Chapter 18
CHAPTER 18
KINSLEY
Soft light streams through the bedroom’s curtains.
Jace’s bedroom.
Oh my god. I’m in Jace’s bedroom. In his bed.
I snuggle into my pillow, my face heating at the memory of last night.
It was perfect.
He was perfect.
The arm around my middle tightens and I smile as his lips brush the back of my neck. He cuddles into me and I giggle, rolling in his arms until we’re face to face.
“Hi,” I whisper.
He blinks at me sleepily. “Hi.”
Dear lord, can I get a recording of his ‘I just woke up’ gravelly voice?
He leans in, softly brushing his lips against mine. Humming, he settles his forehead against mine. “How are you feeling?”
I nuzzle into his warmth. “I’m perfect. How about you?”
“Stunning.” He kisses my forehead, speaking against my skin. “Absolutely stunning.”
I slip my hand between us and trace patterns over his chest. “When do you leave?”
He sighs, his arms tightening around me. “Tomorrow morning. They want us there a day early for a mini media day since we’ve been off this past week.”
I hum, nodding and we settle into a comfortable silence. I go to lean back to see if he’s fallen back asleep, but he speaks quietly as his hand pulses on my hip, “So, I was thinking.”
My fingers pause, my heart stopping.
What did you expect, Kinsley? Did you really think someone like him would actually want anything more with someone like you?
He got what he wanted.
And you gave it willingly. Happily even.
Foolish girl.
I shrink away but he tightens his arms around me, pulling me back against him and cupping my face. “Hey, hey. Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”
I shake my head, tears threatening to spill. “It’s okay, I understand.”
His eyebrows dip. “Understand what?”
“You’re this big time race car driver and I’m no one?—”
“Wait. Kinsley. No. That’s not?—”
“It’s okay. Really. I?—”
“Kinsley, look at me.”
My eyes shoot up at the pleading in his voice and I pause at the softness in his gaze. He’s looking at me as if he’s afraid I’ll disappear. Like his whole world would come crumbling down if I turned away.
But maybe that’s just me who feels this way.
He tucks my wild hair behind my ear, his thumb brushing my cheek as he speaks softly. “I want you to come with me.”
My eyebrows furrow in confusion. “What?”
Leaning in, he places a delicate kiss on my lips before speaking against them. “I want you to come with me.”
My mind reels as my mouth pops open and closed multiple times before I get a single word out. “W-why?”
“Because the idea of leaving you tomorrow makes me ill.”
“You’re not serious.”
“I am.” His voice doesn’t waver and his eyes don’t stray from mine as he says it. “I told you we’d figure out what to do and we will, together. So come with me. Be with me.” He leans down and kisses my shoulder. “It’ll be an adventure.”
“Jace. I—” Emotion overwhelms me and my mind scrambles.
He wants me.
“You don’t have to decide right now. I know it’s a lot to think about and I know it’s crazy, but I believe in this. I believe in us.” His thumb swipes over my cheek. “I’ll respect whatever you decide.”
I nod, tears threatening to spill as he pulls me tight against his chest.
And as his fingers trace along my back, I let myself fall.
“Did you hear anything I just said?”
I look up. “Hm?”
Lily laughs. “I’ll take that as a no.”
Sighing, I set down my fork. “I’m sorry. My mind is kind of a mess right now.”
She pinches her lips. “Jace leaves tomorrow?”
I nod. “But it’s not just that.” I take a steadying breath. “I haven’t told you this because you were so excited about the program in the States?—”
“Kins, what’s going on?”
“Fred and Rebecca are kicking me out. I have one more week to figure something out before their new placement gets here.”
Her jaw drops in shock. “You’ve got to be joking.”
“I’m not.” I shake my head. “I knew this day was coming but I thought I had a little more time to think of where to go, what to do.”
She pauses, a sly smile blooming on her lips. “What if you came with me?”
Come with me.
Jace’s voice echoes in my mind and my cheeks heat. Then her words register. “Wait. Go where with you?”
She grins. “America.”
I gasp. “You got in?”
“I got in,” she squeals.
I jump up and pull her into a hug, cheering her on. She pushes me back gently and waves a hand through the air. “I don’t want to make this about me.”
“Lily, we’re absolutely going to make this about you. Congratulations.” I pull her into another bone crushing hug.
“You’re not mad?”
“Why would I be mad?”
“Because first Jace is leaving and now I am too.”
We sit back down and I shake my head. “I’m nowhere near mad. I’m so incredibly happy for you. You earned this.”
“So then what if you came with me? And then when we got back, we could get a little flat just like we always talked about.”
I sigh. “You know I can’t do that. Your program is pretty strict, remember?”
She deflates into her chair. “Maybe they’d make an exception?”
“I don’t want you risking your spot for me. I’d never forgive myself if I cost you this.”
