Slow Play (The Rules #3)(39)

Drunk as hell.

“Who exactly are you talking about?” Shep asks as he taps the brakes and the car slows. The rain is just as bad as was predicted, heavy and relentless. I really wish I would’ve stayed home.

Though if I’d done that, I wouldn’t have gotten so drunk and I am feeling good right about now. So no regrets. Fuck that.

“Alexandria.” I bump the back of my head against the seat and close my eyes, but I’m still spinning. This is a bad sign. “Alexandria the terrible, no good, rotten girl who plays hard to get.”

“She’s a challenge yet you keep chasing after her? That’s unlike you,” Shep says.

“Don’t read anything into this. I know how you are.” Like a doddering old woman thanks to Jade, always trying to set up his friends with another friend or some other thing. I refuse to let him play matchmaker.

“I’m not reading into anything. You’re the one who’s spilling his guts,” Shep points out.

I clamp my lips closed. I should shut up. Whatever I’m telling Shep, Jade will hear too, and what if she eventually spills it to Alexandria? I don’t know if I want her to know this stuff.

“I’m assuming you told her about the bet that you lost,” Shep prods. “Considering you like her and all.”

“Please,” I mutter, slumping in my seat. “It’s the alcohol talking. You shouldn’t take me seriously. And no, I didn’t tell her about the bet that I haven’t lost yet, thank you very much. What’s to tell?”

“Whatever. You’re just digging yourself a deeper grave I hope you know.” Shep chuckles and shakes his head. “I’m thinking this might be the only time you’re completely sincere. You like this girl, don’t you?”

“Hell no,” I say quickly. Maybe a little too quickly. “Fucking. That’s all. That’s all it can be. One and done. I’m sticking to the rules. Just like we promised.”

“Whatever. Keep living in denial.” He slows the car and makes a right turn. We’re close to home and close to the end of this conversation, thank Christ. “It’s not so bad you know.”

“What?” I ask warily.

“Falling in love with a woman. Wanting to be with her and no one else. Actually, that part is pretty damn easy. I can’t imagine being with anyone else. I don’t want to. Not when I have Jade.”

“You’re sick in the head.” I scoot further down into the chair, wishing I could tune him out and fall asleep.

“Naw, man. I’m serious. Sticking with one girl isn’t bad at all. The more time I spend with her, the more I realize just how much I love her.”

His sappy talk makes me feel sick to my stomach. “Next thing you know you’ll be planning your wedding and discussing flower options and all that shit.”

“We’ve discussed it all, bro. Pretty sure she’s waiting for an engagement ring for Christmas but I don’t think that’s on my radar. Yet. I’d rather wait until we graduate before I get that serious,” he explains.

I gape at him. He really is serious. He wants to put a ring on it and make Jade his permanent piece. I can’t even imagine…

“Someday it will happen to you,” Shep says confidently. “And I can’t wait to tell you I told you so.”

“You will never get a chance to say those words to me,” I insist, undoing my seatbelt the moment Shep turns his car onto our driveway. There are still a few cars parked out front but I don’t recognize them. I’m reaching for the door handle before he even has the car in park. “I’ll see you inside.”

“Dude, wait a minute, she might still have girls in there—”

I slam the door before he can finish his sentence. Fuck it. If Jade’s crazy sex party is still happening, I’ll sneak in through the garage and through the back hall. That way I won’t have to face any of them.

The moment I enter the kitchen I can hear the sound of girls giggling coming from the living room. One of them squeals and I swear it’s Kelli. She’s got a loud mouth so that’s no surprise. I glance around the messy kitchen. Two empty wine bottles and a few glasses sit in the sink. The island has serving plates scattered all over it, most of them empty but one still has a few appetizers on it. Grabbing some weird looking pastry thing off the plate, I stuff it into my mouth and go to the fridge to grab a bottle of water.

Hmm. The weird pastry thing is pretty damn good. I grab another one, about to shove it into my mouth when Shep enters the kitchen, his eyes about bugging out of his head.

“Holy hell, did you just eat one of Jade’s fancy appetizer things?” He sounds like I just risked my damn life for a mushroom puff or whatever the f*ck it is.

I roll my eyes and bite into the pastry with extra enthusiasm just for Shep, then shove the other half in. “It’s delicious,” I say, my mouth full.

Shaking his head, Shep picks one up and takes a bite. “Huh, it is good,” he mumbles, sounding shocked.

Oh, if Jade heard his lack of faith just now. She’d give him endless shit.

“I know.” I swallow and take a drink from the bottled water, trying my best to ignore the laughter that’s still coming from the living room. I’m curious to check out what’s happening. “Sounds like they’re having fun in there,” I say casually.