Breaking Rules part 4
lots of angst in this one and physical fighting. enjoy!
It’s been 3 days since I’ve talked to Vinnie or left the house. Preston has been here the entire time. His grandma’s funeral is tomorrow and Jorge is on vacation. So that just leaves Vinnie to be able to escort me.
I pick up the phone to call him.
“Hello?” He answers, his voice sounds raspy.
“Did I wake you?” I ask.
“Yeah, but it’s cool. You need me?”
“Yeah. Preston’s grandma’s funeral is tomorrow.”
“Okay. What time?”
“10am.”
“You driving yourself or taking a driver?”
“I was going to take a driver. It’s a little over an hour away in Santa Barbra.”
“I’ll be there bright and early,” he says.
“Okay,” I say.
There’s silence for a moment.
“Vinnie?” I say softly.
“I’m here.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” he says.
I look behind me to see if Preston is near by then step outside on the balcony, closing the door behind me. “Are you upset about what happened?”
“What do you mean?”
“Like… are you upset about it? Any of it? I feel bad. None of it should have happened.” I say quietly.
He sighs. “I don’t regret it. Never will. Do you? You sound like you do.”
“It’s - it’s not regret. I just feel like it shouldn’t have happened.”
“Why? So you can get back with your boyfriend without feeling guilty?” He says harshly.
My heart sinks. “No, I just... I don’t know.”
“Listen, we’re grown adults. I’ll act dumb as a box of rocks if you want me to. I promise I won’t say a word to him about it.”
“That’s not what I meant, Vin.”
“Are you getting back with him?”
I think for a moment before answering. “I don’t know yet.”
He’s silent for a moment. “Well, whatever. You make your own choices. I’m gonna try and get more sleep, I was up all night. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He hangs up before I can say anything else.
I sigh. I don’t understand why he’s acting this way.
—
The next morning I wake up early and get ready, putting on a modest black dress, my favorite red bottom heels, natural makeup, and my put my hair into a nice bun.
I walk through the dining room and see Preston sitting at the table, looking out the window.
“Hey, are you ready?” I ask.
“Yeah, I guess,” he says standing.
“You look nice,” I walk over and straighten his jacket out a little and fix his crooked tie.
“Thank you,” he says and kisses my forehead.
The driver pulls up and we start to head outside. Vinnie pulls in shortly after.
He pulls up to where we are and rolls his window down.
“Hey, you riding with us? It’ll be easier since it’s a bit of a drive,” Preston says.
I tense up at the thought of having both of them in the car together for over an hour.
“No, I was gonna drive myself and follow behind,” Vinnie says.
I exhale a small sigh of relief.
“Don’t be silly! That’s a waste of your gas and time, just ride with us,” Preston says.
I get irritated but act cool.
“We don’t mind, do we honey?” Preston looks at me.
I give him my best fake smile. I haven’t told him Vinnie and I slept together and I don’t plan to. If I say Vinnie should ride alone, he’ll know something is up.
“Yeah, that’s fine,” I say.
Vinnie looks at me for a moment, with a small smile on his face. I know he’s putting 2 and 2 together that I haven’t said a word to Preston about what happened.
“Alright!” Vinnie says unusually loud. “Let’s go then.” He parks and walks over to us.
Preston goes on the other side of the car and Vinnie comes to where I’m standing. I can’t help but notice he looks nice. A black button up long sleeve shirt with black dress pants and black shoes. His shirt is tucked in.
God, black looks good on him.
My mind starts to wander briefly but I catch myself.
On the way to a funeral is not the time, y/n.
“You didn’t have to ride with us if you didn’t want to,” I say quietly to him.
“Oh it’s no big deal to me…” he says, smiling. “…honey,” he whispers in my ear opening the car door.
I shoot him a subtle harsh glance and then climb in. Vinnie gets in behind and shuts the door.
He leans back and puts his arm over the back of the seat behind me and spreads his legs apart so that his is touching mine. I know he’s doing it on purpose.
After a while of sitting in silence, Preston looks over at Vinnie.
“How you been, Vin?” He laughs. I know the goofball is laughing because he rhymed that.
Vinnie looks at him unamused. “Uhm. I’ve been good, I guess. How you been?”
“I was rough there for a while. Better now that I’ve been spending time with y/n again,” he smiles and nudges my arm. I smile up at him to be friendly, but I’m uncomfortable. “Although I expect today to be difficult, for obvious reasons.”
