The Rulebreaker Read online

  Chapter Three

  “Coach, can you call time?” Peyton asks.

  I look at my watch. “Twenty seconds.”

  There’s a collective groan. While we’re waiting for Coach Dereck, who’s running late, I have the girls doing their normal drills, including wall squats. The worst, I know, but they’re necessary to build the endurance we need out there on the field. They’re high school juniors and seniors, so they absolutely know this. The gym door opens and Dereck walks in.

  “Time,” I say.

  The girls exhale as they stand upright.

  “Go get water,” I add.

  “Is it me or does he look better than usual?” Morgan asks as they walk away giggling.

  “I’m sorry I’m late,” Dereck says when he reaches me.

  “No biggie. I made them start their usual drills.” I glance toward the window. “It looks like it’s going to rain today, so we moved the equipment inside.”

  “The basketball team is supposed to have practice in here today.” He looks at the girls, who are now running from one side of the court to the other.

  “Oh crap. I didn’t know.” I shut my eyes and open them to look at him. “What should we do?”

  “Nothing. I’ll speak to Coach Dunn and see if we can turn this into a double practice. They do similar drills anyway.”

  As if on cue, the basketball team begins spilling through the door. The girls stop what they’re doing and start talking to their friends on the team as Dereck and I head over to Coach Dunn. He’s an older man that reminds me a lot of my own father, with the way he goes on and on about the weather and the grass and whatever other topic anyone places in front of him. The weather is today’s topic. As I stand there quietly, my phone buzzes in my back pocket. I walk away from them and head back to where the girls are, taking my phone out of my pocket and looking at the text I have from Maverick.

  Mav: Tony’s tonight. 8 p.m.

  I sigh heavily. Tony’s is a restaurant slash bar that Maverick’s sister-in-law’s family owns.

  Me: Aren’t you sick?

  Mav: I feel better

  Me: That fast?

  Mav: I’ve been sleeping all day

  Me: . . .

  Mav: I’ll have soup

  Instead of responding to him, I text Leyla and Ashley to see if they want to join us at Tony’s.

  Ashley: I thought Mav was sick?

  Me: Apparently not.

  Leyla: I’m down

  Ashley: I’m out. I’m going out with Matt tonight.

  Me: Ohhh. Hope it goes well

  Leyla: Hit it. Hit it.

  Ashley: LOL I plan to

  I shake my head and laugh quietly as I put my phone away. People like Ashley are goals. She met Matt a few weeks ago at a dive bar we went to, announced he was cute, went up to him, exchanged numbers, and now they’re on their third date. I feel like that should be a lesson to all of us. If you want something, go for it. Some people are like that. Unfortunately, I’m not those people. I’m too shy. Sure, I speak my mind and am blunt, but that’s only if I know you and am comfortable around you. Otherwise, I’m as quiet as a mouse. Ashley says that the only reason I’m single is that I have a perpetual RBF, which automatically intimidates guys, and that even when I am interested, I don’t seem to be.

  For the majority of my life, I didn’t care. In high school, while all of my friends were boy crazy, I wasn’t. Even my own mother chalked it up to me being a late bloomer. Whatever the case was, it meant that I was officially the oldest virgin I knew and that was intimidating for sure since most people around me seemed to hook up with people without a care. The only other virgin I know is Melissa. She’s beautiful, cool, confident, and has vowed to wait for marriage. Some of the girls on the team think she’s crazy. I think it’s commendable, but it can’t be easy for her since she actually has a serious boyfriend. If my libido feels this way and I’m single, I can’t even imagine what she must be going through.

  With that in mind, I turn back to the girls I’m supposed to be helping coach and find Morgan poking one of the guys in the basketball team’s arm. It seems that even she’s mastered the art of flirting. I seriously have no hope.

  Chapter Four

  “I don’t understand. You’re freaking gorgeous, you’re funny, and your body is just, I mean, I could write songs about your body.”

  I shoot Leyla a look. “You can’t write songs to save your life, so I don’t have much faith you’ll do my body justice.”

