Page 67 of Three Rules I'd Never Break

Tessa wiped at tears. “I’m your best friend, right?”

“You know you are, and I hope breaking up with Eli won’t change that.”

She stepped closer and stuck her finger in my face. “You’re wrong.”

“He bought a black lace negligee and then had the audacity to tell me it was for his mom. It was a medium! She doesn’t wear a medium. I’ve met her.” I pulled my hair into a ponytail but let it fall without putting a hair tie on it. “And I modeled a robe for him.”

“You are letting those stupid rules blind you.” She spun around and stormed out.

Now I didn’t have a boyfriend or a puppy. And I wasn’t even sure I had a best friend.

I no longer felt like I belonged. Having a finished house didn’t seem quite as exciting without anyone to celebrate with.

Home was about more than a structure.

Chapter 23

Saturday morning, I woke up with red puffy eyes and a text from Eli.

Please talk to me. I spent all night trying to figure this out, and I’m clueless. Not even Sherlock has a clue. And believe me, I asked. Multiple times.

My heart melted a little, but then I remembered what he’d said. I was nowhere near ready to talk to him. His whole awkward and bewildered act was almost believable. But Tandy’s emphatic statement affirmed what I knew. It was never for the mom.

My gut said Eli was telling the truth, which meant that I needed to eat because my gut couldn’t be trusted.

On Sunday morning, I woke up to another text, but it wasn’t from Eli.

It was the first I’d heard from Tessa since Friday. I hadn’t gone into the doughnut shop, so I couldn’t just blame her for that.

I’ll always be your friend. And Eli deserves to know why.

I tapped out a reply.Thank you for being my friend.

You’re still wrong.

I wished with all my heart that Tessa was right, but I couldn’t figure out any way she could be. She was at least right about one thing. I needed to be an adult and talk to Eli.

By Sunday afternoon, I’d mustered enough courage—or maybe it was just bravado—to unload on Eli. He wanted to know why I was mad, and I’d tell him. I hated that there would be tears, but that couldn’t be helped.

I pounded on his door.

It opened only a little, and Sherlock ran out. Eli wasn’t fighting fair. I dropped onto the top step and snuggled my puppy. Correction. Eli’s puppy. Sherlock had grown so much since that very first night when I’d seen him at Tessa’s. I hated that I wouldn’t see him every day.

The door creaked, and Eli stepped aside. “Would you like to come in?”

“No.” I stood and crossed my arms. “You can give my stuff to Tessa whenever. I’ll get it from her.”

“What happened, Delaney? What caused the wash of panic when Tandy commented on you modeling the robe? What caused the fury that had tears brimming in your eyes? Please tell me so that I can fix this.” The crease in his brow made him almost convincing.

If I looked into those green eyes another second, I’d give in, so I dropped my gaze to the step. “I know it wasn’t for your mom. She doesn’t wear a medium.”

“Well, crap. Can she exchange the robe for the correct size?” Eli was determined to keep up the farce.

Rapidly blinking, I hoped I could spew a little fire before the floodgates gave way. “Sure. She can return the robeandtheblack negligee. And if that’s what you got your mom, that’s an entirely different issue that I’m not qualified to discuss.” I stomped down the stairs, then stopped. “Did you forget that I was at your mom’s birthday dinner? You need to find a better lie.”

Sensing the discord, Sherlock ran back and forth between me and Eli.

“I gave her my gift on her actual birthday. Did you sayblack negligee?” He raked his fingers through his hair. “That must be what—”

---