Page 193 of The Fire We Make

Joy’s jaw clenched and suddenly, she was a 13 year old girl again, being reprimanded for showing weakness and praised for being ruthless.

“I’ll call you,” Joy mumbled. It wasn’t a yes or no but unfortunately, they both knew what her answer would be. Byron was dangling what she’d wanted for the past year and a half right in her face.

Her home.

Her power.

Her family.

Joy watched her father turn his back on her with one final hard look before heading back to the conference room. She saw her father out with another promise to call him and a scathing glare at Jermaine. She and Ace went about the rest of their day as usual, ending it with dinner at the Sapphire Lounge.

Their evening was spent mostly in silence with Joy’s mind occupied by thoughts of her father and Ace no doubt picking up on it.

Thankfully, he didn't pry. He simply let Joy process the visit on her own, waiting until she was ready to speak about it. Joy was a mess of indecision. On one hand, the thing that she'd been wishing and waiting for was being offered up to her.

The Joy of six months ago would have jumped at the opportunity with no questions asked. Now though, she wasn't so sure.

She liked New York. She liked being near Melody, and most of all she loved Ace. Returning to Houston would mean giving up all of that —giving him up, and Joy wasn't sure if she wanted to do that.

Chapter Forty-Three

Joy stood silently in the mirror, eyeing herself as she worked to clasp her necklace around her throat. Ace appeared in the doorway of the bathroom, already fully dressed for family dinner.

“Let me help you with that,” he said as he slid behind her. Joy dropped her hands, letting him take hold of the clasp.

“You aight?” he asked once finished, situating the rose pendant to fall perfectly in the valley of her breasts.

Joy nodded, avoiding his eyes as she picked up an earring from the jewelry dish on the counter.

“I’m fine,” she said. She felt Ace’s arms wrap around her and his heavy stare pin her in place through the mirror. He placed a kiss on her bare shoulder before speaking directly into her ear.

“What did he want?”

Joy sighed under the weight of the elephant they’d been tip toeing around for two days.

Ace had watched her retreat into herself but he didn't push her for answers.

Joy didn't speak, instead picking up her rings from the dish in front of her. He gently took the rings from her, then spun her to face him.

“What did he say to you, Rose?” he asked again, searching her eyes.

Joy blinked up at him. “He wants me to come home…” she trailed off, her eyes wandering to the bathtub before rolling back to Ace’s awaiting eyes.

She saw his adam’s apple bob in his throat with a thick swallow before he replied.

“And what was your answer?”

“I didn’t give one.”

Ace nodded slowly.

“This is what I wanted,” she said.

Ace nodded again. “I know.”

“But I also want this,” she whispered, her eyes pleading for him to understand.

“I know, baby.”