When You Had Me Adapting (Romance Rehab #2)

Prologue

PROLOGUE

LACEY- 10 YEARS AGO

“ I thought I’d find you up there,” Jace calls from my parents’ backyard. He carefully begins to climb up the side of the house to meet me. I’m sitting on the flat part of the roof above the screened-in porch—right outside my bedroom window. He pauses once he’s safely on top to pull his camera to his eye and a flash lights up the night surrounding us. Lowering it, his face drops when he sees mine is streaked with tears. “What’s on your mind, pixie?”

I shake my head and swipe my fingers under my eyes a few times. “I can’t believe you leave tomorrow,” I sniffle. My hands move against the soft, flannel blanket I’m sitting on drying my fingertips. The heaviness in my chest that I’ve been feeling for the past few days returns.

He carefully balances along the roof until he gets to where I am and takes a seat. “I’ll be back in a year,” he reassures me, gently wiping away any remaining tears. Taking my chin between his thumb and forefinger, he slightly tilts my face toward his. Our lips meet and butterflies fill my stomach. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to kissing him. His kiss erases all of the sadness and all of the fear threatening to break my heart. It instantly puts me at ease and I allow myself to melt into him.

When he pulls away, the heartache returns so quickly that it knocks all the oxygen right out of my lungs.

I nod my head and try to hold back the tears threatening to break free again. “I know, I know, I’m so proud of you.” I pause and attempt a small smile. Laying down on my back, I cover my face with my hands and inhale deeply.

“Talk to me,” he says, lying down so we are shoulder to shoulder, our backs flat against the thick blanket. Both of us are looking up at the stars spread across the summer sky.

“It’s nothing,” I lie.

“Yes it is. I want to know what’s going on in that mind of yours.” His fingers interlace with mine and he squeezes my hand.

“I got in a fight with my mom earlier. She thinks the long distance plan is a bad idea. Told me I needed to stop thinking about this with my heart and use my head.” I take a deep breath. “God, she was so annoying, J. Apparently she had lunch with your mom and Poppy’s mom today. They must have talked about you the whole time because when she got back she wouldn’t let up. And then when I started crying, she told me to stop being so dramatic .”

He scoffs. “You aren’t dramatic.”

“Try convincing my parents of that.” I shake my head.

“So, what is your heart telling you?”

“That I’ve had you next door since before I was born and now you won’t be here.” I blink and a tear escapes from the corner of my eye. I wipe it away quickly. “I don’t want to lose you.” The words are no more than a whisper on my lips.

“Lose me? You’ll never lose me,” he assures me.

“And how do you know that?” I roll onto my side to face him.

“Because I’ve loved you since I was eight years old.” He turns towards me. Our faces are so close they’re almost touching. His features are illuminated by the glow of the moonlight. “I’m scared, too, you know. I don’t want to lose you either,” he says.

“Lose me? Yeah right. I hate to break it to you, but you’re stuck with me until the end of time.”

“I hope you’re right. I don’t want Lori to get in your head and scare you into the arms of one of those meathead bozos from school.” He tucks the loose strands of my hair behind my ear. “Especially Alex. I’m leaving and what if?—”

“She won’t. It’s just her way of mothering me.”

“I don’t like that she has you doubting us, and I haven’t even left yet.” I blink and a few tears fall free. I don’t know why my mom says the things she does. My dad tells me it’s her way of protecting me, but I’m not so sure. I lean toward him and place my lips on his.

“I love you. Don’t worry about my mom. I’m sure after a few weeks, she’ll move on to something else to bother me about. She always does.”

“And Alex?”

“You know I can’t stand Alex. Beau and him are literally the jock versions of Tweedledee and Tweedledum.” I laugh, trying to ease the tension. “Gosh, don’t tell Poppy I said that. She would kill me if she knew I was making fun of Beau.”

He smiles. “Your secret is safe with me.”

“What secret?” I hear from my window.

We both sit up and turn to see Poppy attempting to crawl onto the roof with a bag thrown over her shoulder.

“Look, you two, I know you’re in love and all, and it’s like super cute, but I swear to God.” She pauses to fix her footing and then continues, “I swear to God, if you are now keeping secrets from me, I’ll never forgive either of you.” She lets out a squeak as she lands on the shingles with a thud. Cautiously, she scoots over to where we are and sits to my right.

“I’m sure there are certain parts of our relationship you want us to keep secret,” I tease and throw her a wink.

“Yeah, if you could keep it PG when I’m around, that would be awesome,” she says dryly.

“Well, then you might want to go home because I was about to take Lace into her room and—” I slap my hand over his mouth before he can continue.

“Yes, please stop,” she deadpans.

His lips curve into a smile under my hand, and then I feel his tongue shoot out of his mouth and wet my palm.

“Jace!” I wipe my hand on the blanket. His chest rumbles with laughter. I wish I could bottle it up and listen to it forever.

“It’s been ten months and I’m still not used to the two of you putting your tongues on one another.” She attempts a smile, but it looks more like a grimace.

“What has you third-wheeling tonight, Pop?” he asks.

“I know, I know. It’s y’all’s last night and whatever.” She rolls her eyes. “But I couldn’t let you leave tomorrow without a proper send-off.”

“Y’all need to stop acting like I’m leaving forever.” He shakes his head and runs his free hand over his head, making sure to not let go of mine with the other.

“Well, you got this fancy schmancy job in D.C., so excuse me if I’m worried you will forget about your two best friends when you’re busy being some fancy schmancy photographer,” Poppy says, digging through the bag.

Jace squeezes my hand a little tighter and I try to push her words as far out of my mind as they can possibly go. His eyes meet mine and he offers me a reassuring smile like he knows what I’m thinking.

