Breaking All the Rules novel Chapter 20

"With who?" Nick asks.

"I have no idea." She said she's never coming back here again but of course I'm not telling him that, besides I know she's all talk and she will end up coming back. She's said it before and she's came back, she'll probably even end up sleeping with Nick again even though she swears she won't. With Jess you just never know, she's a live in the moment kind of girl.

"Is she the reason Jacobs keeps hanging around or is that for you?" Ian asks me, it's one of the few things he's said to me since I got here and it completely came out of nowhere.

His question catches me completely off guard. Is that why he's been so quiet? Because of Owen? Is he jealous? "He's not hanging around. He just bought us coffee this morning."

"He bought you coffee?" Ian asks with a disgusted look on his face.

"Yes, it's just coffee. Jess and I had been waiting in a long line and he was closer to the front of the line than we were so he offered to buy us some."

"Hmm." Was his reply.

"What do you mean hmm?" Who knew coffee would be such a big deal to Ian? He's been acting weird ever since I got here and I knew something was up but I never thought it was because of a cup of coffee. He hasn't even kissed me since I got here and he's barely said two words to me. Usually I'd be sitting in his lap or he'd have his arm around me while we watch a movie but he's practically on the other side of the couch like he can't even stand touching me.

"You were dry humping Jacobs at the party and now you're letting him buy you coffee but he's not always hanging around." He says accusingly.

Dry humping? Really? Over exaggerate much! "He's not. And can we please forget that whole dancing thing ever happened? That's not one of my proudest moments." I study him. "What are you jealous?"

"Of that tool? No way." He crosses his arms against his chest. "Just trying to understand what's between you and Jacobs."

I'm just trying to find out what is between us! He's acting like a boyfriend right now but not once has he asked me to be his girlfriend! We've never even discussed being exclusive so why would it matter if something was going on between Owen and me? "Nothing, we're friends."

"Like the way you and I are friends or like actual friends?"

My mouth falls open at that. He really thinks I would hook up with Owen while I'm with him? That really hurt. Does he not know me at all? Even if we're not dating I still wouldn't do that. Besides I don't even notice any other guy because I'm too stupidly in love with him and he doesn't even notice it! What a jerk! "I'm not doing this." I stand up and he grabs my hand.

"I'm sorry." He meets my angry gaze and he looks sad. "I'm just....." He blows out a breath. "I don't like Jacobs and I don't trust him."

"I can handle myself." I tell him. I try to pull my hand away but he won't release me.

"I know you can, but I don't trust the guy." He looks down at my hand and rubs the back of it with the pad of his thumb.

"Well don't worry about me. I can handle him. Besides, he's really nice."

"You don't even know him."

I jerk my hand from his grasp and this time he lets it go. "Neither do you."

"What is with you and Owen anyway?" I ask breaking the silence. "Why don't you like him?"

"We just don't get along. I've known him since freshman year....I just don't like him."

He sounded like he wanted to say more but didn't so I let it go for now.

"So if I go to their next game with you will you casually go up to Leland and start talking to him?" Jess asks. "He's so hot but seems to be playing hard to get."

"Seriously? You're still into him?"

"Of course, the guy is smoking hot! Why wouldn't I be into him?" She looks at me like I'm crazy. "You're in love not blind. Can't you tell how hot he is?"

I ignore the love part and say, "What about Nick?"

"What about Nick?" Jess asks me.

"You know he likes you, he'll be hurt if you hook up with one of his teammates."

We're walking around campus, killing time before our next class. I'm glad we only have one class left, I've been up since seven and I'm ready for a nap. I didn't get much sleep last night since I stayed the night with Ian again. It normally doesn't bother me that much but after five nights of not getting much sleep my body is screaming for sleep. I cover a yawn with my hand.