Page 63 of Rules Of Our Own

Pressure builds under my ribs that feels dangerously close to desperation. “You don’t have to stay forever. Just until you get your feet back under you.”

Her brows pinch together. “I can’t afford to live there.”

Alex squeezes her shoulder. “Don’t worry about that. We know a player who’s got an empty place. Never uses it.”

“Um, no. I can’t do that.”

Alex grins. “Mia, he’s a multimillionaire. I assure you it’ll be fine.”

I can see the cogs moving in her head as she processes everything. “Just until I get things figured out. Then I’m coming back to Ottawa.”

Alex whips her into the air and spins them in a circle, drawing a laugh from her. I swallow hard, watching them. He always was able to make her laugh.

He sets her down, and she’s breathless when she says, “When do we leave?”

“Tonight,” I reply.

“Pretty sure it’s too late to get tickets for tonight.”

Alex tips his head to the side and gives her a soft smile. “Good thing we have a private plane.”

Her eyes go wide as saucers, and her mouth drops open.

“Don’t worry, we borrowed it,” he adds, and she seems to relax at that. First person not to be impressed by our money. Not that I expected anything different from her.

We enter her apartment, and the first thing I notice is that it’s small. Really small. It’s a studio, and the only thing separating the living room from her bedroom is a wood slat privacy screen.

I have to fight off the unease that she’s been living here. I’m sure she wouldn’t be pleased with that kind of possessive bullshit. I glance over at Alex, who’s looking at the place with the same distaste as I am. Neither of us likes that she’s been living here. Not when we’d be able to give her so much more.

She may not have been ours for the past few years, but that doesn’t change anything.

A loud meowing comes from a giant orange cat as it winds its way around Alex’s feet. Alex reaches down to pick it up while Mia simultaneously gasps.

“No! He’ll scratch—” Her mouth snaps shut, then falls open as the cat purrs in his arms, rubbing his face against Alex’s chin.

“Huh.” She tilts her head. “He normally tries to claw anyone who goes near him besides me.”

Alex gives her a cheeky grin. “Your cat likes me.”

She rolls her eyes. “Don’t let it go to your head.”

“What can I say? Your pussy likes me.” Alex says with a grin.

She turns bright red and I choke on a laugh.

Alex puts the cat down, who doesn’t look happy about it, and claps his hands. “Alright. Let’s get packing.”

“Yeah, there’s just a small problem.”

I raise a brow. “What’s that?”

She looks around her studio apartment. “I can’t just leave all this here.”

“Have you paid your rent until the end of the month?”

“Yeah, but what am I thinking? I’ve got bills. I need to find a new job. I can’t just get up and leave.”

“Why?” I deadpan.

---