Page 98 of My Turn

Jayce pressed his lips to mine, silencing my thoughts.

Suddenly, everything felt okay again.

*****

December was a bitch. The air hurt my face and made me grumpy. I didn’t know why I still lived in New York. This place sucked. Maybe I could convince Jayce that we needed to move.

I stopped walking abruptly. Somehow, in a matter of weeks, we’d reached a place where I was speaking about us as a unit. I’d just imagined us moving somewhere new together. That was insane, yet it didn’t feel wrong.

Rubbing my hands together, I started walking again. I’d have to remember gloves next time. That was something I always forgot. I hated them, though. They were like socks for your hands. I hated socks too.

I reached my car and swung my foot underneath the trunk. The door slowly rose and when I dropped my bags in, I felt a sense of relief. Christmas was two weeks away, which felt like plenty of time, but whenever I said that, I ended up shopping last-minute. This year, I’d done it early. Things were looking up.

A scream left me when I turned around. Putting a hand over my chest, I narrowed my eyes at Mike.

“What are you doing here?” I demanded.

He gestured around the space. “Christmas shopping, just like you.”

“Cool.”

I stepped away from him, but he followed. It was like the moment with Preston in the parking lot, except I feared Mike. Not too long ago, I thought he was sweet and incapable of hurting anyone. I still didn’t think he’d actually attack me or anything, but I had to be wary of him.

“Do you need something?” I asked, trying to sound friendly.

“Actually, yeah. I wanted to talk to you about Alicia.”

My shoulders tensed. “That’s not something I can do. Besides, the case is still going. I can’t get involved.”

“Please,” he insisted. When he stepped forward, I tried not to panic.

“Mike, this really isn’t my business. I’m not part of this.”

“But you can be. Jake wanted you to be.”

“And what would be the point?”

“We can help each other. I just… I want my daughter back.”

His eyes fell to the ground. Part of me softened, but I couldn’t forget that he’d tried to use me. That was before Ron and Sara filed for custody, which meant it was about money. The thought made me sick.

“I’m not going to help you,” I said firmly.

He caught my arm, keeping me from getting into my car. I kicked his knee and he nearly fell, but he maintained his hold on me.

A tall figure appeared behind Mike and wrapped an arm around his neck. He immediately let me go to focus on the new threat. He jabbed his elbows backward, but he was stuck in a chokehold.

“Jayce,” I breathed, both relieved and shocked by his appearance.

He removed his arm and whirled Mike around. When he shoved him into the side of my SUV, I gasped.

“Stop it,” I demanded.

“You don’t fucking touch her,” Jayce growled. His eyes were wild with fury as he stared at Mike. “What’s so hard for you to understand? Cornering Alana… That’s the dumbest move you can make.”

Mike spat at him- brave and incredibly stupid. “We were talking. It’s none of your business.”

“Everything that has to do with Alana is my business.” Jayce flicked his wrist, opening up a very scary knife. When he held it up to Mike’s throat, I stepped toward him.

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