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The doors open and he guides me into the lobby and onto the street.
“Do you want to take the truck?” he asks.
I breathe out and smile when my breath fogs the air. “No.” I shake my head. “Let’s walk. It’s not that far and the night is beautiful.”
Even though it’s not that late it’s already been dark for a few hours. The stars shimmer above us with a few clouds floating along. If I squint I can just make out the shape of the mountains in the distance in between the tall buildings.
Jace nods, shoving his hands in his coat pockets.
“What’s your favorite time of year?” I ask him. “Favorite season, I mean.”
He shrugs and a wrinkle creases his brow as if it’s a question he really has to think about his answer to. “Now—fall. I like the colors of the leaves and the cold air. What about you?”
“Same,” I tell him honestly. “There’s something magical about fall. The leaves are dying, but they’re beautiful in their demise. I want to be like that.”
“Beautiful when you die?” He chuckles.
I shake my head with a wistful smile. “No, I want to be graceful even when everything is falling apart. I want to be strong enough to not crumble when things get rough.”
I startle when I feel his pinky loop through mine. I glance down at our joined fingers and then to his eyes. It’s not hand holding, but it’s something.
“Why do I have a feeling that’s already true about you?”
I look away, emotion clogging my chest. There’s so much about myself I haven’t shared with Jace—or any of my friends. I’ve tried so hard to bury that girl I was, but the fact is she’s right here. She’s me. No matter how many times I deny that, pretend I’m a whole new person now, it’s not true.
“You have no idea how truly extraordinary you are,” he murmurs.
When I lift my gaze to his, I find him looking at me tenderly. That look makes my stomach dip with happiness.
We stop at a crosswalk, waiting for our turn to go, and he gently brushes his fingers over my cheek. I shiver and he smiles.
He continues with, “I see you. I always have.”
I think I stop breathing. In fact, I know I do because little spots begin to dance behind my eyes.
Before I can respond it’s our turn to walk and we cross the street.
I see you. I always have.
I know he’s telling the truth, because I can say the same for him.
There are some people who you just click with. It’s almost like déjà vu. You feel like you know them even if you’ve never met them before.
We finally reach W.T.F. and he opens the door, letting me in first.
The place is packed and we push our way through to the bar.
I spot an empty barstool and snag it while Jace heads over to the stage area and says something to the person in charge, letting them know he wants to sing.
The person nods and writes something on their clipboard before Jace makes his way over to me. There’s not a free stool anywhere, so he stands behind me.
“Matilda isn’t working,” he whispers in my ear, as if he’s worried that I’m worried about her. I hadn’t thought about her once, but I do know she has a pissy attitude when it comes to Jace. I used to think it was because they had sex, but I asked him once and he was insistent that they never slept together but she’s mad because she wants to and he turned her down. “Do you want a drink?” he asks.
“Yeah.” I nod.
He leans around me, onto the bar, and motions for the bartender.
“Hey, Lance,” he greets the bartender. “The usual for us.”
