The No Bad Boy Rule (Rule #2)

by Ashley Erin

  “Unless Andie plays.” She smirks when she points out my sister’s irritating ability to kick my ass at almost any game she plays. Shutting down my phone, I watch Ava get settled in her desk. This girl is different from the one I picked up off the side of the road. She seems more confident and sure of herself. Less flustered. I guess that makes sense, she did crash her car. Not exactly the best way to start your day.

  Awkward Ava is funny and adorable. I’m curious what I will think of this side of Ava.

  “She had to learn those skills from someone.” Tucking my phone away, I’m disappointed when the professor comes into the room.

  “Thanks for the coffee.” She’s leaning towards me, trying not to draw the professor’s attention. She straightens in her seat as the professor starts talking. The fruity scent of her shampoo lingering.

  Glancing as she stretches in her seat, I’m drawn to the way her body curves in all the right places. Leaning back in my chair, I shut that thought down immediately.

  “I’m Professor Williams, and as you hopefully already know, this is Math 209.” Williams rambles on about linear equations, functions, matrices and other things I’m sure will make me regret signing up for this course. It’s all boring and predictable.

  “Is it just me, or is he speaking a foreign language?” Ava’s whisper makes me grin.

  “Are you reading my mind? I was just thinking that I am already regretting signing up for this class.” She laughs quietly, trying not to disrupt the professor’s lengthy overview of the syllabus. The sound is breathy and intoxicating. I haven’t heard Ava laugh often and I definitely want to hear it more.

  “Seriously? Who signs up for a math class when they haven’t been in school for almost three years? I should have taken some easy introductory courses.” She grumbles.

  “Try almost four years and you graduated high school with a baby, you’re probably a secret genius. Just so you know, if you see me looking over at you during tests it’s not because I’m cheating, I swear.” Winking at her, I smile when she quietly laughs again.

  Glancing around the room, I see everyone is taking notes. Tuning into what Professor Williams is saying, I groan when I realize I’ve missed some of his lecture. “Shit.”

  Ava smiles and gestures to her notebook. “I’ve got it.”

  “Damn and I always pride myself on how observant I am.” Turning to a clean page, I focus in on the rest of the lecture.

  Ava is going to be a distraction, one I don’t need.

  “Hello, Sunshine.” Dax sits down at his desk, handing me a coffee. “How are you?” It’s only the second week of class, and we have already settled into a routine, I’ve never looked forward to a math class this much before.

  “Thanks for the coffee.” Breathing in the tantalizing smell of whatever he’s surprised me with today, I take a sip. The sweetness of caramel teases my taste buds and I close my eyes to savor the flavor. “I’m doing okay. Noah had a tantrum this morning when I was leaving. He wanted me to drive him to school. It sucked.”

  “That must be tough. I’m sure he will get used to it and it will get easier.” Dax looks at me empathetically and to my mortification, I feel tears start to well.

  “Things with him will get easier, Joe not so much. He’s decided he wants to be more involved since I’m going to school and not doing my job. Four years he’s been absent. Seriously? He thinks he has a right to judge me? I’m not going to keep him from Noah, but his judgment is hard to swallow.” Recalling the argument we had this morning, the tears disappear as my earlier anger resurfaces. “It’s completely ridiculous, but I don’t want to talk about that asshole. How are you?”

  “You know. Same as always.” Grunting at his vague response, I can’t understand how someone who takes such an active interest in how I’m doing has so little to say about himself.

  “You are quite the conversationalist. I’m truly fascinated.” My remark surprises me, and I realize that some of the awkwardness I felt at first is long gone. He’s easy to be around, and I’m no longer a nervous wreck.

  Dax’s expression makes me choke on my latte, his jaw dropped in surprise. “Well, it’s true. I don’t know what ‘same as always’ is. Friendship is a two-way street, you know. I don’t think it would kill you to talk about yourself once in a while.”

  “It might . . .” He sighs when I pointedly turn my body towards him and stare at him expectantly. “Honestly, I’m just boring. I go to class, hit the gym, and play video games. Occasionally the guys and I go out. I like boring, I have never had boring until I moved here.”

