Chapter 3
CHAPTER 3
JACE
I’m going to kiss each of the lads right on their mouths.
Considering I’ve held back on my urge to strangle them since the second they dragged my grumbling arse out the door, I’d say this is a much better outlook for everyone.
Baku was an utter disaster in more ways than one.
I had to retire from the race early due to braking issues.
My ex was finding every reason under the sun to be in the same vicinity as me, so that was a fun game of hide and seek I absolutely did not sign up for.
And the cherry on top? I found out my sister and mum watched the next three episodes of our re-watchathon of Grey’s Anatomy without me. Three! Sacrilege!
We got back on Monday and I’ve effectively locked myself away in my flat to lick my wounds in peace. I was on season three of New Girl when the lads apparently decided that enough was enough and came banging down my door.
I’d say I held my own, but let’s be real, it was three versus one. Last time I checked, I’m not the leading role in an action film.
So, yes. I lost the battle.
“It’s nice to meet you too.” Kinsley tucks a strand of dark hair behind her ear and smiles shyly up at me.
But I reckon I’ve won the war.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask, glancing at the bandages on her delicate neck.
My hands curl into fists as I try to calm the fury that’s been simmering beneath the surface of my skin, ready to pounce since the moment I saw those marks on her neck.
Here’s the thing, I’m not a confrontational guy.
I’ve got three goons I call my best friends for that.
I’m the easy going one. A kill them with kindness kind of guy.
That is unless a man dares to put his hands on a woman without their consent. In that case, you should know that the only reason I’m smiling is because I’m picturing what my fists will be doing to your face.
Kinsley nods. “Yeah, I’m grand.”
I hold the door open for her, the scent of her vanilla coconut shampoo trailing behind her as she ducks under my arm and into the hallway.
She reaches up, ghosting her fingers over her neck. “I just can’t believe that happened.”
My heart cracks at the crestfallen look in her eyes.
No one this beautiful should look this sad.
I glance down the hallway towards the loos, an idea sparking. Before thinking it through fully, I send up a prayer that hopefully my feeling on her reaction will be right and turn to her. “What if it didn’t?”
She watches me curiously. “What do you mean?”
“What if we rewrite what happened?”
Her eyes dance over my face and she drops her hand from her neck. “I would like to forget about it…” She nibbles on her lip for a heartbeat before they tip up in a soft smile. “Okay. Yeah. We’ll rewrite it. How did we meet then?”
I smirk, holding out my hand. “Come on.” She slips her hand in mine and I suck in a quiet breath at the igniting sparks. Shaking my head, I lead her down the hallway and position her in front of the door. “You’re there and I come walking down the hall?—”
“Uh, pause. Question. Why am I coming out of the men’s loo?” She giggles, pointing towards the door’s placard.
I dip my head towards the side and cock a brow. “Do you see the state of that line?” She glances at the line of minimum twenty ladies leaning against the wall.
She sucks in a breath through her teeth, cringing. “Mmm, alright. Men’s loo it is.”
“Why is it so long all the time anyway? Is it because of the girl code?”
She barks out a laugh, shaking her head. “And what would you know about girl code?”
“I know that an ex and current crushes are totally off limits. Secrets stay secrets no matter what. You can only post photos where both of you look good. Honesty above all else. And this one is kind of unspoken, but you always go anywhere in pairs, especially the loo.” Her jaw drops and I shrug. “Little sister.”
“Ah, well then I guess all the women in your life have really taught you well. You’ve got that as a secret weapon then.”
I chuckle. “You could say that.”
She laughs before clearing her throat and straightening her shoulders. “Okay. I’m coming out of the men’s loo and you’re?—”
“Making sure you aren’t here with anyone.”
She laughs, shaking her head. “No, I’m not here with anyone.”
I nod. “That’s good, because then I offered to buy you a drink.”
“Which I accepted.”
“Gleefully I might add.”
“Oh, but of course.”