  “See? And you know you’ve got it.” She shakes her head. “Why are you so damn insecure when it comes to guys?”

  “I’m not insecure.” I frown, looking at my reflection in the mirror. “My makeup looks masterful.”

  “It does.” Leyla nods in appreciation behind me.

  “What does?” Maverick asks, walking into my room.

  “Dude, you don’t knock? What if we were naked?” Leyla turns to him.

  “I’d ask if I could stay here and watch.” He shrugs a shoulder.

  “And I’d kick your ass,” she says, but melts into him as he gives her a hug.

  “Damn, you look . . . ” He lets out a breath and shakes his head as he walks over to me. My heart speeds up.

  “Right? She’s getting a guy’s number tonight. No, she’s going home with one,” Leyla says.

  “Why?” Mav frowns deeply. “She doesn’t need a guy to make her feel beautiful or wanted.”

  I roll my eyes and go back to applying my makeup. Normally, I’d agree with him, but honestly? I want to be objectified, dammit. I wouldn’t say it aloud, but I want to be and feel wanted by a man. I want someone to tell me I’m hot and that they want to have sex with me, or whatever it is men tell women. I want that.

  “She’s going home with a guy tonight or I’ll riot,” Leyla says.

  Maverick’s brown eyes meet mine in the mirror. He looks like he wants to say something, but instead, he shrugs and starts walking out of the room again.

  “I’m leaving in ten minutes, if you want a ride, be ready.”

  “We don’t want a ride,” Leyla calls out, then looks at me. “How are you going to get a guy if you hang out with them twenty-four-seven?”

  “How do you get girls if you hang out with them twenty-four-seven?” I raise an eyebrow.

  “Touché, however, I still stand by my original statement that women are more courageous than men and are willing to put themselves out there.” She shoots me a look. “Yourself excluded, of course.”

  I laugh at that, because she’s not wrong.

  “Holy shit. Who is this vision?” Colson boasts when we get to Tony’s.

  “Can you stop?” I groan.

  “She’s trying something new,” Leyla supplies.

  “She wants to get a guy,” Maverick adds and there’s no denying the fact that he doesn’t approve.

  “As she should.” Colson raises his beer high and eyes me up and down. “Maybe a hockey player?”

  “Not you, if that’s what you’re getting at.” I shoot him a look.

  “Nope. You’re right. We made a pact. No hooking up between roommates.”

  I fix the short dress I’m wearing as I take a seat across from Colson and Leyla and Maverick settles into the seat beside me. As they start ordering food and drinks, I take a look around the bar to see if I find anyone attractive.

  “Earth to Rocky,” Mav says loudly.

  “What?” I meet his gaze.

  “We’re waiting for you to put your order in.” He raises an eyebrow. “But we can wait for you to finish scouting for prey.”

  “Oh shut up.” I laugh with an eyeroll and tell the waitress my order.

  “Tequila, huh?” Mav comments after she walks away. “You must be serious about this.”

  “Practice is canceled tomorrow morning. Leave her alone,” Leyla says across from me. “She needs to live a little.”

  “I do need to live a little.” I smile and thank the waitress as she sets my drink down in front of
me.

  “And this is how you’re choosing to live a little?” Mav asks.

  “What is your problem? You’re the one who’s always telling me I need to get out more and that I’m too hyper-focused on soccer and school and whatever.”

  “You do need to get out more, but I didn’t think you were going to take that to mean that you need to find yourself a boyfriend or a booty call or whatever it is you’re looking for.”

  “You have booty calls all the time.” I raise an eyebrow and sip my drink. “You literally just told me I need to give you pointers on that whole situation so that you can get yourself a girlfriend.”

  “How are you going to give him pointers?” Colson chuckles. “I think it’s safe to say he dates more than you do.”

  “You call that dating?” I blink.

  “Dating, fucking, whatever. We’re too young to be tied down.” Colson glances at Mav. “Don’t tell me you want to be tied down, dude. Is this because your brothers are settling down?”

  “They’re not settling,” Mav says with a frown.

