Page 33 of Breaking the Rules
"Not everyone appreciates emo music as much as you do," he says.
Her laugh is impossibly fake.
"I liked it. It was special. Like you," he says.
Is he a shitty player or just an asshole?
I can't tell.
She's curling into herself. Getting smaller. Slower. Stiller.
"Thanks. We, um, we have to get packing." Her voice is quiet. Low. Free of her usual confidence.
"You have my number." His lips curl into a half-smile. "I'll call you. Make sure you settle in okay."
"That's okay." She takes another step backward. "We have it covered."
He looks to me. "You and Hunter?"
"Yeah." She clears her throat. "We're actually really busy, so—"
"You're Emma's neighbor?" I jump in.
He nods. "I thought we met." He tilts his head to one side, trying to place me. "You look familiar."
No, I've never seen this asshole before.
But I know this type of guy.
He's a coward.
All it takes is a threat from a bigger guy and he'll back off.
Those years of drunken stupidity bought me a fair amount of wisdom.
"No." I step forward. Offer my hand. "Just got out."
His brow furrows with confusion as he shakes.
"Yeah." I move into his space. He's the same height as I am, but he's wiry. "I was in the joint for assault. It was a bullshit collar, but you know what cops are like."
"You were in jail?" His eyes go wide.
"They say a year goes by fast, but it doesn't," I say.
"Right." Disbelief spreads over his expression. He looks to Emma for a clue.
She nods, going along with my story.
She wants to scare this guy off.
Fuck, I don't like the implications.
But I can think about that when he's gone.
"Nice to finally meet you." I shove him playfully. Well, faux playfully. It's too hard.
He feels it. Cringes. Shrugs it off.
