Page 134 of The Rules of Dating

Billie’s lipstick.

I rubbed the corner of my mouth. “Do I?”

No fucking way am I washing it off.

“I guess we know why you were late,” Maya chided.

I glared at her.

That night, Maya joined us for dinner. While things still weren’t great between us, I felt a bit more tolerant of her now. We’d spent some time after our talk getting our fake stories straight in preparation for the Stokes hearing.

In bed that night, I couldn’t stop thinking about Billie. Holding and kissing her earlier had put me over the edge. It made me realize I couldn’t live without her.

Next to my bed, I had a pen and paper laid out with notes I’d taken about Maya. I ripped off a new sheet and began pouring out my thoughts and my heart to Billie, all the things I wished I could say to her tonight. I’d probably never send it to her, but I needed to put these feelings somewhere.

CHAPTER 29

Colby

It was the third time I’d caught Maya watching me tonight. Saylor and I were sitting on the floor in the living room playing Candy Land, and Maya had been cleaning up after eating her dinner. I probably could’ve ignored it or chalked it up to her studying me to prepare for tomorrow’s interview, but after nearly two weeks of living together, I’d learned to read her. Tonight, the look in her eyes made me think she wanted something.

She smiled as we locked eyes, and I immediately forced my gaze back to the game board without returning the sentiment. The last thing I wanted was to give her the impression I was interested in anything more than getting us out of this mess. I guess she took the hint, because she disappeared into the guest room and didn’t come out until after I’d put Saylor to bed.

“Is she asleep?” Maya came into the living room where I was watching TV. Well, at least the television was on, and I’d been staring in that direction.

I nodded. “The sitter took her to the park after school. She’s become obsessed with going back and forth on the monkey bars, and that always seems to knock her out.”

Maya smiled. “I think I’m going to have a glass of wine. I’m a bit on edge about tomorrow. Would you like one?”

“No, thanks.” Even though things between Maya and I had become more cordial over the last week, I wasn’t about to do anything that felt the slightest bit coupley. It would be too disrespectful to Billie.

Maya poured herself a glass of merlot and sat down at the other end of the couch. “I have an implant in my arm for birth control.” She pointed to the triceps area. “On my right side.”

Maybe it was the way I’d thought she was looking at me earlier, or the fact that she wore only a skimpy pair of sleeping shorts and a tank top now, but I jumped to the wrong conclusion. “There’s no way in hell I’m sleeping with you.”

Maya sighed. “I’m telling you because I realized earlier that a husband would know that type of thing about his wife. The investigator could ask what type of protection we use.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“Also, I usually sleep naked. How about you?”

“I have a daughter, so no, I don’t usually sleep naked. Sometimes she gets up before me, and I wouldn’t want to scar her for life.”

Maya frowned. “Yeah, of course. That makes sense. I guess I should say the same thing if I’m asked then, huh?”

I shrugged. “If you want.”

She nodded. “Why don’t we say I sleep in a tank top and shorts like this? No bra, of course.”

“Fine.”

“And what about you? What should I say you sleep in?”

“Just my underwear is fine.”

“Do we lock the bedroom door when we have sex?”

“Sure.”