in that mirror.”

“Why not?” I think I know the answer, but we still have a lot to revisit, and this is a good opening into a conversation about how we let our relationship fall apart in the first place.

“Because of the role I played in your decision to leave me.”

I fiddle with my earring, my stomach in knots, and force a deep breath into my lungs. “And what role was that?”

He sits forward, his elbows on his knees, his hands clasped. “For years after college, I felt guilty about what happened to Stacey. I was sure she’d never be the same again. The imageof her in that hospital bed was imprinted on my brain.” He clears his throat. “So, when I saw her again, this new, strong version of her, I developed this weird fixation. I worried that if I didn’t make sure she was okay, she’d revert to that broken girl. I became so invested in her well-being, I lost focus of my own priorities. I didn’t realize what I was doing to you or how much I’d damaged our relationship until it was too late.”

I take his hand and give it a squeeze.

He takes a deep breath, blinking several times. “And the way I kept trying to handle your problems for you instead of giving you the space to do it yourself…please know, it came from a good place. Misguided, but good. It was never about control or mistrust. I wanted to take care of you, to protect you, but instead I made you think I didn’t trust your ability to stand up for yourself.” He swallows, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “I believe in you. I’m a hundred percent sure you can hold your ground and be a badass little menace. I knew it then, even if I didn’t show it. I saw it the night I met you. I promise not to meddle or to back off if you tell me to, but I’ll also step in if you want me to. Any time.”

I blink back the tears welling up in my eyes. “Thank you for saying that. It means a lot that you’re honest with me.”

“Always. I’ll always be honest with you, and I’ll never avoid difficult conversations like I did before.”

“I’m sorry about it too. I should’ve communicated better when things were bothering me. I should’ve been more honest.”

“We made a lot of mistakes, but what matters is that we’re willing to work through them.” He squeezes my hand in return, tilting his head to the side. “Do you want something to eat?”

“No. I had lunch with Aunt Millie before I came over.”

“Okay.” He sits back and scans the living room, his gaze not lingering on anything for long. “You know, when I told my father you were coming back to Boston, he asked me if I thought you’dwantme in your life. And no matter how bitter the truth is, nomatter how hard I try to convince myself I do, I still don’t know the answer to that question.”

---