  “What do you mean, you’ve never had boring?” Andie and Dax are near silent when it comes to their past, and I’ve been curious since I met him about what gave him the hard edge that pushes people away.

  “Nothing. It’s not important anymore, and you don’t want to know. Seriously, I have not always been the charming and delightful person before you today. I’m not a nice person.” His gaze closes off, despite the forced smile on his lips and I see the relief in his eyes when Professor Williams walks into the classroom, already lecturing before he gets to the podium.

  “I think you’re a nice person.” Picking up my pen, I tune him out and try to grasp the concepts we are being tested on next class. I want to smack him upside the head. This isn’t the first time he’s said something like this, yet there is not any evidence in his actions. The way he presents himself, the vibe he gives off, well that’s a different story.

  “You see what I want you to see.” My head swings over on its own volition, his profile staring at his paper as he writes. Tension rolls off his body and I don’t understand why my comment has upset him, but something inside me tells me to shut my mouth.

  I’m not good at listening to my internal common sense.

  “Do people actually say shit like that? You may think that’s true, but I guarantee that there are people who see through the act. Now shush, I’m trying to learn.” He stares at me incredulously, and I bite my cheek to keep from laughing. Screw being awkward, I’m going to be me, and I grew up with a pain in the ass brother, I know how to dish it out.

  An hour later, Williams finally stops lecturing and I have my belongings in my arms and the classroom behind me before Dax is even out of his seat. It bothers me that he is so closed off and it shouldn’t. Sure, we’re friends I guess, but that doesn’t automatically give me a pass into the depths of his psyche. I just can’t help but want to know more. Sighing as I squeeze past a group of people crowding the door to my next lecture, I know the fact that Dax is a mystery makes him more attractive to me. I’m hoping once the mystery is uncovered I can get back to life as it was before I met him.

  “Someone looks like they are thinking a little too hard. Is that smoke coming from your ears? I thought I smelled burning.” Shaking my head as Dean sits next to me, I turn to my brother’s best friend. Most girls can’t stand him because of how he talks about our gender, but I know the Dean behind the act.

  “I’m pretty sure that smell is your giant ego deflating because you’re stuck retaking a first year course.” Sticking my tongue out at him when he winks at me, I see him glance at a blonde chick near the front of the room. “Latest conquest?”

  “You know better.” He smiles at the girl when she turns around, looking between us. “Her name is Morgan. I’ve been asking her out, and she finally said yes.”

  Smiling gently at him, I know how big of a deal this is. “Just make sure you remember to take care of yourself.”

  He groans good-naturedly and flips open his book. Shaking my head, I glance back at Morgan. Everyone says you shouldn’t judge someone by how they look and they’re right, but I can’t help analyze her. Dean struggles more than even Lucas knows. He’s finally almost back to normal since Nina. I don’t want to see him lose himself again.

  Shutting the door, I stand in the entryway listening carefully. It sounds like they are playing a video game, but I’ve been fooled before. Andie and Lucas seem to forget
that I now live here part time. “Is everyone decent?”

  “Stop being dramatic and get in here.” Someone mutters something that I can’t quite hear, and Lucas laughs. Stumbling into the room before more jokes can be made at my expense, I almost fall flat on my face when Dax’s smirk greets me. “Careful there, sis, remember to lift your feet.”

  Giving Lucas the finger, I plop myself between the guys and pull my legs underneath me. Absentmindedly, I start picking at the paint around my nails while staring at the TV. My thoughts flit between all of the things I need to get done before going home until they finally settle on Dax. He seems to fill my head frequently since he rescued me. We’ve shared just three classes and seen each other in passing a handful of times, yet he’s managed to suck me in. I hate this addiction I have to guys who are mysterious. Bad boys are my weakness and Dax makes any previous guy I’ve been attracted to look like a saint.

