Page 271 of Breaking the Rules

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Chapter Thirty-Eight

Hunter

After too many cupcakes and lots of TV, Emma and I climb into her bed.

I wrap my arms around her.

Hold her all fucking night.

Fall asleep next to her.

It's nearly perfect.

Even if I wake up with fear in my gut.

I want to believe I'm a worthwhile guy.

That I deserve her.

That there isn't any legitimate reason for Brendon—or anyone else—to object to this relationship.

But I'm not there yet.

And this is it.

The day her family returns.

The day our world dissolves.

I don't want it to change anything—this is paradise—but it might.

That's how life works.

It's hard, tearing myself away from her.

I want to lie here all day.

I want to die in her fucking bed.

But that's an actual possibility.

If Brendon walks in on us like this—

That can't happen.

I brush my teeth, dress, fix coffee for both of us.

The gym is more quiet than usual.

Or maybe my thoughts are louder.

My head is tuned to Emma. To the way she blushes when I tease her, the way her eyes light up when she tastes a perfect cupcake, the way she groans when she comes.

There's a lot I love about Emma.

But now that I've seen her come—

Fuck, it's impossible to think about anything else.

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