Page 16 of Unwritten Rules

“Mila. What’s wrong?”

I can hear her gather her breaths, taking long moments to find enough air to say the words she’s so desperately trying to get out.

“N-Nate.” Her voice breaking on my name almost breaks me.

“Deep breaths, littlest DeMarco. I’m here.” I run my free hand through my hair as a feeling of deep foreboding cloaks my body, chills running up and down my spine like iced water through my veins.

“I can’t, Nathaniel. I can’t breathe right now. I-I need you.”

CHAPTER 6

MILA

Flopping down onto the sofa of my Chelsea penthouse, I drop my mobile beside me on the teal cushions and exhale a sigh of – Christ, who knows what. Relief perhaps?

I’m not sure what I’m feeling right now. My mind is running rampant with wild thoughts, unsure how I will explain everything to Nate once he gets here.

Or if I should just be vague so that there’s a chance he’ll keep me on the pedestal he put me on all those years ago.

Before my fall from grace.

Despite the reasons behind it, I can’t help the thrill of euphoria that zings through my body at the knowledge that he’s on his way to me. Yes, sometimes, in the past, his take-charge attitude has pissed me the hell off, but secretly, I think it’s as sexy as hell.

The thought of having him back in my world again after floundering through life for the past ten months – it’s a heady feeling.

Except you know he’s too good for you – even if he was into you – which he’s not, especially now after what you’ve done this time.

My sister-in-law, Olivia – a walking, talking ray of sunshine and the love of my eldest brother, Henry’s, life – has an old saying for just about everything. With regard to me and my life choices of late, I’m reasonably sure she’d say “good people can make bad decisions.”

Except I don’t think I’m a good person. Not anymore.

Good people don’t sleep with married men. Or almost married men.

Semantics, idiot!

I think a more accurate saying Liv could use would be “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” Because, after all, I am my mother’s daughter – whether my father was in a happy marriage or not, she still willingly had an affair that ultimately resulted in me.

Since that night in Devon – the last night I’d seen Nate, I’d tried to live the life a girl my age should live.

University. Check.

Nice apartment. Check.

Visits with family. Check.

Friendships…nope. Not exactly.

With Eliza in New York and the fact that I’ve made an absolute clusterfuck of my friendship with my most favourite person in the world, I am most definitely adrift in that department.

Yes, I’ve become friendly with some people in my classes, but more like acquaintances than friendships. I still find it hard to trust after the kidnapping.

And after this latest debacle, if you can somehow manage to get through unscathed, you’ll likely never trust again!

Life hasn’t been anything wonderful – not since he left and cut me off – but it’s been okay. Ish.

Until I was sweet-talked into bed by a much older man who’d stroked my stupid fucking ego – who didn’t think I was a little girl like Nate so clearly did. And in doing so, I’ve opened a whole new can of worms.

My stomach churns at the thought of the potential repercussions of my actions coming to light.