  Andie has mentioned that Dax has this magnetism about him, a draw that prevents you from being able to stay mad at him or hold him accountable for bad behavior. I can feel what she means. When he speaks, even if it’s just to me, the people around us listen. He is someone I want in my life. The type of person who would be a great friend, but I know I need to keep a careful check on my feelings. He would be easy for me to fall for, fast and hard.

  Zoning back in on the game and the guy’s pathetic smack talk, I feel my eyes grow heavy. I’m too lazy to get up and go to my room, so I wiggle into a comfortable position between them and close my eyes. I can sleep pretty much anywhere and the noise they are making lulls me into dreamland.

  My cell phone ringing startles me awake. I’m leaning on Dax’s shoulder; the scent of his cologne surrounds me. Bolting into an upright position, I fumble around for my phone.

  The sigh that escapes my lips as I see Joe’s name on the screen is unavoidable, as is the audible groan. Rubbing my temples, I answer the call before my voicemail picks up. “Hello.”

  “We need to finish our conversation from this morning.” His voice grinds on my nerves and the throbbing starts in my temple. What did I ever see in this man?

  “I’m pretty sure we did finish it.” My tone is cold and hard. It has taken years, but I’ve finally gotten to the point where he no longer can make me cry. The final straw was when Noah was in the hospital with pneumonia, and he didn’t even come visit. “You clearly expressed that you think I’m selfish and demanded time with Noah, in a very unreasonable manner, might I add.”

  “Ava . . .” He sounds frustrated, and I admit that it gives me the slightest bit of pleasure.

  “Joe . . .” Mimicking him, I roll my eyes as he sighs. I know I need to work with him, it’s in the best interest of Noah, but I’m not going to make this easy. He has a lot of catching up to do. “What do you want?”

  “I apologize for calling you selfish. It’s been pointed out to me that I have no right to say that, but I want you to cooperate and let me be more active in Noah’s life.” The sound of a woman’s voice comes over the speaker, and I barely choke back the laugh threatening to burst forth. Of course, a woman. This explains a lot.

  Standing, I pace into the kitchen and back out ignoring the two sets of eyes following me. “It was ironic.”

  “I was thinking when you’re in school Noah can stay with me.” His tone is calm, drastically different from this morning.

  Even though his request is outrageous, I respond in the same neutral tone. “No, absolutely not.”

  “Ava, don’t be unreasonable.”

  “I’m not. Joe, you have seen Noah less than once a month since he was born. He’s not spending three days a week with you. Besides, he’s in pre-school and doing well.” Breathing in deeply, I control my tone as much as possible, trying to keep it level and calm.

  “You’re right. What do you suggest?” Halting in my tracks, his tone surprises me. He sounds surprisingly sincere and vulnerable. What the fuck has changed in him over the past six months? Hell, from this morning.

  “Oh. Well, we need to build up visits. He doesn’t really know you. I have told you for almost five years I won’t keep him from you, but you need to deal with my terms.” Peeling paint off a nail, I wait for him to process what I’m saying before I continue. “Let’s start off with short visits, for which I will be present and see where it goes.”

  “Okay, Ava. I understand.” He sounds disappointed and I push back the irritation I feel at myself for feeling guilty about it.

  “This needs to be consistent. You can’t start being in his life and then disappear. It’s not fair to him.” Not that I need to justify my reasons since he gave up his custody rights. Reminding myself this is in Noah’s best interest, I try to be okay with this turn of events. In reality, it’s spun me off my axis, and I’m flailing trying to understand how he can go from yelling at me to trying to compromise with me in less than twelve hours.

  “Thank you, Ava.” Hanging up on the promise I will text him dates to meet, I’m baffled at the change. Staring at my phone, I walk to my room ignoring the questions from Lucas.

  Gently closing the door, I pull a fresh canvas from my closet and set it on my easel. I need to process that entire conversation and painting always helps me think clearly.

  Lucas stops the game and stands to stretch, glancing in the direction of Ava’s room. She’s been in there for forty-five minutes. I shouldn’t be keeping track, but I am. “Should she be alone right now?” I know enough of her history with Joe to recognize him wanting more access to Noah won’t be easy for her. That conversation seemed to go well compared to previous ones she has mentioned and the look on her face when she left the room wasn’t anger or sadness . . . It was bewilderment.

