Lennox
Ican’t seem to force myself to look up at anyone. Mostly because I’m trying to avoid the look of disappointment and shame in Jace’s eyes.
The anger radiated off him like a visible steam on the car ride back from the cabin and neither one of us spoke one word to each other.
I had also never experienced anything like that with the paparazzi before. Photographers lined the sides of the dirt road, practically blocking us in as we were attempting to leave.
They were feral for another shot of us together.
Is this what this is going to be like the entire time?
Jace’s agent is squatting down next to him whispering questions but I can still hear everything he is saying. He doesn’t want Jace to worry about the image he’s worked so hard to earn.
I don’t blame him, but if I’ve gotten to know anything about Jace when I was isolated with him over the past few days, it’s that the golden boy image is a response of his reaction to his upbringing and what I’ve seen in the media with his parents.
Jace is hiding. Hiding his true self from people to paint an image of what he thinks people want, or what his parents want.
Then his agent says, “It’s not too late to walk away from this.”
It’s the first thing anyone has said that forces my need to look over at Jace.
He must see my movement out of his periphery as his head turns in my direction.
Silence passes between us. There are no spoken words but so much is screaming behind his eyes.
I tilt my chin up in confidence.
I’m in. I’m still so fucking in. Pleading with my gaze that he sees my silent admission.
Pierre stops typing on his keyboard and this is the first moment he’s paying attention to anything happening in the room. His expression shifts as a small smirk tips at the corner of his mouth before he returns back to his computer.
“Whatever it takes,” Jace whispers, causing me to look back at him. His eyes are boring into mine and mine alone. I can almost see the reflection of the firepit burning behind his eyes when we opened up to each other about how important this is for us.
I’m warped back into the moments we had, my body shivers at the memory of that all-consuming kiss, the one that was supposed to be nothing but a scene, even though it drenched my body in pure burning lust.
His words are a statement, not a question. If we’re going to do this, lean into whatever is happening between us—regardless if it’s all an act for him—we have to be in this together.
Differences aside, that’s something we’ve both been on the same page for since the beginning and I want him to know nothing will stop me from changing my mind.
I’m still at a loss for words—a first for me, so I give him a sharp nod because I want him to take the lead. Maybe I’m just trying to make up for my impulsive decision last night that put us in this predicament.
No fucking regrets though.
My social media image is dominant and powerful. Sure, intentionally immature at times, but I’m always in control, sure of who I am and what I want. For some reason with Jace I don’t feel the need to take the reins and I have no idea how he brings that out in me.
He avoids looking back at Gordon and turns his attention completely to Sofia.
“What do you need us to do?”