Page 51 of The Invite
“You can stay a little longer if you want,” I reply to Ace, unable to let him leave. “I can make coffee.”
Say yes. Say yes. Say yes.
“I do love a good cup of coffee,” he replies, smirking. “I’ll stay.”
“Cool.”
“Can you point me to the restroom?”
“Of course.” I revert. “It’s right down the hall on your left.”
“Thanks.”
Once he goes, I grab two cups from the cupboard while turning on the coffee maker. It’s nothing fancy but does its job. While it brews, I run into the living room to grab my phone and check the time.
It sits on the couch and as soon as I touch it, the screen lights up. At the top of the notifications, there’s a text waiting from Augustus. It reads he sent it a few seconds ago and his message glares at me, stealing the air out of my lungs.
@thedeviluworship: Send him home, Nessa.
Somehow his saying my first name sounds more dangerous than all the other nicknames he calls me.
Infuriation also burns in my veins at his order.
The last thing I should do is engage with him but my emotions are running high. Because I don’t have any self-preservation when it comes to him, I change my username with one that is bound to make him mad. A blatant middle finger in his smug face. Afterward, I open the chat and reply to him.
@nessatheatheist: No.
Once done, I close my phone, put it on silent, and straighten. I turn just as Ace rounds the corner into the room.
“The coffee should be done,” I tell him. “I’ll quickly grab it.”
He nods and takes a seat. I go to the kitchen and pour our coffees, and bring out thechocolate chip cookies I bought when grocery shopping. Grabbing the sugar, I carry everything into the living room.
When he sees my hands full, he rushes to help, and admonishes, “You could’ve called me.”
“It’s fine. I didn’t know how much sugar you like, so I haven’t added any in yours.” I sit down beside him and watch him put half a teaspoon of sugar and swirl it. I take a sip of mine and sigh in pleasure.
“This is good,” praises Ace after taking a sip of his.
“Thanks.” Holding my cup, I ask him, “Where did you grow up before moving here?”
“I lived with my aunt in New York before coming here three years ago.” Stretching one arm over the couch, he asks, “Why did you choose this town?”
So nobody finds me.
“I grew up in a big city too. I used to love the hustle and bustle. The fast-paced life, but after losing my parents, it all felt empty and meaningless. Everyone was running after materialistic things. I just didn’t want to be around it anymore. So, I came here.”
There’s an understanding in Ace’s gaze because something tells me he came here for the same reason.
“I hope this place becomes your home, Nessa,” he says.
It’s a cage of my own making. But I hope to fool myself into making it my home for as long aspossible. That’s if I escape Augustus’s wrath first. There seems to be no end in sight anytime soon.
“Do you think about settling down here?”
“Yes,” he answers after a beat, then takes another sip. “Once I find the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with, I’m convincing her to stay here.”
“If she’s anything like you, I don’t think you’ll need much convincing.”