“Then what are you going to do?”
I duck my head, mumbling, “Jace asked me to go with him.”
She shoots forward in her chair. “I’m sorry. Rewind and repeat that. Who said what?”
My lips twitch. “Jace asked me to go with him. To be with him.”
Her mouth drops open. “Oh my god. How did I not see this until now? You slept with him.”
My face drops in disbelief. “How on earth did you figure that?”
“Look at you, you’ve totally got that post sex glow going on. Was it good? Oh, please tell me he’s got a filthy mou?—”
“Lily,” I hiss, glancing at the tables around us. “Can you not?”
“I’m sorry. I’m just surprised, is all. I mean, not surprised per say. I’m more proud.” She nods. “Yeah, I’m proud of you for getting that D.”
I sink into my chair, covering my face. “I can’t with you sometimes.”
She laughs. “Well, I’m guessing it was good if he’s asking you to travel the world with him?”
I roll my lips, but a smile slips through. “It was amazing.”
She squeals, hopping around in her chair. “So what did you say?”
“I didn’t know what to say.”
“So you just said nothing?”
“He laid it all out. Said that I’d be with him and he would take care of everything, but that he understood if I couldn’t let myself rely on him completely like that. So, he made some calls and said the team would gladly take me on as a photographer. Apparently he showed them some of the shots I got from Silverstone and they really liked them.”
“Kinsley, that sounds amazing.”
“I know it does.” I sigh. “But it’s also a lot.”
“Yeah, it is. What would you do if you stayed here?”
“I’ve got a good amount in the bank from Friday’s showing. I could probably find a small place to stay while I looked for a job.”
“That’s a lot to take on by yourself.”
I shrug. “People do it all the time.”
“But you don’t have to.” She reaches across the table, taking my hand. “He makes you happy, doesn’t he?” I nod. “Then come on.”
She pulls me out of my chair, drops some money on the table, and drags me to her car. Before I know it, we’re pulling up outside my house and I’m stumbling after her up the stairs to my room.
We spend the rest of the evening going through everything I own, deciding what I should take, have her keep for me, or things I should try and sell.
By the time the clock on the night table reads just past midnight, I have two fully packed bags and a box of other small things that Lily is taking home with her to keep safe while I’m away.
We yawn for what feels like the hundredth time and she stands, brushing off her hands. “I think that’s it.”
I zip the bag closed and roll it over to the door. Turning, I face her and she smiles. We meet in the middle, wrapping our arms around each other in a crushing hug.
She sniffles. “You better message me every single day.”
“I promise.”
We separate and she runs her hand over my hair. “Just go and be happy. You deserve it.”
“You too. I know you’re going to crush it.”
“I’m going to make that program my bitch.”
“I have no doubt.” I wipe away a tear as we laugh.
“I love you, Kinsley.”
“I love you, Lily.”
With one last hug, the girl I’ve long considered my sister walks out the door. I watch her drive away from my bedroom window, rear lights fading into the dark night.
Turning, I look over the small room I’ve called mine for the past year. I walk over and sit on the bed, tucking my hands into the sleeves of Jace’s jumper. Pulling out my phone, my thumb hovers over his name.
I roll my lips and glance at my bags.
Would it be too much to just show up at his flat at one in the morning?
My phone pings in my hand with a text.
Romeo:
You have all the power, Miss Jones.
Fuck it.
I bound off the bed, snatch up my backpack, and extend the handle on my suitcase. I write a note thanking the Munsters’ for everything, wishing them luck with their next placement and hoping that it’s everything they didn’t find with me.
I close the door, locking the handle before I do since I left my key on the counter, and with my bag rolling behind me, I walk the couple blocks to the bus stop.
The next one should be here in ten minutes, so I pull out my small digital camera and scroll through some of the images I took yesterday.
“This seat taken?” I jump clutching my chest and the girl winces. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
I laugh. “It’s okay, I just didn’t think anyone would be up right now.”
She takes a seat next to me and nods to my suitcase. “Going on a trip?”
I nod. “Something like that.”
Her eyes glance down to my hands, freezing on the screen. “Cute guy. Boyfriend?”
I hum, shutting off the camera before tucking it back into my bag. A feeling of protectiveness over him pulses through me.
“I’m sorry. My boyfriend says I’m too nosy for my own good sometimes.”
I shift in my seat. “I have a friend like that too. It’s okay.”
Her eyes move over my shoulder and I turn, seeing headlights.
I guess the bus is running early.
I stand up and slip on my bag, grabbing the handle of my suitcase. Stepping up to the edge of the curb I catch a glimpse of the bus sign, sighing when I realize it’s not mine.
“Kinsley.”
I whip around with wide eyes to see the girl standing close. The sound of the oncoming bus gets louder and I open my mouth to ask her how she knows my name.
But I never get the chance.