Page 357 of Breaking the Rules

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Chapter Fifty-Four

Emma

After four cups of coffee and too many chocolate chip pancakes, I'm semi-coherent.

Kaylee offers to call in sick. To stay with me all day.

But we both know she'll lose her serving job if she doesn't find a replacement.

I don't want that on my conscience.

I have enough on my conscience.

Despite the anger buzzing through my veins, my heart refuses to climb aboard theI hate Huntertrain.

It's still screaming for him.

It's still begging me to fix this.

It will get the message eventually.

For now…

I don't want to be at Inked Hearts.

I don't want to watch my brother work.

I certainly don't want to see that hurt look in Hunter's eyes and feel his pain in my soul.

Sometimes, it's awful caring about someone.

I stop for an Americano on my way to work, but it's no comfort.

The taste makes me think of him.

His fingers on my skin.

His lips on my cheek.

His moan as he finishes a cup of coffee.

I finish the drink, but I don't enjoy it.

I don't enjoy the big yellow sun, or the bright blue sky, or the girly string lights lining the walls at Inked Hearts.

I hate everything.

Especially Hunter.

I'm ready to tell him to go fuck himself.

But he isn't there.

He's supposed to work today.

He's booked from morning to night.

I…

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