The Rules We Break

you're meeting

around noon, reminding

ed me now?" Chloe replied, just as she

beside her, bringing it to her lips-

d coffee

omething ingrained in her, almost like

he cup down and grabbed a bo

ne buzz

u wearing?"

hem hugging her curves. She had bought it a while ago but was wearing it

ess up, but this should be enough to

en teased, "Geez, you're sta

y-eight!" Teresa sent back a dra

x. I'm not go

uch because afraid she would ghost

o put her phone down, a

our high school r

been nearly ten years since they graduated. Every year, a few classmates would organize a

stmas Eve, saying they wanted to "relive" the

s ten ye

elf lost in thou

wouldn't sho

ight-I heard Ethan's planning a s

e golden couple of their year. Their relationship had be

as three years ago to start his own company, and

t to stage the ultim

about it. No

too busy enjoying you

eyes and dismissed Teresa, sh

swiftly stacked up her documents, g

r teammates all turned to look at he

ting department-the Director of Marketing was still

t six? Un

mply smiled at their confused sta

mber. Chloe glanced at his message-he

om her office. Perfect. Wouldn

preferences and dietary restriction

into a nearby store to kill some time before heading t

n restaurant, with classic red-and-white c

d. As soon as Chloe stepped inside, she s

xactly like his photo, maybe eve

er and stopped

rro

flicker of surprise flashed across h

hl

right, sunlit smile spr

n prettier

smiled politely,

, have

ding to his boyish charm. His youthful energy was almost ove

her up with a c

rst-time meeting. Darron was goo

his restaurant looks," he said.

a dozen tables, with walnut-wood furniture and fra

eave the ord

Darron accepted the t

arpaccio with her fork, she casually aske

" Darron scratched the back of his

master's in Italy an

five. Three years

ntly felt l

and have you decided wher

itated for

a few offers,

but interestingly, Darron n

ilan. Since her company was in tech as well, she could have given him some caree

er, Chloe didn't f

ed out, Darron wasn't just into sports-he had

really been

play with," Chloe admitted. She had actually

aightened

n play

a total b

ach you." He voluntee

ression reminde

it doesn't get in the

He seemed to be getting more and

rect, made Chloe a

ething on my f

pped out o

lly..

had ended up at th

rabbed a fresh napkin from

d st

halfway toward him and froze, lettin

dow-where she suddenly spotted a very fam

ere th

r dinner, she ran

, and a tall fi

n't ju

ped out righ

Chloe just stared,

de, they looked...

hed wiping her lips and

u know

pulling her attentio

forget to s

, she scooped up

t melted on her tongue, spr

e slight flush creep