Safe Bet (The Rules #4)(57)

“He came for you,” Fable whispers just as she hands me the clothes. “It’s a sign.”

“A sign of what?” I frown.

“That he cares about you. He was thinking about you. He had to come and see you first.” Her knowing smile grows even bigger. “You matter to him, Sydney. Don’t forget that.”

I matter to him.

Those words are on repeat in my brain as I drift back into my bedroom as if in a daze. I knock on the attached bathroom’s closed door and then open it, setting the clothes on the counter. I can see him through the shower’s glass door, his very muscular, very naked body covered in soap.

The stuff of fantasies, I swear.

I slam the bathroom door shut and then frantically change out of my clothes, throwing on an old T-shirt I wear to sleep and kicking off my shorts so I’m only in my pink cotton panties. Then I dive beneath the bedcovers and wait, the anticipation nearly killing me.

Ten minutes later the door finally opens, steam billowing out of the bathroom. I anxiously wait for him to appear and I sit up, holding my breath as I wait for him to make his appearance. When he finally walks out of the bathroom, I gasp.

And then I immediately start to laugh.





“What?” I glance down at myself, knowing that she’s laughing at the stupid sweats I’m wearing. First, they’re too tight. I’m bigger than Drew. Second, they’re bright red. Fire engine red. Niners red.

They’re kind of hideous.

“I knew those sweats would be ridiculous,” she says between giggles.

I grin at her. “You’re mean.”

“I can’t help it.” She starts giggling harder. “Red is not your color.”

“They don’t even fit me.” I walk toward the bed, grimacing as the fabric binds and stretches tight against my boys. I’m kicking these fuckers off as soon as I get in that bed with her, I swear.

Sydney flips the covers back, patting the empty side next to her. “Join me?”

“Gladly.” I practically collapse onto the mattress, closing my eyes as she pulls the blankets over me. I can hear her lean over, the click of the lamp as she shuts it off, shrouding the room in darkness.

I crack open my eyes to find her watching me, a silly smile still on her face. “See? Lamps are nice.”

“You with the lamp thing again,” I grumble, reaching out to grab her and pull her toward me. She comes willingly, snuggling close with her head on my shoulder, and she sighs.

I sigh too. I’ve never felt so content.

“Tell me about your mom,” she whispers.

I give her the rundown. About the accident, how I stayed at the hospital all day until her boyfriend showed up. What a nice guy he is, and how he’s not actually her boyfriend but her fiancé. I spilled my guts, telling Sydney everything, and when I finish she lifts her head, smiling drowsily at me.

“You’re a good son.”

“I guess. Not good enough for her to tell me about her fiancé, though.” That still bothers me. I want my mom to be honest with me and not have any secrets between us.

“You’re busy. She’s busy.” Sydney frowns. “Maybe she was worried about how you’d react.”

Maybe. I don’t know. I guess I kept my mom on a pedestal for so long, it’s hard for me to deal when she makes a mistake. “Not sure why, but whatever. It makes me feel bad. I don’t want us keeping secrets from each other, and I told her that.” I meet Sydney’s gaze. “I don’t want us to have any secrets either.”

“Did you tell her about me?”

“I did.”

“Did you tell her the entire story?” She lifts a delicate brow.

“No.” Shit. I’m talking out both sides of my mouth here. I tell my mom no more secrets, yet I keep the truth from her. But I couldn’t bring myself to tell my mother everything. What if she thought differently of Sydney because of our situation? I couldn’t have it. “Why worry her or make her wonder what we’re doing can’t work?” I hold my breath, waiting for her answer.

“You’re keeping a secret from her though.”

A ragged sigh escapes me. Busted. “I know.” I pause. “Do you want me to tell her the truth?”

“You probably should.” She hesitates. “Eventually. It’s the right thing to do.”

Yeah. She’s right.

“Do you want what’s happening between us to work?” Now Sydney sounds nervous. Really nervous.

I need to reassure her.

Reaching out, I touch her face, then trace her lips. “Yeah.”

Her smile grows. “Me too.”

“Forget the fake shit.” I’ve always been wary of relationships, always keeping it casual, playing it safe.

Until Sydney. Forget casual. She makes me feel safe.

She makes me feel so much, it’s hard to describe.

“I agree,” she says. “This is for real.”

“For realz?” It’s my turn to tease and I can’t help myself, I start chuckling.

“For realzies.” She rears up and kisses me on the lips, a soft, sweet kiss that tells me exactly how she feels about me. “We should take those sweats off.”

“I’m wearing nothing underneath them,” I warn her.