Page 29 of Breaking the Rules

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"No, you're not."

"You can pretend I'm not here."

"Whatever." She pulls out of the parking space. Turns onto a local street.

For a moment, there's nothing in the car but the breathy groan of the singer.

Then she looks to me. "Maybe we were never best friends. But you were always honest with me."

That's true enough. I nod. "Yeah."

"So don't dress up this bullshit with a bow. You're babysitting me because Brendon asked."

"I am."

"Why?"

"I owe him."

"For what?"

"Helping me out."

She rolls her eyes. "That's not an answer."

"What's the real reason why you're moving out of your apartment?"

"I told you. Noise complaint."

"Maybe we were never best friends, but you were always honest with me." I throw her words back at her.

It's the wrong thing to do.

Her eyes turn down.

Her lips curl into a frown.

Her brow furrows.

"You're an asshole," she says.

"No argument there."

Her gaze shifts to the street.

"But I'm still coming with you."

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