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“He gave me a ride home and then we hung out.”
“You hung out with Ace Jagger?”
“Yeah.” I shrug. “Is it that hard to believe?”
“Well, I guess not. But he’s so... and you’re so...”
“Nice, Hads.” My lips mash together as I pick at the bag of chips in my lap.
“Oh, come on.” She nudges my shoulder. “You know I don’t mean it the way it sounds. But I’ve heard the rumors. He’s bad news, Remi.”
I can’t disagree with her there, but a person isn’t always defined by the choices they make. Sometimes life molds you into who you become.
I should know.
“I didn’t see anyone else chasing after me yesterday to make sure I was okay.”
Guilt creeps into her expression. “I’m sorry. But you know I can’t—“
“Yeah, I know.” Hadley has her own secrets, and she needs to keep her place on the team, which means keeping the peace with Michaela.
“I’m sorry she did that to you.”
“It’s nothing new. I constantly try to rise above it, but one day, she’s going to push me too far...”
“Just don’t do anything stupid, okay?” She cuts me with a concerned look. “Michaela is next-level crazy.”
Don’t I know it.
“So you and Ace, is it a friend thing or is there something there? Because I’ve got to admit, the guy kinda terrifies me.”
“He’s really annoying,” I say. “And so bossy. But he gets me, I think. It’s all very confusing.” I avert my gaze, remembering what it was like when Ace touched me yesterday. How he gave me exactly what I didn’t know I needed. A slow tingle starts in my belly.
“You like him, don’t you?”
Reluctantly, I lift my eyes to hers and smile weakly. “Yeah, I think I do.”
Chapter Thirteen
Ace
My head pounds like a fucking bass drum when I climb the steps to James’ house the next morning. I probably shouldn’t have done it, but the second Remi and Sarah left last night, I wasn’t far behind them.
He was three words into his ‘rip Ace a new one’ speech when I turned and walked away. I don’t need him laying down the law. I’m an adult, for fuck’s sake. I don’t need to fucking be here. I can make my own choices in life.
I jumped on my bike and headed straight back to the Heights. Thankfully, Cruz was still at Sinners and took me up on my offer of getting shit-faced. I ended up spending the night with him, drinking scotch and smoking. It was exactly what I needed. Actually, no, that’s not true. What I really needed was to be balls deep in Remi, but I didn’t think climbing the trellis to her room was a particularly good idea. Sarah already looked on the edge of losing her shit when they left; I didn’t want to make it worse for Remi than I already had.
She took the fall for me.
I was not fucking expecting that. Not that I really think it matters what she says to James, because to him everything will be my fault. That’s just the way he sees me.
“Ace Jagger, get your ass in the kitchen right this fucking second.” His voice is murderous. I don’t need to look at his face to know it’s bright red and that his eyes are bulging, ready to burst.
Rolling my eyes, I stagger towards him, more than ready to have it out with him. This fight has been brewing. I’m actually looking forward to it.
“Uncle,” I slur when I get to him. “How wonderful to see you.”
His eyes are murderous, but his anger has little effect on me. If he wants to scare me then he’s going to need to do a little more than give me a look. At least do it while holding a gun for half a chance.
