Breaking All the Rules Read online

  I felt Johnny squeeze my waist. It was his silent way of thanking me.

  The officer nodded, “I see. Well, just so you know, if Mr. Brantner decides to file official charges, I will have to ask you both some more questions.”

  I nodded politely, “Of course. We’d be happy to cooperate. Would you mind holding on for just one second?”

  I walked to my purse and dug out a business card to give to the officer. He looked at it and seemed to recognize the authority I had on troubled people. He tucked the card in his pocket and told me that he would be in touch.

  Just a few seconds later, Scott banged on the door. I wasn’t entirely surprised, but Johnny looked at me. He licked his lips, swept me off my feet to scoop me up in to his arms, and carried me to the bedroom. I giggled, making sure it was loud enough for Scott to hear. It wasn’t long after that I heard Scott’s apartment door slam shut.

  Johnny leaned over me on the bed and stared at me for a long while. Then he leaned down and buried his face in my neck, playfully biting me.

  “You’re such a deviant,” he laughed before biting me again, “my little, lying deviant.”

  I couldn’t help but giggle.

  For the first time in my life, it felt good to be breaking the rules.

  Epilogue

  Jenny

  I stood in a long white dress. It was fitted to my small, slender body and adorned with lace. It was my wedding day and I was looking as beautiful as ever. I had a glass of champagne in my hand and wore a huge smile on my face. I didn’t think I’d ever smile like that in my life. I waited for my husband to join me, so we could make a toast. As if on cue, Johnny walked over to me wearing a tailored tux and looking more handsome than he ever had before. He wrapped his arm around my waist and gently kissed my cheek. I closed my eyes, but my smile didn’t fade for even a second.

  “I love you, Mrs. Santos,” he whispered sweetly in my ear.

  It was rare for him to show his soft side like this, but when he did, I absolutely loved it. I loved every side of him.

  “I love you too,” I told him, “So much.”

  We gave each other a swift kiss and clinked our champagne glasses together before taking a sip, toasting to our happy new life together. We looked around at the guests in attendance. It was an interesting sight to behold. They made for a strange and uneven mix of people. There were a few reformed criminals who had come to support Johnny. They were people he’d met over the years. They weren’t dangerous. They were actually kind and had been the closest thing to family he had. But standing near my straight-laced Asian family members they looked a lot rougher than they actually were.

  Johnny turned to see me looking over the guests. That was when he noticed the sadness in my eyes.

  He leaned in, “You have no idea how sorry I am that your parents aren’t here today.”

  I let out a small sigh before turning to look at him and smiling softly. I kissed him on the cheek and placed my hand on his chest, setting my champagne down.

  “That was their choice and it’s one they will have to live with,” I said.

  “No, it isn’t,” a familiar voice came from behind me.

  I whirled around to see both of my parents standing behind us. They were smiling. I couldn’t believe my eyes.

  “I can’t believe you’re here,” the tears started to well up in my eyes.

  “Once we realized how serious you were about this, we swallowed our pride,” my mother said.

  “As much as we don’t like this decision, you’re our only daughter,” my father told me.

  “We couldn’t miss our only daughter’s wedding.”

  I hugged them and cried. I couldn’t believe they had actually taken such a huge step forward. It was something I would have never imagined, but there they were, supporting me no matter how hard it was for them. Now my life felt truly complete. My dad shook Johnny’s hand and my mom gave him an awkward hug.

  I laughed; it was something.

  I slid my hand behind Johnny’s head, “I will always be happy with the choice I made.”

  I kissed him deeply and, for the first time in my life, I felt whole.

  And so did Johnny.

  The End

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