Page 35 of Ruined

I don’t know how long I stand there until Luna comes out carrying two bags. Placing them down on the counter, she laughs.

“What?” I raise a brow at her.

“You’re so fucked.” She continues to laugh.

I hang my head. Don’t I fucking know it.

12

You’d think I’ve never kissed anyone with the way I’m giggling, screaming, and near the verge of throwing up. Mind the fact that I have indeedneverbeen kissed before. But either those waffles Jace made me are causing me to feel slightly ill, or it’s the fact my heart is going to rip from my ribcage. I don’t understand why he kissed me. But I’m too chicken-shit to ask or to even look at him.

After our kiss, Jace barely spoke to me unless he was ordering me around like a damn puppet. He told me to shower, and I did. He ordered me to just sit on the couch and again, I did. All while he packed a bag of snacks and some of Luna’s clothes for me.

Just like she conveniently handed me a small whiteboard and marker so I could talk to Jace and not waste so much paper. The bitch even has an extra car. Why does she have so many extra things just hanging around?

I didn’t want to like her, but it’s hard when she’s just so freaking nice. How can someone be that nice?

Two hours later, I pull my knees to my chest, resting my head against the window. Some country songs filter through the speaker on low. I find myselfpeeking out from my hood at Jace as he hums along. I never would’ve assumed he’d be a country fan. But I’m finding myself wanting to know more and more about him.

Why did he take this job?

It’s clear my family never told him what happened to me, not that they know much. No one knows because besides Gabriel, none of them have seen my body.

Am I still just a job to him?

Our kiss must not have changed anything because Jace still hasn’t talked to me other than when he was ordering me around before we left. Was it truly that bad? I know I have no idea what I’m doing. I was sheltered growing up, and I still am. Not that I don’t mind so much now. I like being alone in my room, hating my life. But I like being around Jace.

He’s making life less hateful, less…painful. Even with the memories, even if I’m running for my life. Jace makes everything just a little less, and I don’t know how to handle that. Do I let him in? Do I put my life in someone else’s hands like that? Do I let him show me that the world might not be as scary as I think?

Can I trust him?

Laying my head against the window, I faintly feel Jace place his hand on my thigh. I tense. It’s just Jace. Just the man who kissed you and let you spoon him all night,I remind myself.

“Sleep, Sunshine,” Jace whispers.

Nodding against the glass, I take a deep breath, feeling myself relax. There’s only one way to find out if I can trust Jace with more than just my life.

I wake up as the door shuts. My eyes flutter open, the sun already set and the moonlight shining. Glancing around, I take in the gas station in the middle of nowhere. I peek out the driver’s side window and see Jace standing there stretching. With the hem of his shirt lifting enough I can see part of his happy trail. I chew on my lip, knowing I should look away, but I find myself enjoying being able to see him. I’m not all too sure how to feel about this. Henry destroyed me. He took something that wasn’t his. He ruined me.

The driver-side door opens, and Jace bends down, poking his head inside.

“I’m going inside to use the bathroom, grab some caffeine—”

I cut him off, unbuckling my seatbelt and shoving the door open. If he thinks I’m just going to sit in the car, he has another thing coming.

“Figured you’d want to come in,” he mutters. Walking around the car, I stop in front of Jace, looking up. Being five foot four, I’m used to everyone being taller than me, and ever since what happened I’ve been almost terrified of them. Jace, I’m not afraid of, and it’s refreshing.

Jace nods towards the gas station. Turning on my heel, Jace follows close behind me. He opens the door for me, and we head to the bathroom.

“Blake,” Jace stops me. Hand raised to open the door, I stop, frowning up at him. “Let me check,” he says.

Leaving no room for argument, Jace moves around me into the women’s bathroom. I prop the door open as he steps inside, peeking around the toilet.I almost laugh at him but stop myself when I remember that I’ve in fact been attacked twice since leaving my parents’ house a few days ago.

“Still have those scissors?” he asks, standing in front of me.

Nodding, I tap my pocket where they rest.

“Stab anyone who isn’t me if they come in here,” he says. “And lock the door behind me.”

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