Page 3 of Jace

I never in a million years would have guessed that Zac would be my lifeline. It’s eerie how well he can read me. Even half across town he knows without asking.

Zac: I love the guy, but he’s a fool.

I can’t respond, I don’t want to talk about it. It’s always the same, me in the end feeling hopeless and sad.

I wish it was Zac I had these feelings for, it’d be so much easier. He’s all hard and surly on the outside. He looks like he could be the biggest asshole, but truth be told the guy is a hidden gem. He’s a protector and one of the kindest people I know.

I close my eyes, taking a slow, deep breath.

Zac: We still on for movies this weekend?

Me: Nothing scary, unless you plan on sleeping on my couch again?

He doesn’t respond but I can picture him laughing. Never again will I allow Zac to choose the movie. He’s horrible at it!

Chapter Two

Jace

Pulling a bottle of water out of the fridge I unscrew the lid and take a drink. Still slightly hungover from the night before feeling like I can’t get hydrated.

A buzzing sound, like something vibrating against the countertop gains my attention and I turn around to find Zac’s phone on the counter.

Aurora

Seeing her name light up the screen immediately leaves a sour feeling in my stomach.

I lift it, tempted to answer the call but it stops ringing.

I would have let it go, but the message that follows has my body humming with irritation before I gain control of it.

Aurora: Please tell me you bought a nice shirt to wear to dinner tonight.

I stare at the message until it disappears. Gripping his phone tighter, the longer I stand there the more pissed off I become. Feeling like I’ve been kicked in the nuts I push off the counter and walk down the hall toward Zac’s room.

He steps out patting his back pocket and looking around, before looking up to see me moving toward him.

“Looking for this?” I hold up his phone and immediately he reaches for it.

“Yeah,” I sense his nervousness.

“She wants to know if you have a nice shirt for tonight,” I shove his phone into his hand a little harder than I meant to, but fuck my heart is racing. His brows scrunch up like he’s confused but I know the fucker far too well for him to fool me.

“Don’t play dumb man,” I take another step toward him. “You and Aurora,” my chest is heaving. I have no fucking right to tell her who she can or can’t be with. But Zac, that shits fucked up.

He looks past my shoulder but I don’t look to see who is behind me. Instead I continue to stare at the man I consider to be my brother, feeling the worst sense of betrayal.

Instead of him responding he turns around and walks toward the back door with me hot on his heels.

“You want to tell me something?” I shove open the door, making it smack against the outside wall with a loud crack.

“What do you want me to say?” Zac shoves his phone into his back pocket.

“How about the fucking truth,” my voice echoes off the building and over the alley behind the shop.

“What’s going on out here?” Daxton comes storming out of the shop followed by Olly. They are both looking between the two of us, seemingly confused.

“Seems that Zac here has a secret.”

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