“We were having a smashing time, debating over whether pineapple belongs on pizza—” She grins and I gasp. “Kinsley, say it isn’t so.”
She laughs, lifting her hands in surrender. “I’m sorry, I’m a sucker for the sweet and savory combination.” I gag and she playfully pushes my arm. “Oh come on, it’s not that bad.”
“You can keep your abomination.”
“Fine. I don’t like sharing my food anyway.”
“Noted. Fingers will stay attached to my body if I leave your food alone.”
Her smile lights up the darkened hallway and the last of my dominating anger from earlier dissipates. “Assuming you forgave me for my choice in pizza toppings…”
“We were sipping on our drinks?—”
“Oh, what kind?”
“Sex on the beach, obviously. It’s fun and delicious.”
Her eyes narrow, but her mock glare wavers as amusement slips through. “Why do I feel like you’re not exclusively referring to the drink?”
I reach up, pretending to grasp the strand of pearls I never wear. “Miss Jones, that kind of talk is reserved for at least the second date. Maybe even the third.”
“So this is a date now? Tell me. Do you bring your friends on all your first dates?”
“Why not? They have to make sure she isn’t some serial killer targeting incredibly handsome men. They’re quite fond of me and would be devastated if I suddenly got murdered.”
“Isn’t there a documentary or show about something like that?”
I shrug. “I’m sure there is, but I wouldn’t have seen it. The last time my sister made me watch one of those, I spent the night snuggling a cricket bat. The lights were on the whole time and yet I still jumped at every minor sound.”
“So you’re saying I shouldn’t rely on you to check out the things that go bump in the night?”
“I’ll keep the sheets over our heads real tight. They can’t get through those, right?”
Her body quakes with laughter and I smile, watching her face light up.
“There you are!” A blonde blur jumps between us, knocking me back a step. She gasps, brushing Kinsley’s hair to the side. “Oh my god, what happened?”
Before she can answer, the tiny woman spins around and pokes my chest. “Did you do this? I hope you’re not fond of the tiny prick between your legs, you son of a?—”
“What? No!” Kinsley rushes around her and suddenly our roles from earlier are reversed as I cower behind her, hand instinctively covering my dick. “Drake?—”
“What? Where? Let me at him!”
Jesus, this one’s a bit scary.
“He’s gone,” Kinsley yells before huffing a breath and lowering her voice. “He’s gone. Jace helped me get rid of him when he wouldn’t leave me alone.”
“And who’s Jace?”
I raise my hand. “That’d be me.”
The fiery pixie squints at me. “Did you punch him?”
Kinsley groans, “Lily.”
“Wanted to.”
“Hell yeah.” She holds up a fist and I bump it.
“I can’t with you two.” Kinsley throws her hands in the air.
“Don’t think I’m not going to give the prick the swift kick to his nards that’s been coming his way the next time I see him.” Her friend winks and Kinsley shakes her head, sighing.
“I’m Lily, by the way. Best friend of this one.” She nods towards Kinsley.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Jace.”
“It’s nice to meet you too. Thank you for stepping in for my girl.”
I wave her off, my eyes connecting with Kinsley’s golden brown ones. “It was my pleasure.”
She hums, turning to Kinsley. “I’m hungry.”
“Okay? What do you want me to do about that?”
“I know a great snack van around the corner,” I blurt out. “And I have a jumper in the car you can change into so you don’t get cold.”
Jesus man, where’s your chill mode?
“You don’t have to leave just because of me.”
“I honestly already decided that I would have had one more drink before heading out.”
“You’re not just saying that?”
A few hours ago all I wanted was to be alone. Was going to do just that after this drink too.
But then the universe did its thing.
Sending this timid yet magnetic girl literally crashing into my path. Effectively shifting my want for solitude to a desire to be near her. To do what I could to keep her smiling, laughing.
“I was going to leave either way, but I’d much rather be leaving to hang out with you a little while longer.”
I watch the lights of the club dance in her eyes as she considers me. My heart skips as she gives me the slightest nod and I make sure to keep my inner triumph masked with a small grin.