“Yeah. I was so sorry to hear about your grandma. I met her once, she seemed very kind,” Vinnie says.
“Thanks. It wasn’t a total surprise but it still sucks. She lived a long and happy life, though.”
Vinnie smiles and nods his head. “That’s what matters, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, that’s right,” Preston says. “Oh, did you have fun in New York?” He asks.
My heart skips a beat and I look down.
“Oh yeah I did! Tons of fun,” Vinnie laughs.
“What’d you do?”
“Tons of stuff. Went to the Museum of Natural History, took a few laps around Central Park.”
“Was the hotel nice?” Preston asks.
I look over at Vinnie. He briefly glances at me with a subtle smirk then looks back at Preston.
“Oh very nice. Beautiful views, they had this amazing grand staircase,” he smiles. “The beds were real comfortable.”
“Oh yeah, they are. Perfect for sleeping and… you know,” Preston smirks at him. “If you know what I mean.”
“Oh yeah, great for that too,” Vinnie laughs. “Or I imagine they would be.”
I’m gonna fucking kill both of them.
“Can we uh,” I clear my throat. “Can we not.. talk about hotel sex on the way to your granny’s funeral?” I look at Preston with an irritated smile.
“Sorry,” he widens his eyes like he’s offended. “Just making conversation,” he turns to look out of the window.
I sigh quietly and shift in my seat and move my legs from Vinnie, over toward Preston.
“How much longer?” I lean forward a bit to ask the driver.
He looks at the GPS. “About 40 minutes.”
I sit back again. “Wonderful.”
—
Once we arrive to the chapel, we walk inside and greet everyone. Vinnie waits in the back of the grand room.
Once the service starts, it’s a usual funeral scene. I’m crying, Preston is crying. Half of the room is crying.
Once it’s over, people stand and start chatting. The plan is to head to Preston’s parents house for the repast.
I make my rounds, greeting everyone and giving my condolences. Soon, the place starts clearing out.
I walk to Vinnie.
“Hey, have you seen Preston?” I ask.
“Um, last I saw he went in that direction,” he said pointing to the back hallway.
“Thank you.”
“Mhmm,” he nods.
I walk back there and peak into a few of the rooms. I can’t find him anywhere.
I walk to the bathroom at the end of the hall, and knock. It’s silent so I try to open the door, but it’s locked.
I knock again and put my ear up to it. I hear laughing and whispering on the other side. And suddenly my heart sinks. I have a feeling it’s Preston and some girl.
I knock again, but louder.
“Someone’s in here!” I hear a female voice.
“Open the door, please,” I say.
“What? No, I’m using the bathroom.”
“Alright, I’ll wait.”
Silence. I know the asshole is in there. After 5 minutes, I knock again.
“You doing okay?” I ask.
“Yeah,” she says again. “There’s another bathroom down the hall.”
“I’d like to use this one,” I say. “I’m not leaving until I do.”
Silence again and another 5 minutes pass. Vinnie comes around the corner and gives me a confused look.
“What are you doing? Everyone’s pretty much gone now. Where’s Preston?” He asks.
I nod my head toward the door trying to hold back tears. “I’m 99% sure he’s in there with some woman.”
He brows come together and he looks angry. He walks over and practically beats on the door.
“Preston, the gig is up you idiot. Come out now,” he says loudly.
Nothing but silence again.
Vinnie laughs a little. “You’re literally not getting out of this one. You’re caught. Come out, y/n is waiting.”
Finally the door opens slowly and Preston and a woman are standing in the doorway.
“Are you serious?” I ask him, trying my hardest not to cry.
“She spilled a drink on her shirt and I was just helping her clean it off,” he says innocently. Her shirt is wet.
“Why the hell wouldn’t you talk to me then?”
“Cause I knew you’d freak out with me being in the room with another woman since you apparently don’t trust me anymore,” he scoffs.
I sigh. I want to believe him. I mean her shirt is wet. I don’t know.
“Okay…” I say. “Well come on I guess. Everyone has already left to go to your parents.”
Vinnie looks at me in disbelief but I ignore him.
Preston comes out of the bathroom and we begin to walk down the hallway. Suddenly Vinnie pulls him back and pushes him against the wall.
“Vin!” I say, looking at him angrily.
