Page 366 of Breaking the Rules

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Emma

Iwake to darkness and Ariel singing about how desperately she wants to be part of the human world.

Kaylee's home.

Which means Hunter's gone.

My heart twists.

I want him here.

I want him a million miles away.

I want some magic apology that will earn my forgiveness.

Hell, I want to hate him as much as I keep telling myself I do.

But I can't see him as a traitor who betrayed me.

Only as a hurt guy who keeps sabotaging himself.

He warned me about his self-destructive streak.

I guess it's like that saying goes.

When someone tells you who they are, believe them.

I slip into the bathroom. Brush my teeth. Wash my face. Join Kaylee on the couch.

She rests her head on my shoulder. "You okay?"

"No." I wrap my arm around her. "But I'll get there."

"Even if he decides he'd rather be friends—"

"Maybe. But, God, I hope he doesn't."

"Me too." She grabs a bar of chocolate from the table. Breaks off a square. Hands it to me. "Brendon is sorry. He just—"

"I know. We'll talk. I'll get over it."

"Yeah?"

"Don't tell him though. I want him to sweat this for a few days."

She laughs. "You know I can't—"

"I know. But let me believe he's suffering."

"He is. He hates that—"

"No apologizing for him. Just informing on suffering."

"He's wracked with guilt. He can't eat or sleep."

"Or fuck?"