Slow Play (The Rules #3)(21)

“I don’t want to understand. Trust me.” I whip out my phone and scroll through my contacts before I start typing.

“Who are you texting?” Shep sounds like he’s about to break out into a cold sweat and throw up his dinner. Nervous f*cker.

“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m texting Kelli.”

“She’s with Jade, you dumbass.” He tries to snag my phone out of my hands but I turn away before he can grab it.

“Scared of your girl that bad? Jesus, get a grip.” I keep my back to him as I finish my text and hit send.

I need a favor.

Kelli’s reply is almost immediate.

If you want to make out that would be a no.

I shake my head and reply.

I think you’re obsessed with me.

You wish. What do you want? I’m out with the girls.

I know. I need a phone number.

Who’s?

Alexandria’s.

No reply for a few seconds and I can feel Shep pacing behind me. “You’re a dick,” he mutters.

“You’re the dick who’s scared of his girlfriend. Trust me, I’m not involving her in this.” I stare at my screen, willing a text to appear. And then it does.

I shouldn’t give it to you.

Why the hell not?

I don’t think she likes you that much. She’d probably be pissed if she knew I gave it to you.

Let me worry about that.

They’re all pissed at me. They all hate me. Because I say and do what I want and don’t give a shit what other people think. My heart is hard, just like my f*cking soul and I flat out don’t care.

I’m becoming more and more like my old man every single day. It’s Mom who’s soft. Who lost her shit and almost took her life. It was his tough exterior and grim determination that got them through the hard times.

But you don’t have to deal with hard times if you let anyone into your heart, right?

A number appears on my screen, followed immediately by a reply from Kelli.

Tell her where you got this and I’ll kill you.

I immediately enter Alexandria’s number into my contacts before I answer Kelli.

Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me. Thanks K.

I delete our conversation just to be sure.

“You’re going about this all wrong,” Shep tells me.

I barely look at him. I’m too busy trying to figure out what exactly do I say to Alexandria.

“There are rules you know,” he continues.

“Like what? You broke all those rules with Jade remember? One and done and all that shit. You’re a non-believer.” Christ, what do I say to her without coming across as a dick? And she thinks I’m the dick to end all dicks.

Should I apologize?

Yeah. I should. Chicks love it when you say sorry. But no groveling. I don’t think I need to stoop to that level yet.

I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.

I hit send before I can second-guess myself.

Watching her receive the text, knowing that she’s reading the words I typed only seconds ago is a trip. She pulls her phone out of the back pocket of her jeans and reads the message, her brows furrowing. Then her fingers start flying on the screen.

Who is this?

You know who it is. The prick who lurks in hallways hoping to pick up helpless women who are down to f*ck.

A little smile curls her lips when she reads my response and I smile in return, struck yet again by how beautiful she is. That sweater she’s wearing really brings out the blue in her eyes.

I scrub a hand over my face. Did I really just think that?

Yes. I f*cking did.

My phone dings and I read her text.

How did you get my number?

I’m magical. I can make anything happen.

I lift my head after I hit send, our gazes meeting across the room. Steven isn’t paying attention to her. From the grimace on his face I’m thinking he’s too worried about the bad hand he was just dealt.

That could be taken two ways, I suppose. Because in this story, that * isn’t getting the girl.

I am.

“These are gorgeous,” the woman gushes as she pulls yet another formal dress out of one of the many garment bags I brought in. Her warm brown gaze meets mine, her expression a mixture of sincerity and confusion. “Are you sure you want to sell these?”

“I don’t plan on wearing them ever again.” I shrug, mentally pushing aside the hint of panic I feel at losing those dresses once and for all. “Besides, I don’t have the room for them.”

I made my way to that vintage consignment shop downtown, showing up right when it opened. Surprisingly enough it’s pretty quiet. Well, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Most everyone is sleeping in this Saturday morning after partying on a Friday night.

Me? I asked Steven to take me home immediately after he lost his one hundred dollars and he obliged without protest. I needed to get out of there, get away from Tristan, who wouldn’t stop texting me and sending me heated looks from across the room. Thank God he gave up on the texts after I left.

But my brain certainly didn’t give him up. I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. All I could think about was him. When he touched my chin, his fingers warm and slightly rough on my skin. When I touched his perfectly soft, perfectly shaped mouth. How I whispered in his ear, reminding him of what a total douchebag he was.