was right but that didn’t mean I had the first clue how to go about it. “Whatever happened between him and Gabe after my car got trashed is what started it. He left the apartment one way and came back as a stranger.”
“I know a couple people who were walking to class when it happened. They said it looked like Rule was going to tear Gabe apart, but then he let him go and a security guard broke it up. I don’t know what could have triggered such a strange reaction in him.”
“I don’t, either, but I hate it and it’s just one more reason to curse Gabe and how he has managed to interfere in my life.”
I was feeling pretty down so we had a few more cocktails than we’d planned. Ayden decided that since we were already bombed, we should make good on the girls’ night. We ordered wings to go from the bar and hiked home since we were only four blocks away. We stumbled in and crashed on the couch. We watched three sappy, romantic comedies back to back, polished off the wings with a bottle of wine, indulged in ice cream and popcorn, and laughed hysterically at things that were not remotely funny. It wasn’t until I finally crawled into bed hours later that I realized that I hadn’t called Rule or even sent a message to let him know what I was doing all night long. I think my heart cracked a little when I looked at the screen of my phone and it reflected back no missed calls or new messages. He hadn’t even bothered with a “good night” or “miss you.”
I tossed the phone somewhere on the floor, careful this time not to hurl it at the wall, and crawled under the covers. I assumed that since I was pretty plastered, sleep would suck me under in no time, but I was wrong. I tossed and turned for more than two hours until I finally gave up and realized I wasn’t going to sleep unless I changed something. I had spent the last month cozied up next to Rule’s solid bulk, and sleeping in an empty bed when I was feeling shitty just didn’t hold the same appeal. I shoved the covers aside and rummaged through one of the dresser drawers that Rule had started stashing some of his things in when he stayed over. I found his favorite Defiance Ohio T-shirt and stripped down and put it on. It was worn and soft and it reminded me of him, so when I crawled back into bed I finally fell into a fitful rest, knowing that I had to get a handle on things before I went crazy or turned into a sleepless lush.
CHAPTER 15
Rule
“Hey, you got a minute?”
I looked up from the drawing of an old-school pirate ship I was working on when my brother’s voice surprised me from the doorway of my room. I was concentrating so hard that I hadn’t heard him come in, and my mind was a million miles away because for the second night in a row, Shaw had come up with some lame-ass excuse to hang by herself and it was pissing me off.
I was actively making an effort to behave in a way I thought good boyfriends were supposed to act. I was being considerate, attentive, deferring to her wishes and not pushing for anything—so generally being a giant pussy—and letting her call all the shots. It wasn’t getting me a damn thing, even in bed. I wanted to be a guy who wouldn’t give her a reason to walk away, who would make her happy so that she didn’t have to battle my mood swings and outbursts of crazy. I was trying, with limited success, to be a guy she wanted to keep around—especially since Davenport was still floating around unhinged, but my new and improved attitude seemed to be achieving the opposite result. I had spent the last two nights tossing and turning because I was used to her soft form curled up next to mine. I was too irritated to just call her and tell her I was over it and coming over anyway because I knew it was what we both wanted.
I tossed my pencil at Rome’s head and indicated he could come in if he wanted. “What’s up?”
He threw the pencil back at me and dropped heavily on the bed. He stuck his long legs out in front of him and crossed his ankles while reclining back on his elbows, making himself right at home.
“Still no word from Shaw?”
I bit back a growl because just thinking about it made me want to hurt things. “She says she has too much homework due tomorrow, so she’s just going to head home after work and do it.”
“Huh.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing just … huh.”
“Shut up, Rome. Your ‘huh’ never means nothing.”
“Well, it’s just odd that she hasn’t been around much the last couple days. Did you have a fight you didn’t tell me about?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
I scowled at him. “Yes, I’m sure we didn’t have a fight. Did you just come in here to harass me or did you actually want something?”
“Trying to change the subject?” I called him a nasty name and spun back around in my chair.
“If you’re just going to be annoying I have to finish this back piece I’m working on for a client.”
“I got my medical release today. The doc from Carson called a little while ago. That means I’m going wheels-up at the beginning of next week.”
I spun back around. He was trying to look relaxed but I could see the tension around his mouth and eyes.
“Your shoulder is going to be up to it?”
“That’s what they tell me.”
“How about you? Are you up to going back?”
“I guess I don’t really have a choice. I would feel better leaving if I knew things with you and Shaw were straight and she didn’t have some lunatic stalking her, and that Mom had agreed to get some help, but I guess miracles only happen in the movies.”
I grunted and rubbed my hands over my hair, which seemed to be getting longer by the minute. I was tempted to shave the Mohawk back, but in my head I knew Shaw shouldn’t be with a guy rocking hair like that, so I was keeping it normal and natural, though she told me on a regular basis how much she missed the hawk.
“Shaw and I are fine, so don’t worry about it. As for Mom, well, there’s nothing I can really do to help you with that. Promise me that you’re going to be safe. No more driving over bombs.”
“That wasn’t in the plan the first time. Look, I’m going to tell Mom and Dad. You know they’re going to want to do something since no one knows when I’ll be back or what condition I’m going to be in.”
“Rome, I can’t go through that with Mom again.”
“I’ll tell Dad to set something up at a restaurant or something. I’ll make sure he knows it has to be a family event, which means you will be there and so will Shaw. I’m not asking, little brother, I’m telling you. I’m about to go back to the desert for who knows how long, and I deserve a good family memory to take with me. Everyone can just suck it up for one night. I deserve that.”
“You saw how well it went last time and I wasn’t even provoking her.”
He sighed and pushed to his feet. “Do this for me, Rule, please.”
I didn’t want to, not when things with Shaw were weird