After introducing the girls to Lawson, Ryder, and Nik, we make our way to the small park around the corner. Finding a spot on the grass, we spread out with our food and I try to keep my eyes off the way my jumper swallows Kinsley’s slight frame as she settles down next to me.
“So, how do you all know each other?” Lily asks, sipping on her cola.
“We all kind of grew up together.” I lean back on my hands after finishing off my smaller portion and glance around at the lads.
Kinsley’s eyes light up. “Wait. Really?”
I nod. “What about you? Any sleepover pillow fights you’d like to reminisce on?”
“God, you’re such a boy.” She giggles, knocking her knee against my thigh. Setting down her now empty tray, she smiles over at Lily. “We met last year when I transferred to her school.”
“We actually just graduated,” Lily cheers.
“University?”
Please don’t say secondary. Please don’t say secondary. Please don’t ? —
“University Prep.”
Oh thank you baby Jesus.
I bump my shoulder into hers. “Well, congratulations. Do you know what you want to study at university?”
“She should go into photography,” Lily says, looking pointedly at her friend.
“Photography?” I raise my eyebrows and Kinsley blushes. “I’d love to see some of your photos sometime, but only if you’re comfortable with it.”
Tentatively, she shuffles closer, her shoulder brushing my chest when I lean to peer down at the phone screen as she flips through an album.
With each one she shows me I feel like I’m getting even more glimpses at who she is.
A flower blooming from a crack in concrete. Resilient.
A woman handing a water bottle to a homeless man. Caring.
A sky full of stars. Dreamer.
A self portrait of her in a mirror. Beautiful.
“Kinsley, these are amazing.”
“You really think so?” she whispers, tilting her head to look at me.
“Without a doubt.”
I lock my muscles to keep from closing the minimal space between us. Instead, I lean back on my hands, silently smiling to myself when she doesn’t move to create distance between us again.
We get lost in stories of our childhoods, the guys taking every chance they get to try and embarrass me or each other. All the while I revel in the vibrations of her laughter from where our arms and legs touch.
When the girls yawn for the hundredth time, I check my watch and grimace. It’s already past two in the morning.
The mandatory meeting at seven is going to suck.
I look over as Kinsley burrows farther into my jumper when a cool summer breeze kicks up and my dread about tomorrow morning evaporates.
Because this was totally worth it.
She is totally worth it.
We drive the girls home and as I walk them to their door, I can’t help but drag my feet the last couple steps. Not wanting tonight to end. Not wanting my time with her to end.
Lily says goodnight, but I don’t miss the wide eyes she shoots Kinsley before disappearing behind the front door.
“So,” she draws out as she turns and looks up at me with a soft tilt of her lips. “Tonight was probably the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
“You deserve to have fun every night,” I say quietly.
A blush creeps over her cheeks and she tucks her bottom lip between her teeth.
I clear my throat, shoving my suddenly sweaty hands into my pockets. “Maybe we can do this again sometime?”
“Like a second date or as friends?”
Whatever you want.
My lips tip up as hopefully another grand idea forms. “Can I see your phone?”
She hands it to me and I input my number before giving it back. She glances at the screen and laughs under her breath. “Didn’t want to text yourself so you have my number too?”
I walk backwards towards the car and stretch my arms out wide. “You have all the power, Miss Jones. This is whatever you want it to be. You can use it or not, it’s up to you.”
The wind carries her light laugh as she calls out, “Goodnight, Jace Collins.”
The thirty minute drive home is filled with the ghost of her touch, the echo of her laugh, and the image of her golden-haloed eyes.
My phone pings with a text as I walk through the front door of my flat. I pause, my body tensing in preparation as I pull it out.
I release a breath when it isn’t yet another message I’d ignore. A smile breaks across my face as my eyes roll over the screen.
Unknown:
I think I’ll use it.
My thumb traces over her words. “Goodnight, Kinsley Jones.”