“Why’s there lipstick on your neck?” He asks Preston, almost nose to nose, grabbing his shirt collar and pulling it down.
I come around to look and sure enough, there’s a red lipstick smear right on his neck.
I look over at the woman and she’s got on red lipstick.
In this moment I feel a mix of relief and anger. Relief because I don’t think I want to be with Preston and this is my ticket out. Anger because I was truly ready to trust the asshole a second time. How could he betray my trust again and make me look so stupid?
Preston gets angry and pushes Vinnie back. “Don’t fucking touch me!”
Vinnie laughs and puts his hands up as if to surrender. “You’re caught. Again.”
Preston shakes his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I sigh, and tears fall from my eyes. “Explain it,” I say.
Preston looks at me for a moment and then shrugs. “She hugged me earlier, it must have gotten on me.”
I look over at the woman and she’s looking down. “Is that true?” I ask.
She just nods, still looking down. She looks guilty.
I feel a rush of anger. They’re not gonna make me look fucking stupid.
I walk toward the woman, practically pushing her against the wall. “Don’t fucking lie to me, bitch.”
She looks at me like she’s scared then looks at Preston. I grab her face and point it back toward me. “Don’t look at him. Did you fuck him?”
She just stares at me.
“I’m gonna ask nicely one more fucking time. And then I’m gonna get physical with you. Did you fuck him?” I say as calmly as I can.
She nods yes.
I step back and look at Preston. He’s standing there, angry. I laugh and shake my head.
“At your grandma’s funeral? Really?” I say.
“Y/n, she’s lying,” he says, getting upset. “She’s fucking lying.”
The woman scoffs and starts crying. “No I’m not! And this isn’t the first time, we’ve been together for weeks now! He keeps telling me he loves me and that you’re acting crazy and won’t let him leave!”
“Jesus Preston. You’re actually a piece of shit,” I laugh in disbelief. “We’re done. Way done. I don’t ever want to see or speak to you again. Whatever of yours is left at my house, I’ll mail it to you. Your number is getting blocked.”
I turn to walk away and he grabs my arm, pulling me back. “You’re not leaving me like this! Not today, not at my grandma’s funeral!”
I try to pull my arm back but he won’t let me. “Let me go, Preston.”
He starts to cry. “No! Please don’t leave me, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry, y/n. I don’t know why I am the way I am but I can change. I need your help, I’m gonna die without you!”
“Let me go, Preston,” I say again, calmly.
Anger fills his eyes. “No.” He starts to drag me forward.
“Preston, stop! You’re hurting my arm, let me go!” I keep trying to yank my arm back.
“No!” He turns and yells at me and pushes me hard against the wall pinning me there. “You’re not leaving!”
Vinnie walks over and wraps his arm around Preston’s neck in a chokehold and pulls him away from me.
“She’s fucking leaving,” he says to Preston, calmly.
Preston pushes back and pulls away from Vinnie, looking at him with rage filled eyes.
He brings his hand back and punches Vinnie in the face.
“Preston!” I yell.
Vinnie holds his jaw for a second then let’s out an angry laugh. “I’ve been waiting on this opportunity.”
He grabs Preston by his shirt collar and pushes him hard against the wall, punching him.
Preston looks like he’s stunned but quickly comes back around and swings at Vinnie again.
“Stop it guys! Stop!” I beg.
They end up on the floor, rolling back and forth landing punches to each other trying to pin each other down. Vinnie mostly stays on top and is definitely winning.
One of the funeral directors hears the ruckus and comes around the corner.
“Hey, hey, hey!” He walks over to try to break them apart.
Vinnie practically has Preston pinned.
“You’re gonna leave her alone, do you understand me?” He yells, pressing Preston’s neck against the floor. “You come to her house or even fucking text her I will literally fucking kill you, you grimy fucking asshole. Do you understand?”
Preston is having trouble breathing at this point, trying to push Vinnie off of him.
“Vinnie stop!” I beg again.
“Answer me, you prick!” He yells.
Preston nods his head and Vinnie finally gets off of him. He lands one last open hand slap across Preston’s face before standing up.
Preston says on the floor rolling around in pain and the funeral director is standing back in shock, just staring at us.
I look at Vinnie. He stares at me trying to catch his breath. His hair is a mess and his lip is bleeding.
I suddenly feel a massive amount of affection for him. And I feel turned on.
Without saying a word, I grab his hand and walk out of the building.