Page 6 of Rules We Break

Jax:Is that what I mean?

Sidney:…

Jax:Alright. Yes, Sid’s right. You deserve it.

Alex chuckles at that and it vibrates against my chest.

Piper:Congratulations! We should do something to celebrate.

Mia:Yes! Maybe when Sidney and Jax come for Christmas next week?

The next few messages are just the three girls making plans. Dinner on the Friday and then Christmas present opening on the Saturday morning.

Mia texts Alex and I in our private chat.

Mia:Congrats, Alex. Can’t wait for you to come home so we can celebrate.

He shifts in his seat, and I drop my arm around his shoulder.

Alex:Soon, Kitten.

Mia:How soon?

I take out my phone, sending her a quick message.

Me:Still an hour before we’re home. Get ready for us, okay?

Mia:Not going to be a problem.

The idea of Mia at our apartment. Sitting, waiting for us, has my head spinning.

I shove my phone back into my pocket, settling myself into my seat, when Alex stiffens beside me. This time he’s moved his phone lower, out of my line of sight, so I covertly crane around his shoulder. Is it a complete violation of his privacy? Yes. Do I give a single shit when he’s frozen beside me. Not for a single second.

Alex:Hey, mom.

Alex:They made me captain.

Mom:Does it come with a raise?

Alex pauses for several seconds before replying.

Alex:No.

Mom:Too bad, Dear. Did you hear your brother’s been nominated for the Jonesville award. It’s not until January, will you be able to make it?

Alex:Sure. Sounds like my friends are going to put together a celebration dinner. I would love to see you there.

Mom:I’ll check our schedule. Your brother has a lot of activities this winter.

Alex’s shoulders droop, and he takes a deep breath, holding it for several seconds before releasing it. Rage builds in my gut. I want to rip the phone from his hands and lay into her for every time she makes him feel less than. Alex’s brother is two years younger than him, but since he chose athletics and not academia, they’ve basically treated him like a burden.

Alex must sense it because he closes his phone, and shoves it in my bag. One of these days I’m going to tell her every single thing I think of her. Starting with her being a piece of shit mom for never looking at Alex with any source of pride, when there are so many things about him to be proud of.

Not today. Tonight’s all about celebrating him. I run my nose along the shell of his ear, sending a shiver through him. “I’m proud of you.”

He turns his head and kisses me in response.

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