Chapter 31 No Way I’m Mediocre and He’s Not
CHAPTER 31: NO WAY I’M MEDIOCRE AND HE’S NOT
JACE
I slept like shit last night. Both pull out sofas are in the same bonus space above the garages. Between the thin, uneven mattress and Tanner’s snoring, it would have been impossible to sleep on a good night. After hearing that Chris and Lacey haven’t slept together, my mind raced all night with what ifs about her and me. I tried texting her, but she never responded.
I couldn’t exactly decipher her emotions about all of it and that was a new experience for me. For seventeen years I could always read her. Growing up, she would give me a look and I would instantly know if she was happy or sad. I would know exactly what she needed. Last night, I couldn’t read how she felt and it bugged the hell out of me.
So, I decided to clear my head with some fresh air and the sunrise. A run was exactly what I needed.
I climb the front steps of the lakehouse and check the time on my phone. It’s six thirty. I sneak back through the front door and start a pot of coffee before jogging up the stairs to grab a quick shower. The warm water pelts my muscles and eases any tension that remains there after my run. It’s going to be a long weekend if I have to keep sleeping in that bed.
I let my mind drift to Lacey. She looked beautiful yesterday. Long blonde hair, green eyes, and curves for days. I feel my dick harden at the thought of her and I instantly turn the knob from hot to ice cold. I can’t have those thoughts. We’re trying to be friends again. She’s here with someone else. I run my hand down my face.
Get it fucking together.
I shiver under the water and slam the knob off. Stepping out of the shower, I wrap my waist in a towel. I make my way back into the spare room and dig through my bag. Tanner is still out cold and I chuckle as his snores fill the very quiet house. Everyone else must still be asleep too.
I locate my bathing suit and pull it on. I grab the book I’ve been reading, head back out into the hallway, and down the stairs. The smell of coffee fills the air and I breathe it in anticipating my first morning cup. I round the corner and freeze dead in my tracks. Standing next to the coffee pot with her back to me is Lacey. Her hair is in a messy bun on the top of her head. She’s wearing tiny cotton shorts covered in little purple hearts and a black tank top that hugs every bit of her curves. She’s stirring a spoon in a mug.
“I made that pot of coffee for me,” I tease. Lacey’s shoulders tense when she hears my voice. Her hand stills and she turns to face me with a sleepy smile. My eyes immediately dart down her body and I realize she’s not wearing a bra. Fuck. I do my best to redirect my gaze, but her pebbled nipples are pressing against the thin fabric of her top and it’s impossible not to stare.
“I don’t drink coffee,” she says. “I’m making a London Fog.”
“A London Fog? Like a café au lait, but with tea, right?”
“Yeah, tea, steamed milk, and a little vanilla. How did you know?”
“Someone told me once.” I shrug. “I thought you loved coffee?” In high school, Poppy and her could not start the day without some absurd drink from the local coffee shop.
“Wait, is that Romancing Mr. Bridgerton ? You finished book three?” She gestures at the paperback I’m holding.
“It is. I’m already about halfway done.” I flash the book in her direction. “I like how Colin and Penelope were friends first. Reminds me—” I stop myself.
“What does it remind you of?” she asks. Her eyes lock on mine.
“Nothing, so why don’t you drink coffee anymore?”
“Because of you,” she giggles and turns around to finish making her drink.
“Me? What did I do to coffee?” I walk over to where she stands. Mere inches are between us. Her tropical scent fills my nostrils and I have to place my hand on the counter to steady myself. Her gaze finds mine and more than anything I wish I could touch her.
“It’s seriously such a dumb reason.” She picks up her mug and walks toward the sliding glass doors that lead to the deck. “Care to join me? The sugar is in the cabinet to the right of the microwave.” She smiles over her shoulder. She may not drink coffee anymore because of me, but she still remembers how I take mine.
I quickly pour my cup of coffee. Finding the sugar exactly where she said it would be, I add two packets before giving it a quick stir and meeting her on the deck.
“So, why exactly is it my fault you don’t drink coffee?” I chuckle and narrow my eyes. I take a seat in one of the adirondack chairs next to her.
“Well after I thought I had caught you cheating in that coffee shop I may have vowed to never drink it again,” she laughs. “I don’t know. I guess it reminded me how bitter I was about everything that happened.” Her cheeks turn a slight shade of pink and she shakes her head. “God, being young can make you do the dumbest shit.”
“You haven’t drank coffee in ten years.”
“No,” she says, wincing. “I told you it was dumb, especially since now I know you didn’t cheat and the whole thing was made up in my head. Talk about dramatic.” She laughs at herself, but I sense there is more to her statement than she wants to let on.
“I don’t think you’re dumb or dramatic. We were in love and you thought I betrayed you.”
“Well, I bet you didn’t do anything because of me in the last decade. If anything you’ve been off doing amazing things. Discovering the Bix. Gosh, I still can’t believe you did it. I’m so proud of you.” My heart swells at her words. How do I tell her everything I did in the last ten years was because of her?
“Gooooood morning,” Tanner yawns, stretching out his arms and walking through the door. “Y’all ready to celebrate our country’s birth?”
“I’m gonna go upstairs and find Chris,” Lacey says, standing and taking her mug with her. She offers me a small smile before disappearing back through the door. Tanner takes her chair.
“Wait! You forgot your book,” he picks up the paperback I set on the table.
She reappears, grinning from ear to ear. “It’s not mine, it’s Jace’s.” She spins and is gone again.
“How fucking interesting.” He looks at the cover of the book. “You know there’s a show you could watch, right? Why are you putting yourself through the misery of reading these?”
I snatch the book from his hands. “Well for one, Lacey told me to read them, and for two I didn’t know there was a show.”
“You gonna tell her how you feel or are y’all gonna keep the miscommunication thing going for another ten years?” He lets out a loud laugh.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Dude, tell me you don’t love her and I’ll shut up. But, don’t fucking lie to me because you look like Logan does when he gets around Poppy. You’re reading books for her.”
“What does it matter? If I say I love her, which I’m not confirming to you, she’s hated me for ten years and now she wants to be friends.” I shake my head. “Plus there’s a real chance I’m leaving for Australia soon and I’m not going to hurt her again.”
He scoffs. “I thought you were looking into that other job? What happened to your plan to stay?”
I take a large sip of coffee and roll my neck. “I applied, but I haven’t heard anything yet. It’s been over a week. There’s still a lot up in the air.”
“Right, like the girl you love is dating someone else.”
“They have nothing to do with it.”
Tanner grins and shakes his head. It’s apparent he doesn’t believe me, but what else can I say. The truth is she is with someone else. I might have overheard that they haven’t slept together, but it’s none of my business. The best I can do is be her friend again.
“That guy won’t be around much longer.”
“Oh yeah? You don’t know that.”
He shrugs. “No way I’m mediocre and he’s not.”
I throw a playful punch and he runs away laughing and wiggling his eyebrows at me. Dumb ass.
I don’t know if he’s right about Chris, but I know he’s right about me. As much as I’ve let my brain go there in recent days, I know it’s not what Lacey wants and that’s okay. I finally have her back and I don’t want to lose her again. My phone pings and I swipe up on the screen.
Yesterday 8:00 PM
Jace: I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop earlier. I’m here if you need to talk.
Today 7:45 AM
Pixie: No worries! Maybe next time don’t make it so obvious.
Jace: Promise me you’ll find me if you need to talk.
Pixie: Pinky promise.