Page 10 of Unwritten Rules

She continues, nonplussed. “You dial for the snacks, Hawthorne.” She pops a brow as she crosses her arms. “And at this stage, you know my side is the—”

The sound of my alarm buzzing pulls me from my slumber. I lean over, hitting snooze before burrowing back into my pillow, willing my brain to go back to sleep.

Back to her. To happiness. Because if happiness were a place, it would be called Mila DeMarco.

But the fragments of my dream, of the memory that I was reliving from the night before Henry and Liv’s wedding, have dissipated faster than raindrops on a hot summer’s day.

Flipping over onto my back, I throw my arm over my eyes to block everything out as I picture her smirking face.

“You know my side is the—”

“The right side because….” I trail off when she drops down beside me, our knees touching as her smile widens impossibly. “You’re always right.”

She throws her head back, laughing uproariously, and my face splits in half while I soak in the joy her mere presence brings to my soul.

“Even when you’re wrong, you’re right, littlest DeMarco.”

Her wink ruins me as she pokes her pink tongue from between her lips.

“And don’t you forget it, Hawthorne!”

* * *

I throw back the covers, leaping from the bed in absolute disgust to head directly for a cool shower, completely ignoring my massive fucking morning wood.

This has never happened before. I’ve had my monthly fight followed by my chat with V every four weeks since uprooting my life. Every month unerringly and without fail, it’s as though letting out the pent-up rage downstairs and hearing my old friend’s words and understanding upstairs have reset my mindset.

Each and every time, I’ve been able to stop myself from running straight toward inevitable destruction.

The mere idea of telling my best friend that I have feelings for his sister, the sister he treats almost as a daughter, no less – well, I’ve seen how much the man cares for those he loves. I’ve always been fortunate enough to be included in those few, having shared enough of a similar upbringing in terms of a crap father and dead mother.

But she’s his baby sister. I can’t allow something like a potentially fleeting attraction to ruin my friendship with Henry. I won’t.

My stomach churns, and my palms begin to sweat as I step under the freezing cold water, welcoming the icy chill as it sluices down my body.

Long minutes pass while I stand numbly, allowing my heart to cease its incessant palpitations. I just need to figure out how to make these feelings go away. If I can do that, then everything can go back to normal.

I can have my life back, my friends back – her back.

In a friendship capacity only, because I have nothing of worth to offer the brightest star in the sky. However, the selfish part of me just can’t survive now, having known that star’s guiding light.

“Fuck!” I squeeze my eyes shut tight, striving to block out all thoughts and memories of her, but it’s like the floodgates have been ripped open wide.

Another memory of our last day together flashes through my mind like a series recap.

* * *

“Do you like it?”

I’m straightening my cravat in the bathroom mirror when Mila appears in the doorway behind me. My eyes slowly prowl along her whole body, covered in a blush pink satin dress. The sleeves are sitting just off her shoulder, and the thigh-high slit should be considered indecent as it showcases her slim, tanned pins to all and sundry.

Her usually poker-straight dark brown hair is curled, parted to one side and haphazardly pinned in place with what looks like baby’s breath. It gives her an ethereal look.

Finally reaching her face, I see her golden eyes are impossibly wide, her bottom lip caught between her perfect white teeth as though afraid I’ll find her to be anything other than sheer perfection.

And whilst I’d love to be honest and tell her that she takes my breath away, I know that’s not the right thing to say. Not to her – my friend. My best friend’s baby sister.

I shrug playfully. “You’ll do, I suppose. I won’t be exceedingly embarrassed to have you on my arm.” I soften the sarcasm with a cheeky wink North would be proud of as she narrows her eyes, a hint of a smirk playing across her full mouth.