Page 69 of Tainted Romance

"Um, hi." I frowned. He was the last person I would expect to see here, although I guess I was, so it didn’t rule out someone else having the crazy idea of crashing here also."Can I help you?"

Seeing as he was blankly staring at me, I guessed there was something he wanted.

"I'm Jace." He shot a hand out. "I didn't get a chance to introduce myself the other day."

"Um, Allie." I took his hand. "Sorry about that. My friend is a little dramatic."

"Yeah, figured that." He blew out a long breath, looking slightly more relaxed.

For someone as good looking as him, he seemed to be full of nerves. I couldn't lie and say he wasn't good looking because he was, his sharp features were what models were made of.

"You're dressed up for a late night of studying." He nodded to my outfit.

I suppose I was. "Wasn't the planned destination." I moved on the couch to makeroom for him. "Welcome to join me if you want."

"Thanks."Heunbuttoned the top button of his suitshirt and loosened his tie.

"So, what's your story? Doesn't look like you dressed for a late-night study session." I said, takingin his black suit pants, ironedlong sleeve black shirt, and white tie.

"Yeah. Tonight's, well, been complicated," he muttered,staring down at the carpet.

"Do you come here often?" I asked him. "Or is this a one-off thing?"

Jace turned his head to the side to look at me. "Never been here before in my life."

I suppressed a smile. "Me either."

"First for both of us then."

"Yep."

We shared a smile, but it was his flawless grin that turned something in my stomach, which really had me wanting to hit myself. Seriously, a smile could get that reaction out of me! It was depressing and desperate all at the same time.

"So, are you new at school or something? I haven't seen you around much." I attempted to recall seeing him around the place, but I was coming up blank. Apart from that awkward conversation in the classroom, I couldn't place him.

Jace's smile fell, and he again turned to stare at the floor. "I was just visiting the school."

"I didn't turn you off it, did I?" I joked while closing the book I had been reading. Then I snapped my fingers, remembering. "You said you had a few classes with me, oh, and you had notes. How did you have all those notes if you were just visiting?"

Ok, maybe I was sticking my nose where it didn't belong.

Jace leaned back on the couch. "Didn't say I had only visited on that day. I actually had been there a few weeks, but my dad is…" His expression darkened. "Controlling."

I could relate to that. "Parents, they are useless, right?" I gave him a reassuring smile. By the distant look on his face, I could tell that his mind was elsewhere.

"Do you want to get something to eat?" he asked out of nowhere, breaking the silence between us. He stood, placing a hand out for me to take. "Come on, it's on me."

Ok. That changed quickly. I tilted my head to the side, looking up at him. "What changed?"

"What do you mean?"

"You aren't nearly as nervous as you were five minutes ago. Actually, you even look more relaxed."

That grin made a reappearance. "Just realized something. So, are you in or not?"

I placed the book on the coffee table. "Depends."

"On?"

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