Chapter 35 The One Who Listens
When I open the door, it takes my mind a moment to register what I’m seeing.
Savvy stands in my doorway, her wine-colored hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail, dressed in all black. But this time a guild crest is embroidered into her chest.
“Savvy!” I squeal, moving forward to hug her.
“Hey, Iz!” She catches me.
“I’ve missed you!” I squeeze before pulling back. “Come in!” I open the door wide for her and she follows me inside.
“I heard from your dad you had watchdogs, but I don’t see any in sight.” She smirks.
“I asked for some alone time. Since we’ve been training so much, I think they’ve eased up a bit.”
“Well at least they listen.” Savvy sinks onto the couch, and I join her.
“I just got back from an extended mission, or else I would’ve been back sooner to help supervise with the other three. How is everything going?” Savvy gives me a big smile.
“It’s good.” I return the smile. “I’ve learned a lot. But I’d probably be in worse shape if it wasn’t for your crash course over the summer. Very sneaky by the way.” I laugh.
Savvy rolls her eyes. “Your dad wanted to tell you in his own time so I just had to come up with excuses. The stories kept you distracted though.”
I nod in agreement, smiling. “Now, I want Guild stories.”
“Deal.” Savvy leans on her elbow, propping up her head. “I’ve heard the Ravencourt boy has done quite the number on you.”
The blush that spreads is instant, thinking about the night before. Savvy’s eyes widen.
“Oh, Isobel… don’t tell me…”
“He’s annoying.” I hide my face in my hands.
Savvy giggles. “Oh, lord help us, your dad might have an aneurysm. He updated me and said he was sniffing around but I didn’t think you’d sniff back.”
I groan.
I recount the night of the cage and everything since then, realizing how quickly Jace has been able to wiggle through my defenses that were previously so impervious to his bullshit.
Damn.
By the end, Savvy is tapping her chin, humming.
“It seems like Tex knew what he wanted and went for it, while it took Jace some time to figure it out.”
I nod in agreement. “I don’t know what I’m doing.” I throw my hands up. “The things I feel for both of them are so different.”
I stare up at the ceiling.
Savvy sighs heavily. “They are two very different people, but they don’t seem to be rushing you. I mean Jace is claiming you with his macho man act, so I take that back.” Savvy pauses. “Only you can know what’s right for you.”
I chew on my bottom lip. Tex is heat and desire. Jace is ice and control.
“I’ve never had a boyfriend.” My voice is quiet. “Didn’t even allow myself to have crushes because I knew it was useless. How am I going to know what’s right for me?”
My mind races with pros and cons for each. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, trying to slow the stream.
Savvy sits up, putting a hand on my leg. “Only one of them feels like love. My advice is to pick the one that listens, who knows what you need without you ever needing to ask.” She gives me a small smile. “But only you know who fits in that.”
Tex stands there. Duffle slung over his shoulder. Hoodie pulled low. His expression is unreadable. He steps inside, dropping his bag in its usual place. I follow.
When he turns around, he just opens his arms when I step closer, and I walk straight into them like I always do. And it’s the most natural thing in the world.
He holds me for a long time.
No words. No rush. Just his arms wrapped around me, his chin resting on my head, and the steady thud of his heart against my chest like a metronome only I can hear.
I pull back slightly, just enough to look up at him.
There’s a softness in his eyes I don’t see often, something quiet and unrushed beneath the storm. Only showing this side of him when we’re alone. His hand brushes a strand of hair from my face, fingers lingering at my jaw like he’s memorizing the shape of me.
“Rough week,” he says, voice low.
“Understatement of the year.”
He smiles — that crooked half-smile that always feels like a secret — and leans in to press his forehead to mine.
“You okay?” he murmurs.
“No,” I whisper. “But I am with you.”
His breath hitches, just a little.
His hands move up my body until they land on my shoulders, giving them a gentle squeeze.
“You’re tense.”
“How can I not be?” I throw my hands up. “We’re about to go head-to-head with Daniel and I’m trying to remember that I’m some badass Guild member, not a weak little girl who was beaten up so he could feel strong.”
Tex watches me, then pulls out his phone.
“What you doing?” I place my hands on my hips. “I’m talking to you.”
“I know.” He nods as he taps on his phone, connecting it to my TV, and upbeat music starts to play. “But I don’t think you need another conversation, you need movement.”
He walks over, taking my hands in his, moving me back and forth.
I scowl at him, and he laughs.
“You need to dance it out, Iz. Can’t have you going into this mission with your shoulders at your ears.”
He spins me around and tickles my sides. I giggle and squirm.
“There you go! Loosen up!” He claps to the beat, moving his shoulders.
I smile as I watch him. He moves his head side to side, making silly faces at me while he pumps his arms.
“I thought you were good at dancing.” I giggle.
“I can be, but letting loose isn’t about being good; it’s about releasing the tension. Go with the flow.” He shimmies around me, then does an awkward twerk against me.
We laugh together, and I jump and just let my limbs fall where they do.
He continues wiggling and making faces. His knees go in and out as he moves his arms in front of him, while bobbing his head like a chicken.
We jump together and sing. He raps “Baby Got Back” and doesn’t miss a single word. Tex beams when I laugh, while every time I make him laugh, the tension drains out of me faster and faster. Each muscle in my body relaxing.
He wraps his arms around me, kissing my forehead, then my nose.
“There she is.” He smiles down at me.
I roll my eyes at him, and he chuckles.
“You can’t tell me you don’t feel better.” He kisses me.
“I do.” I wrap my arms around his neck.
“You gotta have fun every once in a while.”
“What is this ‘fun’ you speak of?” I smirk.
He grins and tickles my sides again, my legs threatening to crumple before he scoops me up in his arms.
“I will never get tired of hearing your laugh.” He spins us around, and I laugh again.
“You’re good at pulling it out of me.” I kiss his cheek. “Thank you, Tex.”
“Anything for you, Iz.”