  “She’s in there coping. She doesn’t let him upset her as much anymore, unless he pisses her off. She wasn’t mad, though.” I want to tell him that I know she’s not mad, but I hold back. Instead, I nod and pick up my phone, rolling my eyes at a text message from Ivan. Deleting it without opening it, I get up and go to the kitchen needing something to do. Lucas looks up from his phone with a goofy grin. “I’m going to head out. Andie’s done with class, and we want to go for a hike.”

  Leaning against the counter, I wait until Lucas closes the door. It’s barely clicked before I’m moving down the hall to Ava’s room. Knocking, I wait but silence greets me. Quietly turning the knob, I peek my head in the door.

  Ava’s back faces me, her hips shaking as she dances to whatever music is playing in her earbuds. A paintbrush in hand, she swipes it across the colorful canvas her body is partially blocking. Laughing as she does a little shimmy and spin, my body shakes with laughter as she stumbles upon seeing me. The paintbrush goes flying as she yelps and in between gasps for air, I manage to catch it.

  “Well, that’s embarrassing.” Ava pulls her earbuds from her ears. “What are you doing in here?”

  Glancing around, I take in the simplicity of her room. She has some photos in frames on the dresser and a stack of blank canvases leaning against the wall. Aside from that, there are few personal touches to the room she calls home two nights a week. “I wanted to make sure you are okay.” Leaning against the doorframe, I take a moment to look her over. She doesn’t seem upset.

  “Surprisingly, yes. As far as conversations with Joe go, that one was pleasant.” She crosses the room and takes the paintbrush from me, rinsing it off in a cup of water she has on her nightstand. “I feel like I’m able to handle whatever Joe throws my way now. That wasn’t always the case, there just came a time when I realized I was the one allowing him to upset me. I can only hope that his cooperative manner continues. It might not, so I’m going to enjoy it while I can. Plus, I know it’s in Noah’s best interest to have a relationship with his father, so this is a good thing. Although, if I’m honest, the idea of him being more active in my life makes me uncomfortable.”

  She dips her paintbrush into a vibrant orange, pursing her lips as she turns back to the canvas resting on a paint-splattered easel. Glancin
g at the floor, I grin as I see paint on her bare feet. How does that happen?

  Stepping across the room, I peek over her shoulder, taking in the swirling colors that make up a beautiful sunset over water. Wow, I knew she was a good painter, but I had no idea she was this talented.

  The sound of her brush strokes is the only sound in the room so I grab a seat on the floor, listening as she works. It’s relaxing.

  “It is a good thing, right? I mean, Noah should have a chance to know his father. And he could have changed. I know we argue a lot, but maybe that’s my defense mechanism. People change, don’t they?” She doesn’t look at me and continues to swirl paint together.

  “People can change. Maybe he has finally grown up.” She nods and silence fills the room again. I keep telling myself that people can change because that’s what I’m trying to do, and I hope for her sake that Joe isn’t playing her.

  Ava glances at me over her shoulder, turning quickly back to her painting when she sees my smirk. It hasn’t taken long for me to realize that Ava can’t handle long silences. Whenever we are together, I will purposefully be quiet just to hear what she has to say.

  She changes brushes to one that looks like a fan; her lips are twitching with her urge to say something. Folding my hands, I hold my composure when she glances at me again, the hope in her eyes that I might be the one to break the stillness in the room. I wonder why she can’t handle long periods of quiet. It’s not that she needs to be the one talking, but whenever she is around anyone, she has this need to make sure there is conversation occurring.

  “Before I found out I was pregnant, I wanted to be a painter. Travel the world, selling my art in markets all over. Never worrying about how much money I had because I was doing what I loved.” She looks at the photo of Noah on her dresser and smiles. “Take classes in all of the great cities.”

  She looks so wistful. Whatever memories that are crossing her mind are obviously ones she’s spent a lot of time thinking about.