Page 64 of Your Rule to Break
She quickly moves her feet when she sees me. “I did it!” she squeals, pride dripping from her words.
Emilie shows me her arm, the delicate spot right before the crook of her elbow, where a small daisy tattoo is inked.
“I’ve always wanted a daisy.” The words tumble out through a grin that reaches each corner of her eyes. “In mythology, they’re used to symbolize new beginnings. I want to try and remember that when I have a horrible night, or OCD episode, I can always start over and move forward.”
She turns her arm, showing me all of it, and her joy is contagious. Anxiety runs through my blood, sprinting and trying to touch all it can. Emilie is the perfect thing to give me a break from the nagging of it.
“It’s perfect. Good call, EJ.” I kiss her on the forehead and pull her shoulder into me. After we take a picture at the tattoo shop, one I can post on my socials later—or print and put on my god damn fridge because I’m becoming all the way wrapped up in Emilie—we’re about to get in the car when she stops me.
“Tonight was the type of night I dreamt about as a teenager. Hot athlete boyfriend, taking me shopping, getting cheeseburgers, and ending up at a tattoo shop.” She laughs as she steps in to me, putting her hand on my chest. “But this was way better than I could’ve imagined. Thank you for doing this for me.”
I press my lips together in a thin line, trying to find the words. Yes, I did this for her, but it’s not as selfless as all that she’s making it out to be.
“You’re welcome, but you do get this was as much for me as it was for you? I knew you wanted to get a tattoo and needed to shop for a dress, but I wanted to be there. Be a part of it.”
Emile puts her mouth on mine in a kiss that makes me forget we’re in public. She walks me back to the door of my Jeep, the handle hitting my back. Emilie throws her arms around me, running her hands through my hair, lightly scratching before setting them around my neck.
My arms find her lower back and I squeeze her into me. I nip her bottom lip, and she runs her tongue along mine. I bend my knees and pick her up so we’re almost level. Our noses touch, and she laughs into the kiss.
Her hazel eyes shimmer in the light from the street, specifically the neon sign. Every time she looks at me like this, it’s like she’s tying a string to me, one only she and I can feel.
“Prepare yourself, I'm going to say something really cheesy.” Her voice is almost a whisper through her smile. “I’m convinced I could kiss you forever.” She kisses me again for emphasis.
I laugh, feeling the shake of my ribs against her.
“Ready for the extra cheese?” I tilt my head, pressing my forehead to hers. “I’m convinced forever wouldn’t even be enough.”
“We’re the worst,” Emilie says before putting her smirking lips on mine.
Chapter 34
Emilie
What am I doinginviting Zack back to my place when it’s this late? I’m not really sure, but I know I want to soak up as much of him as I can on his night off. His practice tomorrow isn’t until ten am and I don’t meet with Willow until eleven—feels like we need to take advantage of the late morning commitment.
“I can’t believe I got a tattoo!” I say, looking at the clear wrap covering the daisy I've almost gotten done a handful of times.
Zack walks over, hands on my arm, leaning down and inspects it. “Looks so good.”
“Have you heard from your family? Any news?” I ask. I don’t want to keep bringing it up but I can tell he’s worried, like his smile is only hitting a seven when it’s usually an easy nine.
He takes a breath, slow and deep. “No. But I don’t want to think about it. Makes me all itchy and like I should be doing something but, like, I don’t know what it is.”
“Sounds like you need something to take your mind off it,” I muse, stepping in closer, taking a shot in my apartment, my space. “Last time, you took care of me. It's my turn.”
He says nothing, but his eyes are glued to mine. I offer him my hand, which he takes, and I slowly walk to my bedroom.
I press one of four buttons near the light switch. Music fills the room, and soft lighting turns on. This is one of the ridiculous high-tech pieces of Willow’s apartment that I use—preset playlists andlights to match. When I was setting it up, I thought how unnecessary it was, but I secretly love it.
I lightly touch his shoulders, pushing him down so he’s sitting on the edge of the bed.
Zack looks up at me, his eyes intense and deeply blue, like a sapphire. He bites his lip as I stand in between his legs. His hands grip my hips until they reach under my quarter zip, and then under my tank top. I shiver as his fingers start raking up my upper body, skin on skin. Putting my head back, I look at the ceiling as I breathe into his touch. He lightly scratches down, and my body thrums with want.
I put my hands through his hair, pulling harder than I’ve done before, and put one knee on the side of each of his hips. I straddle him and grab the bottom of my quarter zip and tank top, pulling them up and over.
“You’re really good at this distraction thing,” Zack murmurs, fixated on my black bralette, which plunges low.
His lips find the place right below my breasts, and he slowly kisses. With a hand in his hair, I pull him closer, needing more. His arms move from touching the top of my ass to the tiny bralette straps. He hooks the straps and pulls them down.