Page 47 of Breaking the Rules of Love

“Thatisright,” I snicker. “It’s made by Chanel.”

Sadie glances up at me and laughs. “Chanel, huh?”

I wink. “That’s right.”

Sadie purses her lips in a smile and nods. “Okay, I’ll take the Chanel Donald Duck coffee cup.”

The sun is shining through the windows, bouncing off the wood floors of the kitchen. This really does feel like a very domestic scene. If someone was to look in from outside, they might be convinced that Sadie and I were husband and wife.

But we’re not, are we? We’re just stuck in whateverthisis. Even after all the incredible times we’ve had, we’re still just insomething casualor whatever.

And part of me wants to confront her about it. That might not be a great idea, but sitting around and waiting for her to realize she wants more from this relationship probably isn’t either.

“So, Sadie,” I say, “wheredoesthis no-relationship rule of yours come from anyway?”

My question takes her by surprise. Her eyes go wide, and she looks at me like she’s unsure what her next move should be.

“Jake, I—we shouldn’t be talking about this,” she finally says after what seems like ten minutes.

“We can’t eventalkabout it?” I ask.

“Talking about it feels like breaking the rule,” she replies.

The coffee is ready.I take Sadie’s mug from her hand and fill it for her. “Even after everything we did last night—after that little show you put on for me—you can’t even tell me a little?”

She frowns as she takes the mug back from me and inhales a deep breath of the steam. Her eyes light up, and she looks back at me.

“You buy good coffee,” she says.

“Damn right I do,” I reply. “Now come on, tell me something.”

Sadie sighs and leans back against the counter.

“Okay, well it all starts with that guy you met, Howard.”

33

Jake

Howard.

It’s hard to believe this all began with that miserable son of a bitch Howard. But if that’s what Sadie says, that’s the truth, and I’m ready to listen.

I take my own cup of coffee and fill it, then go lean against the counter across from her. She’s acting differently now than I’m used to. Normally she’s always cheery and playful, sometimes even teasing me. But right now, she’s just sort of standing there and looking down into her coffee cup like she’s thinking back into her past, memories of the things she’s about to tell me.

“Howard and I met when we were in high school,” she eventually says with a sigh. “I didn’t like him at first, but he had a crush on me, and he pursued me. I finally started going out with him junior year. But things were rocky, and we were always breaking up and getting back together. I hated it, but my friends kept telling me it was romantic.”

“Gotta love that great advice from the friends,” I say sarcastically. Sadie nods and almost laughs.

“Yeah. We ended up making it through senior year, prom, all that jazz. But we broke up right after when I realized there was more to life than high school drama.”

“Yeah, that happens,” I chuckle.

Sadie blows on her coffee and takes a delicate sip. “Then I dated a guy named Ron who cheated on me.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I dated a guy named Tim who was cheating on his wife with me, and I didn’t know it until she came tomy mom’s houseto curse me out.”

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