Page 127 of The Rule Breaker
I brush her hair back from her face, and when we pull apart, her smile falters for a split second, like she’s nervous. “We need to tell him.”
I let out a long breath, nodding. “Yeah, I know.”
She’s quiet for a moment, her eyes flicking to mine. “You know he’s gonna lose his shit over this, right?”
I nod, pressing my lips together. I know I’m about to get my ass handed to me—by Nathan and Coach—and honestly, I probably deserve it. I knew the risks, and I still jumped in, headfirst.
“I don’t wanna hide you anymore,” I say, brushing a wet strand of her hair off her shoulder. “I don’t want this to be a secret, not from him, not from anyone.” Her eyes soften, that glint in them making my heart skip a beat. “Let me take you out on a date.”
She raises an eyebrow, smirking. “What?”
“That’s what boyfriends do, right?”
She shrugs, shaking her head. “I don’t know. My ex didn’t take me on dates. Just quickies in his car.”
I groan, grip tightening on her hips as I pull her closer. “Don’t talk about another man when your tits are in my face.”
She chuckles. “Jealous?”
“Yes,” I say with no hesitation. Her eyes widen at my admission, and I clear my throat, shaking my head. “I’ve never done this before. I’ve never gone on a real date. But I want to go on one with you. What do you say?”
She goes quiet for a second, her brows lifting. “You really wanna go on a date?”
A soft lazy smile pulls at my lips at how shocked she is to hear that. “Of course I do, baby. I love spending time with you.”
She rolls her eyes. “That’s just because I blow you.”
I let out a laugh. “That’s definitely a perk. But no. I like hanging out with you, clothes or no clothes. I wanna do it somewhere other than a bedroom.”
My eyes drift to her, unable to look away. Her wet, curly hair clings to her skin, droplets of water trickling down the slope of her nose, catching the light before they fall onto her lips—those lips, red and full, like she’s just eaten cherries. They look so sweet. And I know they taste just as sweet. I swallow hard, trying to focus. But I don’t want to focus. I just want to look at her for the rest of my days.
“You’re my best friend, Bels,” I admit, feeling something fluttering in my stomach.
Never thought I’d say that about a girl. Never thought a girl would be my best friend. But this girl right in front of me is just that. We may do some… very non-friendly things, but when it comes down to it? She’s my person. I tell her shit I’ve never told anyone. She’s the first one I want to talk to when anything happens—good, bad, or in between.
She smiles at me, soft and sweet. But then her eyes glint, that little smirk creeping back onto her face. “You’re so obsessed with me,” she teases.
I roll my eyes, but my stomach flips a little because, honestly? She has no idea how much. “Just say yes, Curls. You know you want to.”
She sighs like she’s debating it, but then she wraps her arms around my neck, pulling herself closer. “Fine. Yes.”
I break out into a grin, because she just said yes. To me. To this. And I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything more.
I pull her in and kiss her, trying to tell her everything I don’t know how to say. That I’m all in. That I’m hers. That this is real. And I’m so fucking lucky she chose me.
When I finally pull back, my forehead rests against hers, and I breathe her in, and I think—how was I ever scared to be someone’s boyfriend?
Because this?
This doesn’t feel like pressure.
This feels like home.
33
ISABELLA
Istare at my reflection in the tiny dorm mirror, tugging at the hem of my dress for the fifth—no, sixth—time.
