Page 74 of Stolen Fate

“I didn’t know it was still there. I thought I had thrown out all the pictures of Camila and Elliot together.”

I didn’t know what to say to that.

I was ecstatic that there weren’t any more pictures of Elliot in such a cold woman’s arms, but she was Elliot’s mom after all. Didn’t Jace want to at least preserve some pictures so Elliot could look back on them when he got older?

I nodded. “Thank you for showing me these. It’s truly a gift.”

I looked up and smiled at Jace. He frowned a little and cupped my cheek, wiping away the tears I didn’t know were falling with his thumb.

“Then why are you crying? I didn’t mean to show you these to make you sad.”

I shook my head. “I’m not sad. I loved it. These are happy tears.”

Jace didn’t look like he believed me. And I didn’t blame him.

I was a little sad.

Only, I didn’t want to get into the reason why right then. I wondered what he would really think of me if he knew. Would he think I was cold and heartless?

I didn’t know, and honestly, I didn’t want to know. I was not someone I was proud of. At least, not yet, but I was working on it.

“I think I’m going to go to bed now,” I said, my voice whisper-soft.

He looked like he wanted to say something more to me but changed his mind at the last minute.

“Good night, Evelyn.”

“Good night, Jace.”

I hesitated a little while longer, before I finally moved myself away from the couch and walked upstairs. I didn’t give into the temptation to look back at him, even though I could feel his eyes on me the whole way.