Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Aurora
We walk up to the door, hand in hand, as my nerves race around in my mind. Stepping up onto the porch, Jace tugs my hand and I turn to look back over my shoulder. “Hey,” he moves in closer, turning me around to face him, but never letting go of my hand. “You good?”
“Yeah.”
“Then why do you look like you have a hundred things to say but your too afraid to say them?”
I tuck my chin toward my chest and he immediately uses his finger to tip it back upward. “No, we aren’t going back to this. I told you that’s all behind us. You feel something, your worried, you tell me. I can’t fucking fix it if I don’t know what’s going on inside that pretty head of yours.”
“I don’t regret for a second what happened,” I assure him. “It was perfect and better than I’d imagined. I’m just afraid that—” I pause, unsure exactly how to explain the feelings coursing through me.
“You’re afraid that this changes everything?” I nod. “It does,” he states without a second thought and places his hands on my hips. “But not in the way you are thinking. We played games, we always have from the start. But today, something shifted Ror and what I know is that there is no going back. There is no walking away. This,” he motions between us with his finger, “is happening.”
Jace cups the side of my face, taking that one last step that brings us as close as we can be. Just before he kisses me, he pauses and his breath tickles my lips. “I don’t know if I’ll be good at this, but what I can promise you is that I plan on giving it my all. I almost lost this chance, because I was being a complete idiot. I was afraid of what you made me feel. I never wanted to need anyone, but you made me need you without even trying. Baby, I am here and I’m all in. I want this to work more than anything.”
His lips touch mine in a gentle kiss.
“Do me a favor and get out of that head of yours.”
Before I have any chance to respond the front door opens and we both shift our attention to where Luna is now standing. Her arms crossed as she eyes us both.
“You are the one that decided tonight was no longer a girls’ night and instead a coed party.” She glares at Jace. “Then you show up late.”
I look between the two of them as they have some standoff and then her words register in my fog filled brain. “Wait.” I step back to create some space. “You said tonight was Oliver and Daxton’s doing.”
All Jace can do is shrug, step around me and pass Luna as he moves inside. “Come on ladies, you’re holding up the party.”
Luna shifts after him, jumping up on his back and ruffling his already messy hair. I join them and am met with a lot of prying eyes as the girls all try to analyze me. Immediately Bree smiles and Presley lets out a squeal gaining the attention of everyone. Only she doesn’t care, instead she rushes toward me and both her and Bree usher me into the kitchen. Luna quickly joins us and as they are gathering drinks they are all eagerly watching me.
“So?” Presley urges with a wave of her hand. “Spill.”
“Spill what?”
“Oh I don’t know, what’s on sale at Owny’s Market?” Luna rolls her eyes making Bree laugh. “What in the hell do you think we are talking about?”
“There is nothing to spill.” I take the offered margarita and bring it to my lips, taking a sip. “So the fact that your hair is still damp, and your makeup is a wreck, oh and Jace is grinning from ear to ear, his hair also damp; mean’s nothing,” Presley pushes.
“He left the shop saying he was running home to grab a shower and the two of you would be right back,” Luna leans over resting her elbows on the countertop. “So let me just ask, how is his water pressure?” When she waggles her brows I snort, practically spitting out my drink.
I can hear the guys carrying on in the living room and I know if I don’t give them something I will never get out of this kitchen. So I glance toward the doorway and when I see no movement I give them a morsel. “The pressure was perfect; it was the best shower of my life.”
“You hussy.” Presley is smiling so big all her teeth are on display.
“Oh me,” I challenge her, “how’s Zac doing?” Instantly that smile fades and her eyes widen.
“She is avoiding him like the plague.” Luna laughs. “She keeps someone between the two of them at all times. It’s hilarious to watch. After a few hours I figure she’ll be too exhausted to keep up this charade and then we can all watch the next phase unfold.”
“There will be no next phase,” she assures us, downing the rest of her drink. Quickly grabbing the pitcher she fills her cup once more.
“Ladies.” We all look up from our little huddle to find the object of our current conversation standing in the doorway. Unsure of how much if anything he’s heard.
“Just came in to grab another round of beers.” He moves around me and pulls open the fridge.
Turning around he walks toward the doorway once more before pausing to look back over his shoulder. “Presley,” he says looking at only her and no longer caring that they are not alone. “Whenever you’re tired of running from me, we do need to talk.”
“I can’t think of a single thing we have to discuss.” She shrugs, and I feel like a bobble head looking from my cousin to one of my best friends. Torn between the two of them I say nothing and neither does Bree or Luna.
“Are you sure about that?”
“Whatever it is you have to say you can say it right here.”
The two of them stare at one another, and suddenly the room feels so much smaller. We watch in silence as Zac sets the four beer bottles back onto the counter and moves closer. Stepping in closer to Presley’s side he reaches into his pocket and ever so slowly pulls out something pink. Lifting them before us, there hanging from his pinky are a pair of lace panties.
Her eyes widen in horror, Bree covers her mouth and Luna giggles.
I stare, wondering what will happen next.
“Like I said,” Zac drops the panties on the counter in front of her, “we need to talk.”
He says nothing more but instead walks back over to the space he left the beers picks them up and walks out of the room.
“Oh my.” Bree snickers. “The look on his face.”
“I don’t think I have ever seen him so serious,” I state. Remembering the hours and hours of silly banter he and I have shared. Even when I was at my worst, he still found ways to make me laugh.
“You are going to have to talk to him,” Luna tells her. “He isn’t the kind of guy that tucks things under the rug.”
Presley groans, falls forward and rests her head on the countertop. “I’m just glad he didn’t give them to me in front of the guys.”
“You can’t avoid him forever,” I tell her, grabbing my drink and walking in the same direction Zac did.
“No,” she says grabbing her panties and shoving them in her pocket and lifting her drink. “But I can get so drunk that I sleep right through the conversation.”
“Getting drunk is what got you into this mess in the first place,” Luna interjects, following behind us with her own drink. “Please promise me you will not drop to your knees in the middle of my living room and do a repeat.”
“Wait,” Presley spins around and narrows her eyes at Luna. “I didn’t tell you about the details.”
“Um…” She shrugs, realizing she’s said more than intending too. “I uh…” She lifts her glass and takes a big sip. “I heard him telling Jace.”
“Great,” she throws her free hand up in the air and lets out a huff, “that’s just great.”