Page 49 of Jace

Reaching out I place my hand against her hip, needing to feel her as I continue to scroll through the images. Not even one was of us together and I think that is the part I hate the most. They were all captured in moments when I wasn’t paying attention. Times when whatever I was doing seemed somehow more important than the woman who was taking them.

My chest grows tight when I realize that I know so little about who the woman lying next to me was before I hurt her. Before she met all of us and grew wearyof everything and everyone around her. What was she like as a child, as a teen, or hell even two years ago before she walked into Deranged Ink?

She stirs at my side and I curl my body closer, holding the phone up as I press a kiss to her forehead, I snap the picture. Vowing right then that I'd fill her memory on her phone with images of us together instead.

Climbing into the Tahoe behind Aurora, I slide as close as I can get, allowing room for Zac at my opposite side. Then Presley climbs in, strapping the little guy into the booster seat at her side. All of us riding to the Venue with Luna and Oliver, Bree and Daxton drove up yesterday with Craig and Sonya.

I notice how Presley is doing everything she can do to avoid direct eye contact with Zac.

Her hands trembled as she buckled her son into his seat, and when Zac attempted to tighten the belt, she shot him a scowl. "I've got it."

Instantly his hands went up in the air, as he leaned back in the seat.

Something is boiling there. I'm not sure what, but whatever it is that shit was going to blow soon. Zac's nostrils flare, his jaw tenses, and he looks out the window at his side.

With Presley now facing forward, refusing to say anything more I shift my attention to Ror and she looks as confused as I feel.

"I don't know," she mouths the words with a shrug.

For the next two and a half hours I play on my phone ignoring the tension that is continuing to build.

Aurora does her best to cut through the uneasy, by playing with Kayson, letting him watch cartoons on her phone, tickling him when he gets antsy.

I don't miss the way Zac watches him and the scowl he wears cracks when the little man laughs. A few times he almost reacted by saying something or reached out, only to stop himself, then looking at Presley. She of course never once looked back, only a stiff shift of her body toward her son whenever she needed to react.

At the point when we drive past the location of the accident, I place my arm around Aurora, pulling her body close and pressing my lips to her temple. The memory of the paramedics lifting her up out of the ditch, doing all they could to resuscitateher. It knocks the breath out of me.

Instantly she places her hand on my thigh and leans into my touch. We stay this way for several miles, the radio playing, drowning out the silence. Luna and Oliver talking up front among themselves. The sweet smell of Aurora’s lavender shampoo the softness of her skin next to mine, I close my eyes and find I am completely content.

Soon we are driving up a long lane, leading to the venue. An enormous rustic barn, beautifully decorated, setting atop a hill.

I know Daxton has to hate all the frilly girly shit, but he’d do anything for Bree. Even if that meant he had to dress up like a penguin and dance his way down an aisle. He’d give her all she asked for and more.

“Wow.” It’s the first word that Presley spoke loud enough for any of us to hear since we left Bear Creek hours ago. But she is only saying what we are all thinking. The place is like a dream, white sheer materials blowing around in the light breeze. Like a scene straight out of a Disney fairytale.

“You know Dax is hating all this shit.” Oliver chuckles and Luna scowls at him as we all climb out of the SUV. “What babe,” he waves his arms around at all the decorations, “you know I’m not lying.”

“Hate it or not, he is doing it.” Aurora interrupts, teaming up with Luna to corner Olly. Both of them with their arms crossed over their chest staring at him. “It’s what you do for someone you love.” She adds.

Of course he looks back over his shoulder looking to me for help, but I offer him nothing. I’m a smart guy, or at least I’m getting smarter. I’m learning this relationship shit quickly You never argue with an irritated woman. Especially if you plan on sleeping soundly next to one of those women.

There was no way I was bunking with Oliver.

“Baby, I’d marry you in a tutu if that’s what you wanted.” I ignore the dirty look that Oliver is giving me and look at Ror instead. Her nose scrunches up and instantly she starts to laugh.

“You really have lost your balls.” Olly chuckles grabbing the bags out of the back hatch.

“Balls, balls, balls,” Kayson starts singing as he dances around in a circle waving his arms.

Zac laughs, Presley offers him a dirty look, before snatching up her son and walking off.

“This fucking weekend is going to be a joy,” he shakes his head. Bending down he lifts his duffle bag, tossing it over his shoulder. “Can someone please tell the ice queen that I wasn’t the one that said balls loud enough for her kid to hear.”

He doesn’t wait for anyone to respond, instead he walks off in the opposite direction leaving Aurora, Luna, Oliver and I to stare after them.

“Will someone explain to me what in the hell is going on there?” Oliver asks but there is a long pause before anyone says a word. It’s something I’ve never been good at, its uncomfortable and of course in those situations I have to chime in.

“Pent up sexual frustration.” All three look at me. “What? They’ve had it, they enjoyed it and now they are both pretending they don’t want it again, which is a fucking joke.”

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