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I wave my hand in a reassuring gesture. “Of course not. I’ll take you to him.”
Jelly throws excited looks to Tristan and Link. She’s so vibrant and full of joy, it’s impossible to not smile. So I do and lead the way. My heartdoesn’tyell at me to snatch Jace, shove him into some dark, secluded corner, and demand confessions. I can’t be weak with him. My brilliant plan never included what I’ll do if he rejects me.
Am I that desperate?
No, I’m not.
I’m not even glancing at him every five seconds as we travel through the maze of the venue hallways.
Be quiet, my soul. We don’t need Jace. We don’t need a whole heart to keep living.
Track 39
How About I Make You Mine?
Laurel
Jelly chats me up as we navigate the hallways. She bubbles about how excited she is that I allowed ACD to add the song Jace and I worked on together to their repertoire.
“I’m glad at least you like it.” I knock on my father’s dressing room door.
“Come in.”
I open the door and announce, “Visitors,” then wave ACD in.
Jace pauses beside me after his friends file in. “I like our song too.”
“Good.” I finish off my protein shake and set the empty tumbler on a shelf by the door. That feeling of everyone else’s eyes on me snaps like a rubber band against my neck. I face the people in the room, give them my brightest smile, and swing the door shut, keeping Jace with me.
Before I take another breath, his hand crushes mine, and Jace takes off down the hallway, reeling me along. Electricity surges up my arm. My whole world reduces itself to his warm, desperate grip on my hand. We take a turn and pass by a door marked with a sign that readsRoof Access, Staff Only. I dig my heels into the floor and pivot toward it, dragging Jace after me now. I push the locking mechanism bar, worried it’ll be locked, but the bar clicks and the door glides open. Without a word Jace keeps following me. We run up the stairs, where another door stands unlocked. I push it open and race ahead. If I stop, I’ll have time to think. To change my mind and retreat.
My feet slip on the icy roof. Jace steadies me by tugging on my hand and brings me back to him, into his arms.
The night is brisk. Snowflakes dance in the inky sky and land on my hot cheeks. The edges of the roof shine with blue thanks to the neon signs mounted on walls below. The whole scene is too romantic, too fitting for what I’m hoping through the deepest of soul aches will happen. I cling to Jace. My heart plays that franticthud, thud, thudpattern it tends to have when he’s around, and I squeeze him harder. I’m sure I’m hurting him, but I’ve missed him too much to loosen my grip.
“How are you doing?” I ask.
Seriously? I was determined to rip his heart out for crushing mine, and that’s what I say first?
“Do you really want to know?” His embrace doesn’t lighten up one bit.
“Of course.” I face him. “I wouldn’t ask if I didn’t.”
Friendly tone, looking him straight in the eye—I’m still the queen of breakups.
Jace gives me a pained look. “Laurel—”
“Tell me.” Have you realized what a dumb decision it was to end us?
“Well.” Frowning, he takes a deep breath. “Since the last time we saw each other, I had a massive falling out with Juliette, got my contract with Venom Guitars revoked, bloodied Shane’s nose, and attended a birth.”
That last item on his list makes me snort a laugh. I can’t imagine him with a baby. “You attended a birth? Whose?”
“Jacelynn Rosemary Davenport.”
“The last name doesn’t ring a bell.”
“It’s Juliette’s maiden name.”
