Page 50 of Forever Fickle

Things seemed so easy between them, and she kept expecting something to go wrong – or for someone to jump out and say, ‘ah ha!’… but it never happened.

It was insane to think you could grow to care for someone so much in such a short length of time… yet she could feel the stirrings of something in her heart, no matter how much she tried to resist.

Glancing at the clock, she yelped.

It was nearly two-thirty, and she was supposed to be at her parents’ at three… and she still needed to pick up Jace at Flyboys. Quickly texting her mother, she explained she was going to be a few minutes late… and then texted Jace.

I’m running behind and on my way – are you ready?

Yes, ma’am

See you in a few!

Karen rushed out the door, then turned around to run back inside, grabbing her nephew’s birthday present she’d forgotten on the table, before racing down the stairs again.

Trying not to drive like a maniac, she made it to Flyboys in record time to see Jace standing out front waiting. He was wearing a uniform – and made her hesitate in surprise.

His crisp light-blue button-up long-sleeved shirt had all sorts of emblems and badges all over it. The left pocket had ribbons and bars lined up in a row, complete with dark tie, matching hat, and slacks.

“Why are you in uniform?” she asked the moment he opened the door and slid into the passenger seat.

“I want to make a good impression,” he replied – and actually looked nervous. “Do I look alright? You look gorgeous, Tink.”

“Why do you keep calling me that?” she asked in disbelief, looking at him, finding it hard to believe that this gorgeous guy was self-conscious about how he looked or meeting her parents.

“Because when you smile at me, you literally glow,” Jace replied, his face looking somewhat shy in that moment as he glanced at her. “I feel like you could say or do anything, sprinkle some pixie dust, and I would just float around on cloud nine being near you.”

He hesitated.

“That and you’ve got that sweet little attitude that reminds me of Tinkerbell…” he grinned mischievously. “I love it.”

She frowned… and he laughed.

“See? That sweet way you scrunch up your nose just reminds me of Tinkerbell so much. Now cross your arms and throw that little pointy chin in the air…” he prompted, urging and goading her playfully.

“Ughhh…” she growled, putting the car into drive, and looking away so he didn’t see her pleased smile. It was kinda nice to be referred to as something special like that. Anyone could be ‘honey’ or ‘sugar’… but ‘Tink’ definitely had meaning behind it and was just for her.

“We need to go and I’m not doing any of that.”

She felt his hand touch the back of her neck as he rested it there, his finger making contact with the skin just below her ear lobe, tickling her slightly as she glanced at him.

“Maybe later?” he smiled.

“We’ll see,” she groused and then smirked, as she pulled out onto the farm road leading out of town towards Tyler.

Time seemed to fly by as they drove in silence. She was enjoying the warmth of his hand simply resting where it was on the back of her neck, and she didn’t feel like she had to hold a conversation.

It was just nice to be near him.

As she pulled into her parents’ driveway, she saw that she was blocking in her sister’s car and her brother’s minivan… meaning she would have to move her vehicle first in order to escape if things went south or got strange at her family meeting Jace.

She had no idea how things would go – or Jace’s reaction.

“There she is…” her mother called out. “C’mon Karen, we are waiting on… oh well, hello! Who is this? Honey, come out here and see what your daughter brought home.”

“Whoaaaboy,” Karen muttered, causing Jace to laugh as he put his uniform hat on his head and straightened his tie. He held out his arm to Karen, who immediately took it and felt like a princess being led to the ball by her knight in shining armor.

Her mother and father were watching, their eyes round in surprise… and even her siblings walked up to see what the commotion was.

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