“I got distracted.”
Grumbling, I grab my phone and go to my room, shutting the door. I send a quick text to Renley letting her know that Rupert just gave me the rules and that he never should be trusted to transfer information. I lie back on the pillow and then open up the letter.
Dear Theo,
As I stated before, here is what I’m proposing for the new rules. I need to do this for myself, because there are goals I want to accomplish and even though I know I need to add fun to my life, I don’t want to get sidetracked from those goals. And you have intentions that I’m still unclear about, and well…I need things to not get complicated.
So let me know what you think, and when you’re done, I’ll meet you at the candy shop.
RULES FOR THEO AND RENLEY
Rule Number One: Renley and Theo will not date anyone during the summer months while Theo is still in Cape Meril.
Rule Number Two: Theo is allotted unlimited visitation rights to Renley, including the walk in the morning.
Rule Number Three: Renley is allowed to cancel morning walks with Theo if she needs to work out her thoughts, because before Theo arrived, her morning walks were always her thinking time, and he needs to understand that and give her space if she needs it.
Rule Number Four: Theo is allowed to flirt with Renley. Renley is allowed to ignore such flirtation. If Renley is not amused, that’s a him problem, not a her problem. Winking is allowed.
Rule Number Five: Theo is not allowed to propose to Renley. They are on two different paths, and marriage is not an option for them.
Rule Number Six: Renley hopes that Theo helps her with her candy shop, because she understands what it means to feel proud of something.
Rule Number Seven: Theo and Renley need to practice healthy communication. Meaning she will answer his texts, but he needs to also be upfront and honest.
Rule Number Eight: The candy shop is the most important thing in Renley’s life right now and she can’t be distracted from pursuing her goal of making it a success. Theo needs to know that the candy shop comes first.
Rule Number Nine: Renley has a tough time forming bonds with men given her relationship with past men in her life. She has a hard time trusting them and giving them a chance to have any part in her life. Theo needs to know her reluctance is not against him, but from having to mend the scars left on her heart—not really a rule, just an understanding.
Rule Number Ten: Renley doesn’t want to be hurt by Theo.
Rule Number Eleven: Renley and Theo should just be friends.
Okay, that’s it.
Renley
I read that last rule over and over a few times, not liking the way it feels. Just friends?
No, I don’t want to be friends.
I…hell, I don’t know what I want.
I don’t want Neil’s daughter, that’s for damn sure. But I don’t want to pressure Renley either. And the more time I spend here, the more I don’t want to go back home. I don’t want to go back to being the person who didn’t really feel much, who was numb most of the time.
But I don’t know how to go about fixing the problem that is my fucked-up life. I don’t know how to?—
“Knock, knock, it’s me,” Rupert calls from the other side of the door before opening it. “Hoping everyone’s clothes are on.” His eyes are covered as he walks in.
“I’m in here by myself.”
“Yes, but with a secret letter from your not-so-lover. I wasn’t sure if you were in here trying to make love to it.”
“I’m not fucked up like you are, so no, I’m not.”
He flops back on my bed. “You catch me one time making out with a magazine when I’m a teenager and you hold it against me for life.”
“Your sweat made the letters transfer onto your skin.”
