Page 365 of Breaking the Rules

---

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Hunter

Emma falls asleep on the drive home.

I carry her to her apartment.

She stirs as I lay her on the crimson comforter.

Her eyes fix on mine.

For a second, she stares at me like I'm everything she wants.

Then she blinks and hurt fills her dark eyes.

"You sleep last night?" I ask.

"Sleep is for losers."

I sit on the bed next to her.

She rolls onto her back and unzips her jeans. "I am tired." She pushes her pants off her hips. "But mostly of your bullshit."

Fuck, she's adorable.

She's hurt and angry, but she's adorable too.

"That delivery was pretty good," I say.

"Thanks."

I brush a hair behind her ear. "I am sorry."

"Fuck you." She turns her head, breaking our touch. "I'm not accepting your apology. Not until you fix it."

I want to.

But this isn't my strong suit.

"If you don't want to be with me because you don't want to be with me, fine. If you need more time or space, if you can't handle the intimacy, if you're sick of me, fine. But fuck you if you think you're doing this for me." She wraps her arms around her pillow. "I don't care how good your intentions are. I get to decide what I want. You don't get a fucking say."

It's fair.

I don't like it.

I'm not sure I can accept it.

But it's fair.

"So… go… think about it. Lift weights or drink coffee or draw something moody. Whatever it is that helps you figure out your shit. Go. Figure it out. And come back. But this it, Hunter. If you're in, I need you to be all in." Her eyelids flutter together. She lets out a soft yawn. Stretches then curls into a tiny ball.

"Go to sleep."

"Are you…"

"I'll stay until Kaylee gets home."

"Thanks."

"Of course." I slide off the bed.

"Hunter?"

"Yeah?"

"I still hate you."

I chuckle. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

---