Rule #3: You Can't Kiss Your Best Friend (The Rules of Love, #3)

by Anne-Marie Meyer

Ethan appeared from behind me. His gaze swept over me. “You look great. He’s an idiot if he doesn’t notice you.”

Ethan’s eyes widened. “You’re not going to kidnap him or something, are you?” I swatted his arm. “Of course not.” He wiped his brow in an exaggerated movement. “Good. Cause, there’s no way I’m helping you with that. I don’t like you that much.”

I sighed. “Yes. But what if we could find a way to get the whole band to Paris. Then. . .” I raised my eyebrows, hoping he got what I was saying. “Then you can murder him in a foreign country and get away with it?”

I felt him press his hand to my lower back. It was such a small movement, and one he’d done before—especially when I was walking too slow for him—but tonight, it felt different. It must be because I was so irritated with him.

“You’re telling me that you would know it if there was a guy, standing right in front of you, crushing on you?” He raised his eyebrows. I swallowed. Hard. “I think so,” I whispered.

I laughed as I pulled myself off of Ethan. “I just convinced Ethan to be my first victim,” I said, clapping my hands. Louie peered at me from over his spectacles. “You’re a serial killer now?” I shrugged. “If you mean I’m slaughtering Ethan’s non-existent love life, then yes, I’m a serial killer of lonely people.”

“Come on. Tell me who you’re interested in. I’ll match you with her.” He glanced over at me and his expression stilled.

“I guess I’ve just never liked the right girl at the same time she likes me.”

Now, whenever one is mad at the other, all we have to say is Bourne, and we have to stop what we are doing and go watch the movie. I sighed. “Really?” He shrugged. “It’s a rule.” I shook my head. “No, it’s not.” “Are you challenging our friendship code?” I studied him and then rolled my eyes. “Fine.”

He studied me. I could see the conflict in his gaze. There was a part of him that wanted to keep going with this argument and oh, there was a part of me that was daring him to try.

There was depth to his voice that told me, yes, he felt bad about what he said. After all, what else could it mean?

The only thing I was pretty sure of was the face that I was losing my best friend and that thought terrified me more than anything else did.

That wasn’t exactly the Disney princess moment that I’d hoped it would be. In fact, in all my dreams and nightmares, my first kiss never happened like that.

I knew that his words shouldn’t hurt, I really did, but they stung. Like a wasp to my baby toe. Ouch.

“Then, my young Padwon, I can’t teach you.”

I felt as if I were sinking and hanging onto him was the only way to survive.

Everything should be perfect. So, why didn’t it feel that way?

“When you concentrate, you get this little furrow right above your nose and you chew you lip. It’s…adorable,” he said. I saw the hesitation in his gaze as he met mine. My heart tripled in beats as he studied me.

“Not as cute as Ethan and I, but you know, not everyone can be soulmates.” Oh, how I wanted to punch her.

I didn’t want to hear how great of a friend I was. When in actuality, I wasn’t. I was a horrible friend. I’d fallen for him and I was pretty sure I was never going to get over that. But maybe with time, the feelings would deaden.

I wanted to look at him, but my heart was breaking and if I looked, I was pretty sure it would hemorrhage. And I wasn’t so sure I’d survive.

That the last thing I wanted was for him leave. I wanted him to love me. Like I was so desperately trying to stop doing to him.

“You found out he’s secretly in love with you.” I stared at her. “What?” Was she serious? She sighed. “It’s so obvious. I can’t believe you didn’t know.”

“No,” I exclaimed. Probably a bit too loud. She sighed. “I should have known. You were always oblivious to things like that.”

He shrugged. “It’s okay. I’m a bit flattered. You rigged an entire test just to talk to me.” He covered my hand with his. “It’s flattering.” I snorted. “Or stalkerish.” “Yeah. Maybe that too.”

I needed to respect his wishes and stay away. Even if it broke my soul to be away from him, I would do it. Because I loved Ethan enough to give him what he wanted.

“Especially because you can be an idiot. It lets me know that you are real. And that’s all I wanted. Real Olivia. Not Olivia who changes to please me.”