The Rule Book (Rule Breakers #1)(77)

 

This had to stop. He didn’t want me. He’d made that clear. And I wasn’t some love-sick girl pining for Mr. Whatever. We were done.

 

He cleared his throat and said, “It’s Latin for ‘keep your friends close and your enemies closer.’”

 

I shifted in my seat, realizing my gaze was still awkwardly pinned on his arms.

 

Crap. Caught. “They’re interesting.”

 

He leaned in closer and murmured, “I like when you look at me.” His stubbled cheek brushed against mine, and his warm breath caressed my skin. A shudder rippled through me.

 

Boom. RIP ovaries, it was nice knowing you.

 

I choked on my beer. I didn’t know if this was my head playing games with me, my inner romantic filling in words that I wished he’d say, or if he’d actually just said he liked when I checked him out.

 

The guy was giving me whiplash. What kind of asshole leaves a girl crying in his apartment and then ignores her for a week? If he thought he could swoop in and expect me to just forgive him without batting an eye, he had another thing coming.

 

“We have a couple songs before our group sings karaoke. Want to dance?” Jace asked Zoey, holding a hand out to her.

 

She shot a nervous glance toward the front of the building, where Ryder stood talking with another guy, and took Jace’s hand.

 

As soon as we were alone, Brogan brushed his hand down my arm—sweetly, slowly—and said, “I’m sorry for how I acted the other night. It was immature and stupid.” He frowned and looked down, embarrassed.

 

I shrugged away from his touch, even though it took every bit of restraint not to lean into his fingers. “Doesn’t matter. You were right. It’s probably best, like you said.” I’d be absolutely nuts to be with a guy whose emotional stance on a relationship ping-ponged in a handful of days.

 

“And I told you what I said was stupid. I’m really sorry, Lainey. Truly. The thought of putting my trust in someone, opening up, scares the shit out of me.”

 

Damn him for sounding so earnest. How was I supposed to resist him when he looked at me like that, when his touch sent a million pinpoints of heat through my body?

 

Must. Stay. Strong. I wasn’t a damn doormat.

 

“I’m not looking for you to share your social security number. All I want is to know more about the person I’m”—I motioned with my hands—“spending time with. Or was spending time with.” So maybe that seemed a little casual compared to what I’d built it up to be in my mind, but my pride was still a little wounded from last week, and I sure as heck wasn’t going to give in that easily with one meager apology. “You say you’re scared, but everyone’s scared. Relationships involve taking risks, but finding the right person can also have its rewards. You’ll never know unless you try. But when you shut down, it makes that impossible.”

 

His lips tipped into a frown, and it took everything in me not to run my thumb along the seam of his mouth. “I know. I handled it like an asshole, and I’m sorry for that,” he said.

 

“It’s hard to know where I stand with you. If I’m just another employee to you, then maybe it is for the best I don’t come over to your house anymore.”

 

His eyes sparkled in the lights, and he shook his head. “You’re more than that to me. So much more.”

 

“Am I?” I crossed my arms, but inside my inner fangirl was flailing. This was the first time I actually felt like we were getting through to each other, finally on the same page. “Because at times it doesn’t feel that way.”

 

“Yes.” He chanced running a finger over my cheek. This time I let him. “You deserve better.” He frowned.

 

I nodded. “I do.” Because hell if I’d cheapen myself for any guy.

 

“This past week has been miserable without you. It just hasn’t been the same.” He frowned. “The other night, I opened up Netflix and watched Mean Girls.”

 

I choked on a sip of beer. “I am slightly jealous I didn’t get to witness this.”

 

“It was horrible, by the way. And you have the worst taste in movies, but you know what I was thinking the whole time?”

 

“What?”

 

“How I wished you were there, because I like hearing your commentary. I wanted to know what parts you found funny. I wanted to share that with you.” He tucked a stray curl behind my ear and said, “And that scared me, because I haven’t wanted to share anything with anyone in a long time. I’m not used to trusting people, but I want to try with you.”