Page 50 of Breaking the Rules of Love

I glance out the window at Sadie’s house. There’s one light on in her living room, but the blinds are drawn, and there has been no movement all day long. I’ve been sitting around waiting, but it doesn’t look like anything is going to happen.

Do I really want to keep sitting here for the rest of the evening while the guys are out having a good time? How lame am I?

“Come on, boss,” Ryan presses. “Let’s have some fun!”

I stand up and stretch. After sitting for so long, it feels good to get my legs under me.

“Boss–”

“Okay, Ryan,” I say. “Shut up already. I’ll be there in…” But just as I’m starting to turn away from the window, a car pulls into Sadie’s driveway. Sadie’s mom’s car. I recognize it from the other day when she and I were talking.

“Ryan, I gotta go,” I say quickly into the phone. “I’ll call you back.”

“Wait, what the fuck–?”

This is it. It’s now or never. And we’ll see if waiting around all day is going to pay off or not.

35

Jake

I hangup quickly and instantly rush outside. I’m totally dressed and completely prepared for this. This could go completely right or completely wrong and blow up in my face. But I have to try.

I reach the car just as Sadie’s mom is closing the driver’s side door behind her. I try not to come up completely behind her and keep my voice a normal volume when I call out, so as not to scare her.

“Hi, Mrs. Reynolds?” Still, my tactic doesn’t work, and Sadie’s mom jumps and spins around, visibly startled. She clasps a hand to her heart but relaxes slightly when she sees it’s me.

“Oh my goodness, Jake,” she laughs. “I thought you were a murderer.”

I grin, trying to be as charming as possible. “A murderer who knew your name?”

“True. I guess that doesn’t make much sense,” she laughs. “How are you?”

“I’m good, I’m good,” I reply, quickly going over to her and taking her hand. “I was wondering if maybe I could talk to you for a moment, though? Before you went in to see your daughter?”

Again, it’s a risky move. Mrs. Reynolds looks at me first with confusion, but then a look of understanding comes over her face, and she glances behind her at Sadie’s house.

There’s no movement yet, so she turns back to me and motions forward toward my house. “Of course, dear. Lead the way.”

I walk quickly across both of our lawns to my door, which I hold open to let her inside.

“I wish I had something to give you,” I say. “I could make some tea.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Sadie’s mom smiles, making her way over to the couch like the house belongs to her. I join her. “Now tell me, dear. What’s on your mind?”

I take a breath. “It feels…weird coming to you like this,” I admit. “But I don’t really know what else to do now with Sadie at this point.”

A knowing smile comes over Mrs. Reynolds’ lips. “Let me guess. She’s giving you a hard time?”

“You could say that.” I nod. “She has thisrule–”

“Her no-relationship rule,” her mom sighs.

“You know about it?” I guess she and her mom are closer than I thought.

Her mom nods and gazes out the window. “Well, I doubt she’s told you this, but her father and I got a divorce when she was in high school.”

“No.” I shake my head. “She didn’t mention that.”

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