Page 19 of Busted String

Stunned, Jace sat there in disbelief as Nico walked away. Jace sat alone at the cafe, staring blankly at the empty chair across from him. Nico walking out left a void that felt impossible to fill. His heart ached with a mix of love and regret. He loved Nico deeply, but the thought of changing his lifestyle—quitting drinking, smoking, and partying—seemed like an insurmountable challenge. He wanted to try, but the fear of failing held him back.

As he nursed his coffee, Mary noticed his distress and approached him. She slid into the seat Nico had vacated, her eyes filled with concern.

“Hey, Jace,” she whispered. “I saw Nico leave. What happened?”

Jace sighed, running a hand through his hair. “He left because I couldn’t commit to changing. He wants me to stop drinking, smoking, and partying. I want to, but…I’m scared, Mary. What if I can’t do it? What if I fail?”

Mary reached out and placed a comforting hand on his. “Jace, I know it’s hard. Change is never easy, especially when it feels like you’re giving up a part of yourself. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I heard rumors that you’re in love with Nico. Is that true?”

“More than anything,” Jace admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Then that’s your motivation,” Mary whispered. “You don’t have to be perfect, and you don’t have to do it all at once. Take it one step at a time. And if you stumble, it’s okay. What’s important is that you’re trying. Nico will see that effort.”

Jace looked into her eyes, finding a glimmer of hope. “But what if I mess up? What if I can’t keep my promise? We all live and work together.”

Mary squeezed his hand reassuringly. “Everyone messes up, Jace. It’s part of being human. The key is to get back up and keep trying. Nico clearly loves you, and he wants to see you make an effort. That’s what matters.”

Jace nodded slowly, feeling a bit of the weight lift from his shoulders. “Thanks, Mary. I needed to hear that.”

She smiled. “Anytime, Jace. You’ve got this. Just take it one day at a time.”

As Mary got up to return to her duties, Jace felt a renewed sense of determination. Maybe he could do this after all. For Nico, for himself, and for them together.

Chapter Ten

Nico

Nico’s frustration with Jace reached its peak, causing him to storm out of the café in a fit of rage. How could he have been so wrong about Jace? Despite knowing Jace loved him, there was a lingering hesitation that clouded his mind. Was Jace asking for an open relationship? Nico would never agree to anything like that, and Jace knew that. As he walked to work off some of his frustration, he could feel the failure weighing heavily on his shoulders. His timing was off, or perhaps there would never be a perfect moment for them. With each lap around the long block, he took in the sights and sounds of the bustling city before finally making his way back to the hotel room. He desperately tried to push thoughts of Jace out of his mind. Nothing would ever become of them as a couple. Jace had made that clear. Mark and Sammie sat around the table eating breakfast.

“Where’s Jace?” Sammie asked.

“He’s at the café.”

“Did you eat?” Mark asked.

“No. I leftJace there.”

“Did something bad happen between you guys?” Sammie adjusted his earring.

“I don’t want to talk about Jace. Mark, have a back-up plan in case Jace doesn’t show up tonight.”

“Why?” Mark asked.

“I don’t know what the fuck he’s doing. He’s too busy trying to score a different fuck every night and pickle himself in alcohol. He might not show. That’s all I’m saying. Be ready to take the lead.”

“Should I talk to him?” Sammie asked.

“No. Leave him alone. I’m getting my own room, so I’ll be there until we leave for the show.” Nico packed up his things. “Call if there is a problem. I’ll have my phone on.”

“Things must be bad for you to get your own room,” Sammie said.

“You know what an asshole he is. I swear I’m ready to leave this group.”

“You can’t leave us. That’s why it’s not good to fuck people in the band. You put us all at risk.”

“Nobody fucked if that is what you think happened in the shower. I’ll see you at eight.”

Nico stormed out of the room, his heart pounding with a mix of anger and hurt. He needed to be alone, away from the tension that had been building between him and Jace. The ultimatum he had given Jace still echoed in his mind: stop smoking, drinking, and partying if he wanted to be with him. Jace’s uncertain response had cut deeper than he expected. He took the elevator to the desk to arrange for a new room.

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