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“You’ll pay for that later, Cove.”
I leaned into the window, looking deep into his eyes. “I can’t wait.”
For the next few hours, he treated me like a queen as we enjoyed each other’s company until we were at lunch.
Out of nowhere, I blurted, “Is this a date?”
He leaned back into his chair, cocking his head at me.
“It feels like a date.” I winked at him. “A very good one by the way.”
It was obvious he was fighting his emotions for what he thought was right or wrong between us. It didn’t matter what I said, but it was beginning to feel like a huge part of him just wanted to suffer.
To hurt.
As if he was punishing himself for something he couldn’t confess to me.
Jace was living in the past, and I had no clue how to pull him out of it or how to set him free from the things that tormented him. It was an endless battle, and I wasn’t winning in the least.
He was too guarded.
Too stubborn.
Too everything.
“I know what you’re thinking.” Setting down my fork, I continued, needing to get my point across. “I’ve been through a lot for only being nineteen. I know you’re twenty years older than me. You lived a whole lifetime before I was even born, but that doesn’t mean I can’t understand what you’ve been through. What you’re still going through. I’m sure you’ve seen and done things you’re not proud of, but we all have. That’s just life, like you keep reminding me life’s not fair. You can’t keep pushing people away or you’re going to end up alone, and I know deep down, you don’t want that.”
“Cove—”
“Do you have any idea how much your family loves you? You put yourself at risk with what you’re doing. What if something goes wrong and you don’t make it out alive? You really want to put them through that again?”
He didn’t say a word.
“You weren’t there to see what it was like for them to live without your mom. She was everything to everyone, and to lose someone so important to all of you destroyed your family for a long time. They don’t deserve you putting your life on the line because you’re on some crusade to prove something to yourself. When is it going to be enough for you? Don’t you want to live a normal life?”
“And what’s normal to you, Cove?”
“A family, a wife, maybe even kids?”
“With you?”
“It wouldn’t be the worst idea.”
“I’m sure Haven would love that.”
“As a matter of fact, she would. She’s always wanted me to date one of her brothers. It would make us a real family, and we’d be sisters. I can’t tell you how many times she’s brought this up, hoping it would happen. The night you carried me out of the bar, before we went out with you guys. She was talking about you and me, and I couldn’t believe she thought something could actually happen between us. It was like she felt it.”
“Jesus, bunny…” he breathed out. “You’re nineteen. You have your whole life ahead of you. You’re too young to even be considering these things with me or any other man.”
“That’s where you’re wrong. If it wasn’t for your family, I honestly don’t know where I’d be. I’ve raised myself. As you know, my parents give two fucks about me. All I’ve ever wanted was a family of my own. I can’t wait to start a life with someone.”
“What about college?”
“I’m going to college in the fall.” I shrugged. “But I’m a trust fund baby. Money has never been a factor in my decision-making. It’s the only thing my parents ever did for me. I like to think it’s because they’re trying to assuage their guilt for not being parents for me, but I’m great on my own.”
“You’re impulsive.”
“So are you. You’re this puzzle I’m desperately trying to put together.”
“And why is that?”
Was I really going to tell him?
This was the only thing left for me to say to him. I was going to put my heart on the line more than I already had. I silently prayed it’d be enough.
Taking a deep breath, I admitted for the first time out loud and to him, “It’s always been you, Jace. I’m falling in lov—”
“It’s called Stockholm Syndrome,” he carelessly interrupted.
“Oh yeah?” I argued. “Then how do you explain being my first crush when I was eight?”
Jace
Not many things in life shocked me. I’d seen and experienced it all.
But this…
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised by her confession.
She narrowed her sparkling eyes at me with a challenging demeanor. Although, her vulnerability didn’t stop me from taking in the glow of her smooth tan skin, the way her hair kept falling around her face, or even the rosy flush of her cheeks.
