Page 143

He looks at me side-eyed, and I smile as the corner of his mouth lifts teasingly.

"I wanted to see you," he admits, facing me, his shoulder resting next to mine.

"I wanted to see you too," I say.

He lifts his hand, raking his knuckles down my cheek before he takes my chin between his first two fingers and leans in to kiss me.

I savor it before pulling back. "I feel like a teenager again," I laugh softly. "Waiting for you to get out of class or finish practice. Missing you while you're… away." My words fade off as his first year of college replays in my mind.

Those hard few months in the beginning.

The harder ones toward the end.

Jace's jaw tightens, and just when I think I blew it already, he takes my face between his palms. "Lenny, you don't have to tip toe around our past." He brushes his thumb over my lips before shoving his hands back into his pockets. "I wouldn't be here if I was holding it against you."

"But you could." I swallow, leaning closer—holding my breath.

He lifts one shoulder. "I could. But I'm not."

My lips part, and in perfect timing, the elevator comes to a stop. I press them back together, standing there—holding his gaze—until the doors start to ding shut again. Then, I step off toward the cafeteria.

I look back in time to see Jace pulling his hat just a bit lower again before joining me—the reminder I need that things really are different now from how they used to be.

Then, he lifts his arm for me to slide mine under once again.

But also still the same.

"So… you said something about mashed potatoes?"

"So, how's your family been?" Jace asks, coming up for air for the first time since we sat down to eat. Apparently he really did rush here—no passing go, no eating dinner.

"Good." I smile as he finally drops his fork to take a sip of water. "All my siblings are married now. Sam and his wife Olive even have a little girl. She's adorable."

Jace swallows, his brows high. "Are they all still in Mage?"

"Sam and Bridget are. But Max is here actually—working for the Flames."

"Wait…" His hand pauses mid-scoop of another bite of fluffy buttery goodness, the little plastic cafeteria fork like a kid's toy in his oversized palm. "The equipment manager? That's your Max?"

I roll my eyes playfully. "Unfortunately."

"No shit. Small world."

Our eyes lock, and we both give a knowing smile.

"And your parents?" he asks, taking another bite.

"Still my parents." I push my own mound of potatoes around on my plate with my fork. "Dad's still Dad—Mr. Happy-Go-Lucky. And Mom, well…"

He stills briefly.

"She's good. Still very much Mabel. The, uh—" My eyes drop to my food. "The distance has definitely been nice."

Jace takes another well-timed sip from his Golden City General branded water bottle.

"How about you?" I add quickly. "How is everyone?"

He sets his drink down and leans back in his seat. "They're really good actually. You sort of know Vienna's story. Mom's loving being close—they moved here this past summer. And Tom is… well, Tom's Tom. But he's cool—a good dad to V. And he still tries like he always has with me."