The Rule Book

by Sarah Adams

He thinks he hates me because I’m a woman in a world that supposedly belongs to men, but why he should really hate me is because I’m smarter than him and will smile while I steal his clients.

in the background and tells her she has to leave the class if she wants to talk on the phone. She calls him a fuddy-duddy and then walks out of the class. “Mom! Don’t leave. I can talk to you about

I go settle onto my couch and turn on The Great British Bake Off for background noise while I review Derek’s contracts and deals because I don’t like to be alone with my thoughts and therapy is too expensive. British people kindly competing in a low-stakes baking competition to win a plate is the next best thing.

for sure need to come inside now.” He smiles a warning before his finger hovers over the doorbell. “Last chance. Either you let us in, or we get her to.” “No, you can’t—” He mashes that doorbell over and over in rapid succession. “Assholes!” I grunt, and then flip the deadbolt to let the leeches in. “There, are you happy?

“I wish you’d told us,” says Nathan. “We could have punched you in the balls a long time ago and left Nora out of it completely. Bottom line, you’re not getting rid of us.”

“Get your own drink, you unromantic piece of shit.” He hands me some rainbow-colored cash. “And you have to be the top hat—that’s all that’s left.”

“Yes—I’ve eaten about four thousand milligrams of caffeine, and I’ve gained spidey-senses. It’s great, everything is swirling and tingling around me.”

“You can have any imaginary car in the world, and you choose one with a manual window crank?” She still won’t look at me. “Of course because this”—she mimes pressing an imaginary button on the bar—“doesn’t look nearly as cool.” “I’m not sure cool is the word you’re looking for.”

to say goodness knows what after that epic speech from Derek, but Nicole finally breaks her silence and talks before he can. “You know, Joseph, I was just thinking…” Her red lips tilt

one of those. It could be a daddy lion to your baby lion.” She gasps. “Mufasa for your Simba!” “I don’t need any more lions.” She laughs one sardonic laugh. “As

cheeks were so fried I couldn’t sit down for five days. But as a plus, my standing goal was met at two hundred percent that week.” Sometimes I wonder, if I stay quiet,

snack like it’s an offering of jewels. I suddenly feel uncomfortably misty. “You…got me ice cream and cereal?” Two scoops of vanilla ice cream and something similar to Cinnamon Toast Crunch to top it off. “Do you still like it?” I nod. “It’s my favorite. I guess I just…didn’t expect you to remember.” Soft amusement unfurls on his mouth, making my stomach somersault. “Nora, you ate