Page 110 of The Rules of Dating

Heaviness weighed inside my chest. “Okay.”

“Where are you?”

“Not far from the courthouse. I went straight to the nearest bar.”

“Will you do something for me?”

“Anything…”

“Will you go home now? Don’t drink anymore. Get in an Uber and get some sleep.”

I nodded. “Yeah, I can do that.”

“Thank you.” She paused. “I’m going to go now, but everything is going to be okay. We’ll get through this, Colby.”

I wasn’t sure how, but I knew she meant well. “Goodnight, sweetheart.”

After I hung up, I did exactly what she asked. I pulled up the Uber app and ordered a ride home. At least I thought I did… Until a voice woke me sometime later.

“Colby?”

I blinked my eyes open. “Billie? You’re here…”

“Of course I’m here. Why wouldn’t I be at my apartment at three in the morning?”

Her apartment? I glanced around. I was lying on the floor in a hallway, so I pushed up onto one elbow. “How long have I been sleeping?”

“I don’t know. I was sleeping myself and had no idea you were out here. My neighbor works late. She called to ask if the man outside my door belonged to me or if I wanted her to call the cops.”

I raked a hand through my hair. “Fuck. I’m sorry. I thought I went home.” I shook my head and tried to remember how I got here, but everything was fuzzy. “I remember being in an Uber and shutting my eyes. But after that, I’m drawing a blank.”

She held out a hand to help me up. “Come on. Come inside.”

I took it and climbed up from the floor, following her in.

Billie shut the door behind us and started texting. “I just need to tell Amber everything is fine so she doesn’t actually call the cops.”

I nodded and waited until she set her cell on the counter. “What time did you call me earlier?” I asked.

“It was about nine o’clock, I guess.”

“Shit. I guess I was out there for a while. Sorry.” I thumbed toward the door. “Do you want me to go?”

Billie shook her head and held out her hand. “Why don’t you come to bed with me?”

I nodded and followed her into the bedroom. Normally, I wouldn’t think twice about undressing, at least down to my boxer briefs, but it felt wrong to do more than take off my shoes before getting under the covers. The room was dark, but there was a window open, and the streetlights illuminated enough for me to see once my eyes adjusted. I rolled onto my side, and Billie did the same.

“Are you okay?” she whispered.

A giant lump formed in my throat. It felt like if I spoke, it might move and then all the feelings stuck behind it would rush to the surface. So I shook my head.

“Oh, Colby. I’m so sorry you’re going through this.”

I couldn’t believe she was trying to console me. It should’ve been the other way around. Instead, it was yet another testament to the fact that I’d fallen for the kindest, most beautiful soul on the planet. I tried to swallow, but it was no use. I couldn’t hold back anymore. Tears streamed down my face as I took her cheeks into my hands. “I am so fucking in love with you that it hurts, Billie. I hate that I’m causing you pain. And I hate that I just told you I loved you for the first time today, when this day has been so ugly. I wanted it to be a day you could look back on, filled with nothing but good memories.”

Matching tears formed in Billie’s eyes. “It’s three thirty AM, Colby. Yesterday was filled with bad memories, but we still have time to fill today with good ones. Let’s not look back anymore and just move forward and choose to be happy, because I love you, too.”

I shook my head. “I have no idea what I did to deserve you.”