Breaking All the Rules novel Chapter 25

It's so hard going to class when you have a big black eye, everyone stares at me and asks what happened and by the look on their faces I know they're not buying the football explanation. Sunglasses aren't really an option when the lighting sucks and I can't see to write. Luckily some of my classes have good lighting where I can see a little. I know a lot of people just assume I have a hangover from the night before and that's why I'm wearing sunglasses. I just wished my eye would go back to normal already, it's been a week, it's looking better but it's still there, concealer does help but it doesn't cover it completely despite Jess's best efforts to help.

I've got my hair up in a messy bun and a burnt orange sweater with black leggings and black ankle boots. I have two more classes left then I can go home and get some sleep. I didn't stay the night with Ian last night, so I didn't sleep much. I barely sleep when I don't spend the night with him, I'm just so used to sleeping with him that now I can't sleep alone which terrifies me. I just hope Jess is right and he does love me, I really don't want to lose him.

When my class ends I put my sunglasses back on and start down the hall. I hear someone yell my name, so I turn to see who it is. "I borrowed your sweater this morning. I hope you don't mind." Lizzy, my sorority sister yells down the hall.

I wave at her. "That's fine. I'll see you tonight!" I turn and walk into a hard wall of muscle.

"Whoa." A pair of strong hands grab my arms to steady me. "We're always meeting like

this." Owen says with a grin.

"Sorry." I mutter.

"It would probably help if you took these off." He reaches up and removes my black shades and winces when he sees my eye. "Ouch. That makes my face hurt."

I reach up and touch my eye. "Yeah, it looks better than it did."

"I'm so sorry about that." He hands me my glasses back.

I immediately put them back on. "It's not your fault, you didn't kick it."

"No, but I should've caught it." He puts his hands in his front pockets and rocks back.

"You can't blame yourself. It was an accident."

"I know but still.... I'd really like to make it up to you."

I shake my head. "It's okay, really. I'm fine and it's healing. No big deal." I reach up and touch his arm. "Don't worry about it. Really."

He doesn't look convinced, just stands there with a sad look on his face. I lean in and give him a hug, he immediately wraps his arms around me and hugs me back. "Better?" I ask him.

He lingers longer against me than necessary and I don't pull back right away, I just stand there and hug him back. When he releases me he gives me a smile, he's even better looking when he smiles and I can't help but notice how good he smells. Too bad I'm madly in love with someone else. "Yeah. I still wish you would give me a chance to make it up to you though, but that's okay if you don't want to. I get it."

"Hey, baby." Ian comes up to me and pulls me into a long passionate kiss. I'm completely caught off guard, he never kisses me like this in public. I put my hands on his biceps and return his kiss before pulling away.

"Hey, what was that for?" I ask surprised.

"I just missed you." He grins at me, wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me against him, my back against his hard chest. "Jacobs." He nods toward Owen.

"McAllister." Owen says, the two of them exchange a look but neither of them say anything else to the other. Then Owen looks at me. "I'll see you around, Kamdyn, I'm glad your

eye feels better." Then he turns and walks away.

"No, he just feels bad and wants to make it up to me."

"I knew it! Tim is right, he's trying to get into your pants.""If he is he's wasting his time

because it's not going to happen." I can't believe he's so worried about it. How can he not see

how madly in love with him I am? According to Jess it's painfully obvious.

"There's something I really need to tell you." Ian says. I look up at him and he's uncomfortable again.

I stop walking, panic setting in. "What is it? Did something happen?"

"No, I mean yeah but nothing bad. I...." He looks around at the crowded hallway. "I don't want to tell you here. I'll tell you later. Okay?"

"It's nothing bad?"

He shakes his head. "No, at least I don't think it's bad, hopefully you don't either." He gives me a quick kiss. "We'll talk about it later when we're alone."

"Okay."

We start walking again and he leaves me at my next class. I'm more than a little curious as to what it is he's going to tell me. I wished he hadn't even mentioned it because now I'm going to wonder all day what he's wanting to tell me and I'm not even going to be able to focus on my classes.