  “Yeah, I wouldn’t call getting together with a Canó sister settling,” I say. “If anything, they’re the ones who are settling.”

  “They are pretty hot,” Colson agrees. “Mav’s having fun though, aren’t you?”

  “It gets old,” Maverick says. “Before you know it, I’m going pro too and who am I going to share that with? More women who don’t really care about me?”

  “They take care of your stick though,” Leyla says with a laugh.

  “It gets old,” Maverick repeats.

  I wouldn’t know. Unlike Maverick, who literally looks at a girl and melts her panties, this is difficult for me. Leyla’s right. Hanging out with him and Colson isn’t helping my cause. No one with sense is actually going to come up and hit on me when I’m sitting beside two beast hockey players. They have reputations for being party animals and having short fuses. Two things that don’t necessarily make it so that other guys our age feel comfortable. Our food arrives and we all dig in quickly.

  “What about an older man?” I ask.

  “Like a sugar daddy?” Colson pulls a face. “Come on, Rocky. No.”

  “Men are dumb and immature at every age,” Maverick adds. “What’s the point of going for someone with more baggage?”

  “He has a point.” Leyla points a French fry at Mav.

  “Want to switch plates?” Mav asks me after a few seconds.

  I glance over at his. He got the lasagna. I got the spicy pasta primavera, but I can’t eat all of this right now. Eating and consuming alcohol at the same time isn’t my strong suit. Because he barely has any lasagna left, I agree to switch plates.

  “Why don’t the two of you date?” Leyla asks pointing a fry between the two of us. “You already act like a couple.”

  “Yeah right.” I snort and focus on the lasagna in front of me, hoping no one notices my sudden discomfort.

  “Rocky’s like a sister to me,” Maverick says. “That would be weird.”

  Fuck. There it is. The knife in my heart that I wasn’t expecting but also doesn’t surprise me. He friend-zoned me in just six words and it hurts more than I care to admit.

  After dinner, we stick around, ordering more drinks. Normally, this is when I go home. I always have to be up at the crack of dawn for practice, but since that’s been canceled, I figure I’ll give myself a rest day. Besides, Tony’s has live music tonight and I never get to catch the local bands that come in. There’s a DJ setting up who has already started playing popular hip-hop music. Soon, the tables start emptying out and are cleared away, leaving people standing in an area that has a dance floor type of vibe. There are people dancing, but not a ton. I say this to Leyla who glances over at me with a laugh.

  “Not yet. Let them get another drink in their system though.” She looks over to the dance floor. “The guy in the pink shirt is absolutely going to start dancing soon.”

  I laugh, finding him quickly. He’s already swaying from side to side and bobbing his head as he raps along to the music. I’m not sure he needs another drink at all. A few guys come over to our table and based on their build and loudness I assume they’re on the hockey team with Col and Mav. I know a lot of their teammates, but not all. They only invite a handful of them over to play video games and hang out randomly throughout the week and weekend. I’m not sure what the requirement for the invitation is. I also haven’t been to many of their games since I’m always so busy with my own.

  “That’s Rocky.” Leyla’s voice cuts through my daydream and I blink up at her. She shoots me a stern look. “This is Brian and that’s Chase.”

  “Oh. Hi.” I smile at the two guys who are standing at the head of the table. Unlike Colson and Maverick, who look like a tattooed GI Joe and his badass friend, Brian and Chase look like literal Ken dolls.

  “Hi.” Brian does a gesture with his hand that’s a sort of wave, but he makes it look cool. His piercing blue eyes stay on mine and I feel my cheeks warm. “You’re the roommate.”

  “I am.” My smile grows.

  “No wonder they don’t invite us over.” Chase nudges Brian.

  “I guess we’ll have to invite ourselves,” Brian says, still looking at me.

  I continue to smile because I’m not sure what to say but Leyla steps in for me, saying, “Or Rocky can invite you.”

  “Yep.” I nod, letting out a laugh.

  Brian chuckles. He looks at Maverick. “Where have you been hiding this one?”

