Page 29 of Ruined

Glancing back at the house, I shake my head. I can’t leave nor do I want to. Blake needs me here, and I’m afraid if I leave, she might run off. Or worse, we’re somehow still being tracked, and those that are after her come back.

“She hasn’t come out of the bedroom?” Luna asks.

“No, I think I’m going to go in and try to lure her out. Got any more sweets in here?” I chuckle. I don’t understand how someone can love sweets as much as she does, but Blake could eat them all day.

“I think I have another thing of cinnamon rolls, and there’s ice cream, possibly,” she says, tapping her finger on her lips. Luna continues to think. “I think if you dig in the cabinet far enough there might be a bag or two of candy.”

Nodding my head, I mutter, “Thanks.”

“Of course, uh… okay, I’ll be back. You guys leaving in the morning?”

“Yeah, I think one more good night’s rest, and we should be good.”

“Okay, uh, bye,” Luna mumbles. Turning on her feet, she rushes off to her car. I watch until her taillights become a blur down the mountain until I can no longer see them.

Time to go wake the sleeping stabby girl.

I watch Luna and Jace talk briefly before she gets into her car and drives off. Jace watches the entire time, not moving until she’s gone, and the lights disappear. I wait a moment, staring at him as he moves up the stairs, realizing he’s most likely going to come looking for me. Shutting the curtains, I tiptoe back into the bathroom, shutting the door and trying the lock, forgetting again that Jace had broken it yesterday. It makes me uneasy, and the fact I had fallen asleep in the tub, not knowing that anyone could just come in here…

Shaking my head, I refuse to think about what could happen. Jace wouldn’t let anyone hurt me, he said so himself. And so far, he’s proven that—saving me twice and the fact he would hurt Luna, someone he obviously once had something with.

Looking over at the tub, I bite my lip. I should crawl back inside and pretend to sleep. But I know that wouldn’t matter to him. He’ll wake me up since I’ve been pretending to sleep most of the day. And now that Luna is away, I bet he is going to try and l—

“Blake,” Jace calls from outside the door.

Rolling my eyes, I don’t give him time to knock or just walk in. Not with the lock being broken. I swing the door open and Jace jerks back, either surprised I opened the door the first time he called my name or because my hood is down for the first time.

“You’re awake,” he mutters.

Nodding my head, I shift on my feet, suddenly second-guessing my decision to not act like I’m asleep.

“Come on, let’s get out of this room,” he says, smiling down at me. Stepping out of the way, he holds his arm out towards the bedroom door, motioning for me to leave the room. Pressing my lips together, I cock my head at him. I feel a little more comfortable with Luna being gone and it only being Jace and me.

“Come on, Luna said there’s some ice cream, possibly candy out here,” Jace smirks.

I smile at the idea of getting my hands on some ice cream. It’s been a long few days without any. And wherever Jace is taking me, I have a feeling I might not get any again.

“Ah, got you there.” He chuckles. “Come on.” Jace turns, leading me into the living room. Keeping my hands in my pocket, I keep my finger against the scissors.

Standing in the middle of the living room, Jace continues into the kitchen, searching around in the cabinets. Is this what it’s going to be like when we get to wherever we’re going? Jace being nice, earning my trust… But what happens when I do trust him? Will he change?

“Blake?”

Snapping my head over, Jace stands a few feet away from me, holding a carton of ice cream and two spoons.

“I asked if you want chocolate or vanilla.”

Looking at his hand, I see he holds the chocolate, inclining my head towards the carton.

“Wonderful choice, I think vanilla is a little too plain for my taste,” he smirks, wiggling his eyebrows. My face heats, biting my inner cheek, and the idea of having Jace in that way suddenly enters my head. Ever since Henry, I never thought I would think of men that way again. Henry destroyed something inside me when he ripped me apart. But thinking of Jace, and him not being sovanilla,I think I want that. And I’m not sure how I feel about that.

“Come on, let’s watch a movie.” Thankfully he changes the subject, which barely even got started. “What kind do you prefer?” he asks, reaching over for the notepad and pen. Handing it over, I take it and quickly write downaction.

I used to like horror, sometimes romantic, but the idea of watching a horror movie makes me want to jump out of my skin. And romantic, I think I might get the idea to jump Jace. Which, that cannot happen.

Jace sets the ice cream and spoons down before grabbing the remote. We both sit down on the couch at the same time, nearly bumping into each other. I swear if my face could get any redder it would, and it doesn’t help that I’m naturally pale.

Jace on the other hand doesn’t seem to notice, or he chooses to ignore it. Grabbing the ice cream and spoons, he hands one to me before sitting back. Throwing his feet up, he leans back, turning the TV on. Switching on one program, he scrolls through. I bite my lip, my eyes bouncing between the TV and the ice cream.

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