Page 95 of Dr. Stone
“It is,” Jace said. “I understand this might seem confusing, but Andie is not with Titus. She’s with me, should either of you be reeling with judgment or curiosity.” Jace wasn’t being rude, merely setting the tone, making it clear that any assumptions or stories about me, him, and Titus needed to stop before they even started.
I remained as calm as I could, still embarrassed that I couldn’t recall their names and that any of this needed to be made clear in the first place. Looking around at the people in attendance, thinking about how many of the people at this event quite literally ran the world in one aspect or another, it made me wonder if his parents thought both Jace and Titus had lost their minds by associating with me in the first place.
“I’m glad that is cleared up,” Victoria said, drawing an end to the conversation.
It felt like there should’ve been so much more conversation, but honestly, what were we supposed to say, that I was a one-night stand that Jace couldn’t get out of his head? Then I started seeing Titus and enjoying the fact that both men wanted me, all while being a single mom and leaving my child with a babysitter while I wore rare jewels and tailored gowns?
Jesus Christ, I’m glad I didn’t say that out loud because just thinking about it made me feel a little disgusted with myself.
“Good evening,” Titus said, practically manifesting into the conversation as if the Spaniard god had been summoned.
“Evening, Titus,” Everett acknowledged.
“Hey, man,” Jace said, his voice now tense.
I suddenly felt like shit that my games had put him in this position on a night when his parents should have been focusing on being proud of him for saving a life.
“Titus, darling,” Victoria smiled, “we were just being reintroduced to the lovely Andie, whom we met in Costa Rica. I assume you remember?”
“Of course, I do.” He turned and winked, as if to say,Calm the fuck down, I’ve got this.“And I’ll say to you now, Miss Miller, just as I did that evening when you so humbly offered to support my efforts in my mother’s memory.” He took my hand and kissed the air above it. “I’m honored to be in your company again.” Then he looked over at Jace. “In fact, that’s why I’m here. I look forward to catching up with you and your lovely woman once you’re finished here. I’ll be with the Mitchells and Asters where they’re seated, having drinks with their wives.” He stepped back, and all I could do was smile in amazement that he’d somehow instantly cleared the stain on my name from that whole play-dating thing.
“Thanks, buddy. We’ll be over in a minute,” Jace said, his voice seemingly humored, as if these guys frequently bailed each other out of trouble within this circle of peers.
“As I told you before,” Titus said, his Spanish accent thick with seduction and authority, “you are truly a lucky man. If she wasn’t yours before I brought her to Costa Rica, I might have changed my ways, especially after she sparkled there with a reverent beauty that outshone every other woman in attendance.”
Jace chuckled. “I’m just thankful you stuck to your word,” he said as his parents remained silent, studying the exchange.
“That I did, and I still will stick to the same word I gave when I returned her safely to you, untouched and unharmed.” He took a sip of his untouched bourbon, “Break her heart, and I will ensure it will never happen again.” His brows lifted in subtle humor before he vanished into the crowd as effortlessly as he had appeared.
“Well, now that’s all cleared up, I’m quite confident you have guests to attend to,” Victoria said.
“Thank you,” Jace said.
“Lovely to see you again, my dear,” Everett said, his expression that of a man entirely at ease in a world I clearly did not belong in.
After leaving them, we turned down a stone path, and I inhaled sharply, trying not to overthink what was said, how it was said, or what conclusions they might draw about the piece of trash I felt like in that moment.
“Relax, gorgeous,” Jace said, lacing his fingers tightly through mine, securing me to him. “Nothing about their opinions should ever concern you. My opinion, and those of the people who know and love you, are the only ones that matter.”
I exhaled in relief. “That makes me feel a bit better, but damn,” I shook my head. “I don’t even know how to explain howthat conversation makes me feel, talking about dating Titus, and now here I am, meeting them again while I’m with their son. Honestly, I feel like a piece?—”
“No way in hell am I allowing you to go there,” he interrupted as we walked under a canopy of twinkling lights. “Think of it how Titus put it. You were mine when Hawk swept you off to Costa Rica, correct?”
“I was, I just didn’t know it yet.” I nudged him, loosening up a little more.
“Hawk knew it, or he wouldn’t have defended your honor like that,” Jace said. “Titus might be a great white shark in business, but he’s salt of the earth. His heart’s bigger than his ego, and he doesn’t lie or play games.”
“But I kissed him.” I cringed. “Or rather…he kissed me, and I let him.”
“I know.” His mouth curved into a smirk. “That was right before you became the first woman in history to break things off with him.”
“Wait—how do you know that?”
“Titus is a childhood friend of mine, Gorgeous. That man would never go behind my back. I let him believe you were just like any other woman I’d been with, so he enjoyed the chase and the win. But once he saw what you really meant to me? He called and apologized for eventhinkinghe might’ve stolen my girl.”
“Lord.” I groaned. “I’m just glad it all ended well.”
“Me too,” he said softly. “Hawk’s a good man. I appreciated the call—though I gave him hell for it.”
