Page 15 of Rules Of Our Own

My phone buzzes, and I grab it from the table. A text from an unknown number flashes on the screen.

Unknown: Where are you?

Unknown: Answer me.

I swipe to clear it. It doesn’t take a genius to know they’re from Jason. His messages have become more desperate by the day. I never respond, hoping one day he’ll get the hint.

I tuck my phone in my beach bag and rake my hands through my hair, clip it in place, then leave the villa, heading toward the pool.

Heat envelops me the second I step outside, and the loose strands of my hair stick to my neck. The temperature’s going to be close to one hundred the entire time we’re here, and I’m pretty sure my Canadian ass is going to melt. It’s hot in Ottawa, a sticky humidity that makes you feel like you need a shower the second you leave the house, but it has nothing on the baking heat here.

Nerves dance under my skin as I replay Piper and Sidney’s words the closer I get. That I could just enjoy myself. That it doesn’t need to be serious. She pretty much told me to have sex with one of her best friends. I can’t deny I could use the release though, and both River and Alex look like they know what they’re doing. No, I know they’d know.

Am I asking for trouble? Absolutely.

Alex and River are the last people I should be thinking about, but I can’t ignore the tension that’s always wound around us, pulling me in until I don’t want to get out.

There’s history there I can’t deny, especially since I’m the one who ended it. We started off as friends—sure, we got along a little too well, a little too close to be completely innocent. I knew then I was in over my head, but I couldn’t help but fall headfirst.

Alex and River have been best friends for years, and I just snuck in and nearly detonated their relationship. It wasn’t their fault I’d messed up and fallen for both of them.

I round the corner and immediately spot River. He’s thirty feet away, standing next to Lucas, his dark hair wet and slicked back off his face, and he’s wearing the barest hint of a smile. I freaking miss that smile. So rare that whenever he did, it turned me into a walking pile of goo. His deep black gaze flicks up to mine, and his smile grows.

I take a step backward, suddenly overcome with the need to flee. Who the hell am I kidding? I turn to head back to my room, where I can at least get some work done, and come face-to-face with a smiling Piper.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“I forgot I’ve got something I need to take care of.” Not technically a lie.

She raises a brow and places her hands on her hips. She’s wearing a similar outfit to mine, only hers is sky blue. “I’m not going to call you out for running away—I’m a bigger person than that—but what I will do is remind you that this is my wedding weekend, and you have no choice but to hang out with me.”

“Aren’t bride privileges exclusive to the day of the wedding?” I turn back to the gazebo, already knowing the answer, and she hooks her arm into mine, hauling me to a stop.

“Tell me what’s really bothering you. Are you scared about losing funding? Because if that’s why you’re turning back, I’ll go to the villa with you, and we can dive in. But…if you’re bailing because two gorgeous guys are eyeing you like dinner, you’re coming with me, even if I have to drag you.”

“They haven’t actually shown interest in me.”

Piper snorts and looks me up and down. “Something tells me you’ll be fine.”

“I’ll have a drink, but I’m not interested in a fling with Alex and River.” For all I know, they’re still pissed about how things ended between us.

“Uh-huh. Let’s go.” Her tone lets me know she thinks I’m delusional. She tugs me along toward where Lucas is already watching her.

My gaze catches on Alex. He’s pulling himself out of the pool, rivulets sliding down his tan skin and fluorescent green shorts hanging low on his hips. He raises a brow when I approach and runs his hand through his blonde hair, darkened by the water.

“Like what you see?” Alex asks playfully.

I shrug, hoping I look casual when internally, I’m anything but. “You’re alright, nothing special.”

Alex barks out a laugh and gives me a cocky smile that sends shivers up my spine. Even now, these boys hold entirely too much power over me.

“Glad you finally came out of hiding.” He nods, eyes bright. He’s always been larger than life.

I stiffen. “I’m not hiding.”

He huffs out a breath. “We’re sharing a room, and I haven’t even seen you today. You’re totally hiding.”

“Don’t remind me.” I nearly lost my mind when the concierge informed me that the entire resort’s completely booked. The idea of spending the weekend with Alex and River both terrifies me and sends heat coursing through my body.

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