Page 47 of The Comeback Road
“I, uh…I’m sorry,” I said weakly. I didn’t know what else to say.
“Don’t apologize to me,” his voice tickled my neck, and I found myself breaking out into goosebumps. “Do you want to talk about it?”Maybe.I looked up at him, about to tell him just that, when Luke came bursting through at that moment.
“Lex?” he bellowed, taking in the situation. He tried to pull me from Jace, but I just gripped Jace’s shirt tighter. I wanted to stay right there.
“I know you’ll probably kick my ass, man, but let her gonow,” Jace seethed. I felt the way his muscles tightened around me, and I buried my face closer into his chest.
Luke must have realized how I clung to Jace because he backed off almost immediately. “Lex…”
“Go away.”
“Lex…please, you have to understand,” he all but pleaded, flickers of agony bleeding through. “I can’t tell you. Just know we are working on it.”
“That’s not good enough.” I felt furious. Absolutefuryconsumed me. “I killed someone to get exactly what we needed, and I wear his death around my neck every fucking day.Every day.I wonder if he had a wife, if he had kids, if it was just a job to him. But I could live with myself, knowing we saved people, knowing we made it out. How can you expect me to live with myself when we left Zed there? He has a family.” I didn’t scream, my words coming out in an anguished whisper, begging for understanding.
“Lexie, you would have died if I let you. You both could have died, and in that moment, I made a choice.”
“You chose wrong.” And I felt Jace’s arms tighten around me to the point where I was pretty sure I’d have bruises. I felt his entire body shaking at my admission of everything.
“No, I didn’t.” Luke turned on his heel and left the kitchen, and I realized we weren’t alone. Everyone stood, looking at me with a mixture of emotions.
Christmas and a show.
Chapter Forty-Eight
Jace
I held her as tightly as I possibly could, convincing myself that Lexie was there, that she was safe.
She’s here, and she’s safe.
She’s here, and she’s safe.
I felt the tremors in her body slowly fade as she continued to lean into me. Her breath was shaky, and I couldn’t kick the feeling of dread that had washed over me and settled in at her confessions. She seemed so strong and fragile at the same time. The kitchen and the looks of everyone else felt stifling, but I did my best to have it all fade into the background as I focused solely on her.
“Hey,” I murmured softly, rubbing her back gently. “You’re okay, Starlight. I’ve got you. I’m never letting go.”
What felt like too soon, Magnolia broke the silence. Her eyes were soft with understanding but glistening, and I knew she needed to feel a connection with Lexie in that moment, as if to remind herself that she was still there, just like I had. “I think Lexie needs some time with her friend.” And with that, shepulled her away from me, and instead of clinging to me like she had before, Lexie let go and gravitated toward Magnolia.
I watched them move out of the kitchen and into a quieter, more private part of the house, and my focus shifted. The tension in my chest had barely loosened. I was fixated, watching the spot where Lexie had just disappeared from.
“Jace?” Jess’ voice cut through my haze, and I turned toward her, suddenly aware of her presence again.
“What?” I asked, maybe a little too harshly.
“I just wanted to see if you were okay. That was..well..intense.”
I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. Jess had always been nice, and I knew that was all she was trying to do, but her presence just seemed to grate on me. “I just want her to be okay.” I focused again on the spot Lexie had just been.
“She will be.” Jess offered me a reassuring smile, and then walked away to join the others, who were still hanging out in the background, giving everyone space. Before I could walk over to them, Magnolia reappeared with Lexie, who looked a little more composed, but with red-rimmed eyes that broke my heart. “Dinner’s ready!” Magnolia announced, her voice breaking whatever tension still hung in the air, letting us know that we were moving on from what just transpired.
As we settled at the table, I tried to shake off the heaviness of Lexie’s confession. The atmosphere felt stilted, awkward, and we tried to fill it with forced laughter. But as the first glasses of wine were poured, the warmth of the room and Christmas set up began to seep back in.
Raya, ever the distraction, leaned over excitedly toward Lexie, her eyes wide. “Since you’re the coolest, can I sit with you?” Her face lit up, like that was exactly what she needed. “Absolutely, kid. It’s the one thing I asked for this Christmas.” She winked at her while she reached for her.
Lexie ruffled her hair. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and that, mixed with the wine and good food, began to dissipate the tension.
As we all started to dig in. I couldn’t help but watch every single thing that Lexie ate, taking note of how she seemed to eat it, what she liked, what I could make. Before I knew it, I was completely lost in grocery lists and food ideas, not realizing the sudden shift in energy once again.