“I was just telling Lacey I could never forget about her and I won’t forget about you either. Also, it’s not a job. It’s an unpaid opportunity to get some experience.”

“Yeah, experience with real professional photojournalists. Don’t sell yourself short. You’re one of fifty rising college freshmen to get selected. That’s a really big deal, J,” I say, and it is. It’s a really big deal and I don’t know why he’s so modest about it. One graduating senior from each state, and he was picked for Georgia.

He smiles sheepishly and shrugs his shoulders.

“You’re getting an opportunity that will help you find the Bixito Parrot one day. And that’s extraordinary. I’m so proud of you,” I add.

“You really think I’ll find it?”

“I know you will,” I say, giving his hand a squeeze. “It’s your dream and if anyone can do it, you can.”

“Maybe. Really though, next year is going to fly by and once it’s over I’ll be back here with both of you at Farrington U.” He plants a chaste kiss on my lips.

“I feel the need to remind you that Lacey was my first friend when I moved here, so if you decide to break her heart, I’m picking her.” Poppy’s tone is playful, but I know she’s dead serious. He shakes his head and I give my best friend a little shove.

“Wow.” Jace laughs. “Have I ever told you that you’re a great friend? Thank you.”

“Well you know me. I’m a real girl’s girl.” She pulls me into a side hug and squeezes me tight.

“Noted, but you both have nothing to worry about. I swear. I’ll be back here before you know it. It’s just a step toward reaching my goals.”

“Good, because I would hate to hate you,” she says with a wink. The knot in my gut tightens. I know Jace loves me and I know I love him, but what if it’s not enough? What if my best friend is right? What if my mom is right? Why does everyone else think he’ll hurt me?

My head and heart are fighting an internal battle. One is telling me to tell him to follow his dreams, trusting that everything will be okay. The other is listening to everyone else and wanting to selfishly beg him to stay.

“Are your parents home? Colt let me in,” Poppy says, distracting me from my spiral.

I shake my head. “No, they’re at dinner with my dad’s boss or something. Colton’s probably hiding in his room playing video games. Why?”

“Because I raided Dad’s liquor cabinet.” Her eyes dance with mischief as she pulls a green bottle from the bag and uncorks the top. “Cheers to the three musketeers,” she yells as loud as she can, giggling and lifting the bottle into the air before taking a huge swig. Her whole body shivers and she visibly gags. “Shit, it’s terrible.”

She passes the bottle to me, and I read the label. “This is absinthe, Poppy. I think it’s meant to be mixed with something.”

She shrugs. “I couldn’t steal his good shit. He would’ve noticed.”

I tilt the bottle up despite my better judgment. The liquid burns my throat as I swallow. “Fuck, this is terrible. Jace?” I cough out.

He takes the bottle, throws it back, and immediately chokes, causing the three of us to burst out laughing. He hands the bottle back to Poppy, who replaces the cork and tucks it into her bag.

I lean over, put my head on his shoulder, and grab Poppy’s hand with my free one. “I love you both so much.”

“I love you both more,” Poppy chimes.

“I love you both the most.” Jace squeezes my hand twice and kisses my forehead.

Man, this totally blows.

“Oh shit,” Poppy screams, slapping my leg and pointing up towards the sky. “A shooting star! Quick, make a wish.” Her eyes slam shut.

“You two don’t really still believe in wishing on stars do you?” Jace laughs.

“Shhhh,” Poppy says. “Make a wish before it’s too late.”

I feel him squeeze my hand and I glance over to find his eyes shut. A smile is spread across his face.

I close mine for a long minute, wishing Jace and I make it through this next year. Pressure builds under my eyelids. I open my eyes to find him staring at me, causing the tears to flow down my cheeks. Quickly wiping them away and forcing a smile, I ask, “What?”

His crystal blue eyes are full of warmth and assurance. His face says everything I need it to without ever speaking a word. Deep in my gut I hope he’s right because I don’t ever want to do life without Jace Jackson and Poppy Collins by my side.

Somewhere in the distance a police car siren fades and a dog barks. The sound of crickets chirping fills the quiet night. The air is warm and still. The three of us sit in silence for a while, soaking up what feels like the final moments of our friendship.

No, not final. Jace will be back in a year . I still have Poppy.

“Okay, love birds, I’m getting eaten alive by mosquitos.” Poppy slaps at her shin. “I’m going to let you two have your night.” She turns over onto all fours and starts to crawl back towards my open window. The bottle in the bag clanking against the roof as she crawls. “Jace, you better not leave without telling me bye,” she shouts as she falls back into my room.

“I wouldn’t dare.”

“Bye, babe,” I say.

He watches until she disappears out of view and then pulls me between his legs. His arms wrap around me and his chin rests on my shoulder, allowing his breath to tickle my neck. Goosebumps erupt down my arms.

“So, what did you wish for?” I ask.

“If I tell you, then it won’t come true.”

“And I thought you didn’t believe in wishing on stars,” I say. He squeezes my sides making me giggle.

“I don’t, but you do and it makes you happy.” I shift so I can see him. He looks so handsome. A boyish smile erupts across his face. My eyes gloss over and as if he is reading my mind he leans forward and kisses me. His tongue swirls around mine and those butterflies return. He pulls away and rests his forehead against mine.

“Long distance can work, Lace. We will talk every day. We will make time for one another.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

“It will,” he says.

“Jace, promise me if it doesn’t work. If for some reason we’re no longer in each other’s lives that you’ll still try to find the Bix. Promise me all the heartbreak won’t be for nothing.”

“Long distance will?—”

“Swear it,” I cut him off.

“I pinky promise.” He lifts up his pinky finger and I lock mine around his. “But long distance is going to work. I promise that too.”