Page 80 of Between the Stars

The words “let’s start fresh” have a true meaning now. I’ll need to buy all new clothes, but you know, I’m okay with that if it means I have the one across from me.

Jace sighs, staring at a cup of black coffee in his hand and me at my cell phone. I send a quick text to my mom, and one to Josie, letting them know I’m fine and I’m heading back to Amarillo with Jace. And then I turn my phone off and focus my attention on the one who kidnapped me again.

“Are you okay?” I ask timidly, trying to gauge his mood by his facial expressions, only he gives away nothing. He’s always been a master at hiding his intentions.

He draws in another careful breath and nods, but doesn’t give words to his gesture.

Fuck. What if he’s regretting this? What if the baby is freaking him out? Should I have waited to say anything? Did I rush into this too soon?

His eyes drift to the waitress who tops off his coffee. I glance out the window to a row of big rigs in the parking lot across the street, and then to the door where two people walk inside.

Jace clears his throat and straightens his posture and the sling on his shoulder supporting his arm. Our eyes meet and he smiles. “What are you thinking, Abigale?”

I smile at his question. He knows me so well. “I’m worried you’re nervous.” I swipe my finger over the condensation building on my water glass and remember hours ago when we were in the back of the Impala, windows steamed up from our heavy breaths. What changed in a matter of hours? Why the awkwardness between us?

Because sex has always been easy for us. Communicating? Well, you know we suck at that part.

He draws his bottom lip between his teeth and smirks. “You’re thinking I’m spooked, aren’t you?”

“No.” I chew on a french fry slowly, trying to hide my feelings as the nausea sends my stomach rolling. “I don’t know.” I sigh, my shoulders sagging. “Maybe this is too much too soon?”

He eyes me carefully. “For youor me?” he asks, an edge of impatience in his words. “Because I’m pretty sure I made my decision when I walked through the doors of that church.”

“I know….” My words trail off.

I watch his face, the determination in his brow and the way his eyes stay locked on mine. His grip on his mug tightens.

He shakes his head. “Jesus. You don’t believe me, do you?”

“I just meant—”

“No bullshit.”

“You’ve made your point.”

“No.” His eyes narrow. “I haven’t if you can’t tell me the truth.”

I nod and reach for his hand on the table, knowing he deserves the truth and no bullshit. “I believe you. But I do worry we’re jumping into this too soon.”

His tongue darts out and sweeps over his bottom lip as a smirk surfaces, but he’s keeping the amusing thoughts to himself. “Do you think I don’t want this?” The stretch of his shirt across his chest catches my gaze. His heated and never pure eyes find mind. I can almost hear the dirty thought in his mind, but he doesn’t offer them.

The look, it’s paralyzing. No, no, it’s dominance. He knows he owns me.

His voice comes harder, sharper, more… edgy than before as a subtle smile graces his lips. “Do you think I don’t want this?”

I sniff, trying to hold my gaze to his. “I don’t know what to think. This all happened so fast. One minute I’m getting married and the next I’m running away.”

A chuckle works past his lips and his posture stiffens. “You were never going to marry him.”

His words send a shot of adrenaline to my heart. “You sound so sure.” I laugh.

“I am. I know you, and you love me.”

“So why’d you let it get this far. Why not stop it before we got to the church?”

“Needed a grand gesture to prove it to you.”

“Prove what?”

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