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This job, guarding her like this, is my ticket to freedom. But in doing so, I’m taking away hers. I’m essentially trading her freedom for mine.
Guilt slices through me.
“Yeah,” I reply, the word coming out a bit more strained than I would’ve preferred. “I do.”
But I still can’t quit. I need to make it to the end of the semester so that I will be able to choose my own future. And even if I were to quit, Mr. Ashford would just hire someone else, so it still wouldn’t make a difference in Kayla’s life.
So quitting is out of the question. But there is something I can do.
“I’m sorry,” I say.
She blinks in surprise. “For what?”
“For being a jerk. For deliberately staying closer than I actually have to in order to ensure your safety. I’m very good at what I do. I don’t need to be standing right on top of you to protect you.” I nudge her leg with mine and give her a small smile. “Look, I can’t quit. Your dad will just hire someone else. But I promise that I will give you more space from now on.”
Her eyes light up like glittering starlight.
The sight is so beautiful that my heart almost stops.
“Really?” she says, sounding both hopeful and a little guarded. As if she’s afraid that I will take it back.
I nod. “Really.”
She smiles as brightly as the moon.
A mischievous smile spreads across my own lips as I hold up a finger in the air and add, “If…”
She nods, ready to agree to whatever demand I’m about to present. “Anything.”
“If you promise to never break pasta like this again.” With a glint in my eyes, I shake my head at her. “It’s an absolute sacrilege.”
She laughs. A real genuine laugh that ripples through the air like silver bells.
And the sound of it makes my heart stutter.
29
KAYLA
My entire soul feels light. Like it’s sparkling with energy. After our talk last night, Jace really did keep his word. During all of my classes today, he stayed at a distance, watching over me but not crowding me.
I know that he’s there, of course. But now I only see him if I look for him. It’s honestly pretty astounding how someone as big as him can make himself practically invisible if he wants to. And he really does try to make himself invisible. The only time he broke cover and appeared at my side was when Lionel tried to persuade me to take a walk with him, just the two of us, during lunch. Within seconds of Lionel putting a hand on my arm, Jace was there, looming over him like a god of death.
It startled Lionel so much that he actually jumped. He left quickly after that, glaring daggers at Jace. I had rolled my eyes at Jace then, but in all honesty, I didn’t really mind.
In truth, I also find Lionel a bit annoying at times. I know that he likes me and that he’s trying to flirt with me, but I’m not really interested. Actually, I’m not at all interested. Especially since my thoughts have started drifting more and more to the man who challenges me and sees me and understands me and helps me in ways that no one else has.
While still continuing down the street, I instinctively glance over my shoulder, looking for him. For Jace.
He appears immediately. He always does that, as if he can tell when I’m searching for him and he wants to check if I need help. Since I don’t, I just give him a small smile. The answering one on his own mouth makes my pulse flutter.
Turning back to the busy street ahead, I continue towards the address that Jenn sent me yesterday. It’s down by the river, which is not my favorite place to be, but since I left the library so abruptly yesterday, I figured I could at least come and see the building she has found for our venue.
I glance down at my phone occasionally to make sure that I’m heading in the right direction.
Thick clouds cover the heavens and gray light filters down, painting the city in unusually bleak hues. The weather has started to cool a little now. It’s not particularly cold, but I still went home after afternoon classes to grab a light jacket. I’m not sure how long Jenn has planned for us to be here, but with the clouds, the wind, the closeness to the river, and the setting sun, it might be a chilly evening.
When I reach the correct address, I find Aurora, Jenn, and Lionel already there and waiting for me. Aurora gives me a cheery wave and the other two smile as I close the final distance. While I walk, I study the buildings that run alongside the river. They look like residential houses.
