AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Looking at me, she nods slowly. “I’d like that, but…” She trails off as she leans her head to mine and lets out a long breath. “I’m just scared, Jace.”
“Don’t be. I won’t hurt you.” I know I can make that promise. If one thing is for sure, I will never hurt this girl. I can’t.
“You just don’t get it.”
“Then explain it to me.”
“I can’t.” She shakes her head. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Try me,” I suggest and she shrugs. “I mean, I may look dumb, but I’m pretty quick.”
But before she can say anything else, my phone rings.
It’s Lucy.
“Oh my God, can you stop making out with your girlfriend and come in and get your niece? My client is gonna be here in five.”
“Cockblock,” I say and hang up, looking over at Avery. “My sister is beckoning me, and if I don’t come, she’ll cut me.”
She smiles. “Okay. But, Jace, I don’t think you’re dumb. That’s not it. I’m just scared.”
She goes to get out, but I stop her, my fingers wrapping around her arm and pulling her to me. “Trust and believe, baby. Anything you say to me, I will listen. I may not understand it or get it, but I’ll listen and we can figure it out. Just give me the chance, you know? Let me in.” She doesn’t say anything for a second, her eyes searching mine, and soon, my breath catches. She bites into her bottom lip, and I watch as her eyes darken and then start watering up. Panic fills me quickly and I take my hands off her. “Oh fuck, why are you crying?”
Laughing, she shakes her head, reaching out to take my hand. “No! I’m not. You’re just… You’re just really great, Jace.”
Letting out a breath of relief, I still watch her, just in case. She’s blinking hard, and
I can tell she’s trying to fight back the tears. I have no clue what her fucked-up family and asshole ex did, but shit, a certain kind of rage is bubbling inside me. I don’t want this girl to hurt; I want her to be happy. With me, preferably. “Tears freak me out.”
She closes her eyes with a laugh before looking back at me. “I’m fine. Okay, well, kinda…but not really.”
“If you want to talk about it, I’ll risk getting shanked to listen.”
Giving me a watery smile, she shakes her head. “Maybe soon. But no, let’s go.”
I smile, leaning into her, kissing her nose. “Look at that, you’re communicating.”
She smacks my chest before kissing my lips and pulling back with a grin. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s go get your niece.”
Getting out of my car, I only make it around before I’m attacked by a little body. “Jace!”
Squeezing Angie hard, I give her a loud smacking kiss on the cheek as she hugs me tightly. “Hey, peanut butt!”
“I’m so excited I get to hang with you today. I got my hockey stuff!”
I grin. “Cool, I got mine too,” I say just as her gaze looks over to where Avery is standing awkwardly by the car. “Hey, Angie, this is my friend, Avery.”
“Ooh, both our names start with A’s!”
“They do!” Avery says animatedly before holding her hand out. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“You too,” Angie says sweetly as Lucy comes out with Angie’s bag in her hand.
Dropping it at my feet, she says, “I’ll be done in an hour.”
I shrug. “I might bring her back.” Leaning over, I kiss Lucy’s cheek. “Don’t wait up for us, though.”
“Okay, I’ll be here till five. But cool, thanks again.”
