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“Please don’t tell me that you’ve loved me since the moment you met me in Hal’s shop.”
“Okay.” He chuckles, and the low, comfortable sound evens out a million bumps in my soul. “I loved you since the moment you told me my song was a mess. How about that?”
“Fine. I’ll take that.” I laugh, in his arms, still a little unsteady but hopeful. Already I’m healing. My heart glows. I want to cry a lot more, but not from hurt.
“To be honest, though,” Jace continues, “I loved you since the moment you dove for that Venom you so carelessly chucked aside tonight. I saw you play, and I knew. You were the one for me.”
“You did?”
He nods. I can’t pinpoint the exact moment I fell in love with him. It just feels like he showed up and took over my life in the best kind of way.
“What now, though?” I ask. “What happens to us now?”
“Whatever you want.” He lowers his mouth to mine—
A wadded paper hits me in the side of my head. Startled, I push away from Jace and look around.
Dad frowns at us. “I was serious about the engagement ring.”
I laugh out loud and press my hand to my mouth, afraid I’d woken someone up, but no one complains. Even Dad slides his headphones on, closes his eyes, and checks out.
Jace exhales and adjusts the collar of his leather jacket.
“He’s kidding.” I snuggle against him, drained all of a sudden, falling asleep.
“I know.”
“So you won’t propose to me any time soon?”
“Not soon. No.”
“Good. We need to date some more. Test our mettle as collaborators and figure out for good if we can endure each other long term.”
“You’re right, of course.” He caresses my hair. “All very good reasons to take our time.”
“Besides, you’re not that in love with me, are you?” I tease him through a yawn, on my last drop of energy. As tired as I am, teasing is the safest thing I can do. I can’t think of anything serious, least of all getting married, when I can’t keep my eyes open.
“I’ll be as much in love with you as you want me to be.”
“I haven’t seen you for months. And I’m too young to get married anyway. Family, schedules, babies?” That last thought sobers me up, and I sit up again.
Jace grins. “You’re rambling. It’s almost as if you’re trying to talk yourself out of liking the idea of being with me forever.”
“What? That’s not it at all.” I poke him in the shoulder. “You feel bulkier. Have you been working out more or something?”
“Changing the topic.” He leans closer until our noses are touching. “What will you do if I propose to you?”
My heart climbs up my throat. “I’ll say no.”
Jace huffs, doubting me. “Really?”
“I’ll say no,” I repeat with more insistence.
“Hm.” Jace struggles to contain a smile. “Okay then.” He doesn’t believe me.
“I will definitely say no,” I mutter to myself and turn to the window. “Just because Dad told you to marry me.”
The tension I remember so well from my earlier days with him slithers in between us, but Jace wraps an arm around my shoulder and coaxes me to snuggle against him once more. Jace’s breathing evens out and deepens. His arm around me relaxes. I try to sleep, but how can I now? The truth is I lied. I would’ve said yes. He acted like he figured out as much. I hope he’ll ask me again.