  “Careful,” Maverick says, jaw twitching.

  “I thought you were with Madison.” Brian’s eyes narrow on Maverick.

  “I never said that.”

  I look away from them and back at Leyla, shooting her a look. She hops off the high stool and slaps a hand on the table. “Keke and I will be around. It was nice to meet you guys.”

  At the sound of my nickname, I hop off my own chair and grab my purse. Maverick’s hand closes around my wrist. My eyes snap to his and the concern I see in them instantly annoys me. Normally, I wouldn’t care. It’s endearing that my best friend cares about me and my well-being, but tonight is not the night. Maybe it’s the tequila in my system or the fact that he called me his sister when I can’t seem to stop thinking about him as more than a friend. I yank my arm away with a glare and follow Leyla.

  “What the fuck was that about?” Colson asks behind me, but I ignore him.

  “Girl, what was that?” Leyla asks when we get far enough away from the table. “Brian was totally flirting with you.”

  “I know but it was awkward with Colson and Mav there.” I groan.

  “It shouldn’t be though.” Leyla shoots me a look as we lean against the bar. “It’s Maverick, isn’t it? You like him.”

  “I might.”

  “You might.” She laughs. “When did this happen? I thought he was your big brother and all that.”

  “He was. He is.” I sigh. “It’s a recent development. I’m still processing it.”

  “Well, process it whilst losing your virginity to Brian. He’s walking over here right now.”

  “Leyla.” I stand up straighter and fix my hair.

  I don’t know why I bothered straightening it tonight. I already feel the halo of frizz developing around my face. In typical North Carolina fashion, yesterday the weather was splendid and today the humidity is out of freaking control. I tug on the hem of the short dress I’m wearing and Leyla sets a hand on my hand.

  “Stop. It’s short, it’s tight, but you look bomb. Stop messing with it.”

  “Okay.” I exhale and bring the two drinks the bartender hands me over to us, giving one to Leyla, and turn around to lean my back against the bar.

  “I thought I saw you two heading this way,” Brian says once he reaches us. “So, what’s up? What are we drinking tonight?”

  “I’m having tequila,” I say.

  “We are drinking whatever you want to buy us,” Leyla says, shooting me a look.

 
I sigh. I know my friends think this is the reason I’m in this predicament, but I wish they’d take a moment to hear me when I say that I don’t want to get a guy to pay for my things. It’s not that I refuse for someone to buy me a drink, but I don’t want it to come with a condition. I look back over to the table we vacated and see Maverick and Colson are now swamped with women. As usual. I roll my eyes and look back at Brian.

  “I’m good.” I shake the short glass in my hand. “I’ve had two, so I’ve reached my limit.”

  “That’s too bad.” Brian smiles. “Maybe I can take you out for a drink this weekend.”

  “Why not?” I shrug a shoulder and manage a smile.

  “What’s up?” Maverick asks. I blink up to realize he and Colson are both here now, instantly crowding our space by the bar.

  “Just shooting my shot,” Brian says.

  “With whom?” Maverick frowns, looking around. It’s sad that he doesn’t even think that I’m an option.

  “The hottest girl at this restaurant slash bar,” Brian says, looking at Maverick like he’s crazy. “Rocky.”

  “Oh.” Mav glances in my direction and his eyes capture every single curve on my body as if he’s analyzing me.

  Maybe I’m imagining it, but I swear his expression heats up when he meets my eyes again. My heart flips as I hold his gaze and take a sip of tequila, hoping the liquid gives me enough courage to either look away or actually do something about this stupid crush. I push that thought away as quickly as it appears. No way in hell am I going to fall for my best friend. I’ve heard horror stories about that. People who lose life-long friendships because they hooked up.

  “We’re going on a date,” Brian says.

  “A date?” Maverick says, his voice a shout in the otherwise fairly quiet restaurant.

  The band hasn’t started playing their live music. There are conversations happening, but not loud enough to drown us out.

  “Yeah, a date,” Brian says. “What is up with you, dude? I have sisters. I know how to treat a lady.”