Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Jace
“How would next Thursday afternoon work for you?” I look up from my tablet and see Melissa scrolling through her phone, biting her lip, deep in thought.
“I have to take Logan to Karate practice at five. Do you think that gives us enough time?”
Her piercing blue eyes connect with mine and she offers me a sweet smile.
A year ago I would have been playing this out and seeing how far I could take it, but my head isn’t in the game. It hasn’t been fully in the game since Aurora gave me the first kiss. But it is even worse since I left her apartment knowing that I’ve driven her too far away this time.
But it shouldn’t surprise me; it’s what I do, what I’m good at.
“All we have to finish up is a little shading and back filling on the lower half.” She nods and starts tapping away on her phone.
“Two work?”
“That works for me,” she agrees and we add the appointment to our schedules.
Ten minutes later I am offering her a wave as she exits out onto the sidewalk and then disappears into the night.
It’s been four days since my conversation with Aurora. A conversation that left me feeling lost and confused. I don’t know where she and I stand, but where that night ended sure felt like an end.
Making my way back down the hallway toward my room I pause just outside of Luna’s room when I hear hushed voices. Things are still a little strange, ever since Zac and I had our falling out. Things are better now, but definitely not where they once were. It’s almost like everyone is watching and waiting for the next bomb to explode.
Leaning against the wall I place my ear closer to the partially opened door and listen.
“I’ve tried to convince her to go to therapy.” Luna’s voice is hoarse, full of emotion. “It’s hard enough knowing that it’s because of me she’s going through this in the first place.”
“It’s not because of you,” Olly interrupts, his voice resembling a growl. “You didn’t invite that fucker to your place. He’s to blame, not you.”
Oliver doesn’t mess around when it comes to Luna, he is fiercely protective.
“You know what I mean,” Luna adds.
“I know you are trying to lay blame at your feet because some crazy fuck showed up here and stalked you. You’re holding the guilt that you somehow drug Aurora and Presley into the mix.”
“She can’t sleep in the fucking dark Oliver.” Luna’s voice raises. “She has nightmares and no, I may not have invited him in to terrorize us all, but it’s because of his attachment to me that Aurora is going through hell now. I hate that she is living this, I did for years and now that I’m free she is the prisoner. It kills me and she is too fucking stubborn to talk it out, instead she pretends she is okay but inside she’s walking on eggshells.”
My chest grows so fucking tight I can barely breath.
“We’ll get her help,” Oliver insists and I can’t quite make out Luna’s response because its muffled. I assume due to Oliver holding her close.
Without another passing second, I place my hand on the door and push it open, when three sets of eyes lock on mine.
“Someone wanna fill me in here on what’s going on with Ror?” It’s something I’ve called here almost from the start. It all began when she’d get so pissed at me, she’d raise her voice and glare. Almost like she was roaring at me. I said it once and it kind of stuck. It’s mine for her and somehow that feels so personal. Some hidden place deep within me takes claim and it’s all ours, no one else can take it.
“Jace.” Luna is the first to speak as she stands taller and wipes at her eyes. Oliver watches her closely not paying any attention to Zac or me, it’s like he’s waiting for a sign he needs to intervene. Her personal body guard, slash hero.
I respect him deeply for taking on that role.
“We were just talking.” She shrugs it off like I’ll accept that as the only needed explanation and move on. Only I don’t, I stare, waiting for her to continue.
“Can uh,” Zac, swivels around in his chair, “you think you and I can move this to the break room?”
“As long as that’s code for, you’ll tell me what the hell is going on.”
Zac nods, stands, and moves past me.
“Keep your fucking hands to yourself this time,” Oliver barks. “Everything he tells you, accept it; it’s not what you think, but probably shit you won’t want to hear.”
A few seconds pass and both him and Luna watch me, waiting for my response.
“I ain’t hitting anyone.” The reality that I’ve already punched my best friend once eats away at me every day since I threw my fist in his direction.
Joining Zac in the break room, he sits in one of the chairs at the table, holding a bottle of water with both hands in front of him. He points to a second one on the table across from him. It’s not what either of us truly want, but it’ll do for now.
My stomach feels sour, joining him I twist off the cap and take a drink. My throat suddenly feeling dry, like sandpaper.
“I know you think that there is or was something going on between Aurora and I, but it’s never been what you’ve allowed yourself to envision.” He drags his hand over his face. “I don’t know how she and I got close, it just happened. You and she have constantly been so fucking up and down from the start. After that asshole barged into Luna’s place and attacked them, she somehow attached herself to me.”
His focus lands on me, our eyes lock.
“I’m not complaining, because Aurora is a good friend, but we’ve only ever been friends.”
He holds my stare, ensuring I let his words sink in.
“It started the night we all went out for dinner after they locked Dylan away. After he broke into Luna’s place. You and Aurora were still playing the back and forth, neither one of you openly admitting you wanted more than casual.”
Zac arches his brow at me, daring me to deny it, and instead I nod, surprising us both.
“You left, she stood around long after everyone was gone, and when I asked her if there was something wrong, she fell apart.”
“What do you mean fell apart?”
“I mean she tried not to, she tried to hold back, but I’d never until that moment seen Aurora cry. She didn’t want to go home; she was frantic and then pissed at herself for being weak.”
My stomach was so tight it ached.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
“For what, Jace?” I try not to allow my anger to take over this conversation. “You had already taken off with some blond, and I’m not saying that’s what triggered this reaction from her, but it didn’t help either. She acts all tough but I’m telling you the woman is hanging on by a thread. She’s scared all the time; she sleeps with every fucking light on in her place. She even had me rearrange her bedroom so that when she is lying in bed, she has a clear view of her front door. She won’t talk about it; she gets pissed when I try.”
He takes a deep breath.
“So instead, we hang out, watch movies. We go to dinner and shopping, all the fucking things I hate, because she needs it.”
“I don’t understand why you didn’t just tell me all this?”
“Why? Because when it comes to Aurora you listen so clearly?” he challenges me with a smirk and I know it’s pointless to attempt to argue. She is the one and only person I have ever met that makes me act insane and not think twice about it. On most occasions I can’t control it. “The two of you are complete idiots when it comes to each other. You both walk around like you aren’t affected by the other, but you are. She’s stubborn and she’s insecure, two that contradict each other but she won’t give. I’ve been there for her because I saw her in her moment of weakness and she refuses to allow anyone else to see her in that state.”
Part of me is jealous he’s the one she’s turned to. But then again if it had to be anyone, I’m glad it was Zac.
“And I hit you for it.” I shake my head feeling like an even bigger dick than I already had.
“And you hit me for it,” he agrees triggering me to lock my eyes on his. “But I didn’t make it easy on you either. I did offer one too many digs in your direction when I didn’t have to.”
He did, yes but still not a good enough reason for me to react as I did. I’ve never had anyone more loyal in my life than Zac. He’s loyal to us all.
“I took it too far,” I admit. “And I’m sorry for that, I was wrong.”
“Wow.” He chuckles. “The great Jace is admitting wrongs, I never thought I’d ever see the day.”
I smile for the first time since I paused outside Luna’s door. “Are we good?”
“We’re good.” Though I should feel relieved, I don’t because I’ve missed everything, I’ve been too blind to see it all and now it is laid out before me. The idea that she’s been suffering silently while I’ve carried around all this irritation for a man that was there for a girl I care deeply for still hangs over my head.
I have a choice to make. A choice I should have made months ago but was too much of a coward to do so.
This is the moment to let go or grab on tight and no matter how hard she bucks, never let go. It’s up to me.