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Teagan snorts. “Shit no. If Jace is screwing my sister, I get custody.”
Jace grunts, pale even in the shadows as he leans against the tree. He looks like all the wind has been knocked from his lungs. Both Teagan and Graham must hear it because their heads whip in our direction.
Panic claws up my spine as they take a step closer, peering into the shadows. Without thinking, I step away from the tree into the moonlight and they assess my emerging figure through narrowed eyes.
“Sorry,” I say, trying to sound upbeat as I saunter toward them and hook a thumb behind me. “I just went behind the tree since the cabin was locked. Walk me back up?”
CHAPTER 36
JACE
My thoughts are acancerous mass in my head as I walk to the Nichols’ house from my place. Originally, I planned on spending the night at home, and I still intend to go back, but not before I talk to Brynn first. So after Atlas and Mackenzie dropped me off, I waited twenty minutes to start for the Nichols’ residence, cursing myself for having one too many beers. If I could drive, and my truck wasn’t still at Crow’s Creek, I’d be there already.
Tonight did not go how I hoped, though in hindsight, I wonder how I thought this would go. Did I really think we’d be able to spend the break together, all while hiding what’s really going on between us?
I rake a hand through my hair as I finally come to her street. I’m losing my freaking mind, along with control of the situation, and the worst part is I have no idea how to rein it back in. After we almost got busted and Brynn saved my ass, I went back to the bonfire and kept my distance. Which meant both Millieand Penny took turns trying to garner my interest, and like the asshole I am, I went along with, allowing them to hang on me and laugh and flirt because I was scared to death anything else would arouse Teagan’s suspicions.
I can only hope Brynn gets it. Surely, she understands how much my friendship with Teagan—with all the guys—means to me. She heard it with her own ears. Teagan isn’t going to take our relationship in stride, and it’s going to force the guys to choose sides. Based on tonight, I know whose side they’re on.
And if this is how they feel, I can’t imagine how her parents will feel.
I can’t lose them. They’re like family, the only people who give two shits about me.
This is why we need to be extra cautious, maybe even spend more time apart over break than we originally anticipated. Only sneaking away when we’re absolutely sure we won’t get caught. Over time, I’ll make Teagan understand. Over time, he’ll see I’m a changed man, no longer bouncing from woman to woman. He’ll see I’ve settled down, that I’m ready for a commitment, something serious. And when I tell him about my feelings for Brynn, he won’t be as angry. Because he won’t be able to deny I’m better for it.
I still want Brynn in my life. Nothing has changed. My feelings for her are every bit as real and strong as they were before the party, so I hope she understands my suggestion to cool it just until we get back to school.
As I near her house, I can see the glow of lamplight through her window. I pull out my phone and shoot her a quick text.
JACE: Hey, you up? I was hoping we could talk. I didn’t get to say goodnight.
BRYNN: Sure, I’m here.
ME: Okay. Unlock your window, and I’ll come up.
I duck behind the old maple tree in their yard at the side of the house, then climb the thick limbs until I reach her window. It’s a bit of a leap, but luckily I’m tall, so the three-foot gap between the outstretched limb and her house is nothing and I jump onto the shingled roof.
Leaning down, I slide the window open and easily slip inside to find Brynn unpacking her suitcase and hanging clothes in her closet. I take the flurry of nervous energy flowing between us as a bad sign and wait until she spins around to assess her mood.
Her brow pinches as she clutches one of the sundresses I love so much in her hands and clears her throat. “I didn’t expect you to come here.”
I frown at this. Did she really think I would end the night without at least talking to her?
“I needed to see you,” I say by way of explanation, but when she says nothing in return, I sink my hands into my pockets and lean back against the wall. “Tonight didn’t go as planned.”
She turns back to the closet and begins to hang the sundress, her movements short and sharp as she says, “I’m surprised you didn’t go home with Millie.”
My stomach sinks. “You’re kidding, right?”
When she says nothing and reaches back into her suitcase for another garment, I close the distance and grab her hands. “Brynn, look at me.” She bites her lips before her violet eyes lift to mine. “You know the only reason I even talked to her or Penny was to get Teagan off our trail.”
She sighs and glances at the floor. “I guess . . . I don’t know. That, and the things the guys were saying . . . I guess they got in my head a little? Especially when you ignored me the rest of the night.”
I place my finger under her chin and lift her head. “It fucking killed me to stay away from you. Every second I’m apart from you is a waste. But we’ve had one too many close calls with Teagan and . . .” I exhale and shake my head. “Tonight, when we overheard him with Graham, it woke me the fuck up. If I ever had any doubt before about whether he’d accept us, I know he won’t now. At least not yet. And the prospect of losing him and pitting the rest of the guys against me is a hard pill to swallow. Throw in the rest of your family hating me and it’s not something I wanna think about.”
“But we have to tell him eventually, Jace. We can’t hide this forever.”
“I know. But with time—”
