“My father,” he answered simply.
“I kind of gathered that.” My lips were quivering and I was trying to remain calm.
“He’s an alcoholic bastard,” Jace said, kissing the top of my head lightly.
“Jace, how long has this been going on?” I was searching his blue eyes for answers.
“Just since Jax passed…he started spiraling after my mother’s accident and I guess losing Jax just sent him flying over the edge.” He paused and I could see regret and guilt pass across his eyes. “Jax was my father’s golden child. Seeing me is just too much of a reminder of what he lost.”
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I was heated now. Tears spilling down my cheeks. The fact that he was already defending him was almost too much for me.
“Peyton, I’m okay.” He was attempting to soothe me with his soft voice.
I pressed on his stomach where I had clearly seen him take the punch earlier and he winced, pulling away from me. I lifted up his shirt gently and the bruise was red, almost maroon. “This is not okay—you are not okay. Let’s go to the police. Let’s report his ass.”
Jace quickly caught my eye. “No. I can handle this.” He pulled his shirt down huffily.
“Jace—you’re not Superman; sometimes it’s okay to ask for help,” I pushed.
“Peyton, drop it,” he snapped. I felt like I had been slapped across my face. I couldn’t hide my disappointment. All I wanted to do was be there for him as he had so often been there for me; my pillar of support, but he was shutting me out; shutting me down.
“Suit yourself,” was all I said before turning and heading back in the direction of my house.
His hand was on my arm faster than I could blink. “Let go of me!” I said in a bitter tone, not even bothering to turn around.
“Peyton.” I didn’t even need to look in his direction to know that something was amiss in his voice.
Turning around slowly, I came face to face with a crying Jace. With every tear that fell from his eyes my heart broke a little more.
I couldn’t stand to see him weak; defeated—that was my role and I played it so well. Without even thinking, I threw my arms around him swiftly; running my hands gently through his hair. “Shhh…” I attempted to calm him down.
His shoulders were heaving up and down with each staggered breath. We stood there like that, embraced, in silence for what felt like forever before he finally spoke.
“I’m going to handle it, I promise. Please have a little faith in me,” he said softly then.
“I do have faith in you,” I replied. “It’s the other assholes in your life I doubt.”
He cracked a small smile in response to my statement. “I wasn’t trying to hide anything from you,” he said through sniffles. “I just didn’t want you getting mixed up in this. You’ve been through so much already—it was the furthest thing from what I wanted.”
I sighed softly. “You’re always trying to protect me; save me. Would it kill you to be vulnerable for once? To allow me to be your savior?”
He cupped my face as he responded. “You’re my world Peyton Lane—I’ll never stop fighting for you.” He lowered his lips to mine quickly and softly.
“I love you,” I whispered as our lips parted. “You’re my everything; but I won’t sit back and watch as you get the shit beat out of you…I won’t do it; I refuse.”
“I don’t expect you to.” He wasted no time at all with his reply. “Just let me deal with it.”
“Okay,” I responded, defeated.
“I wish you could have met my mom. You would have really liked her.”
“I bet I would have—if she was anything like you.” I smiled up at him.
“She taught me everything I know.” He chuckled lightly, but there was a sadness to it.
“Tell me about her,” I urged, rubbing my hand up and down his back in a soothing motion.
“I will…I promise.” It was the best I could get and I wasn’t disappointed in the least. He was beginning to let his walls down for me; he was beginning to open up to me, slowly, and I was savoring every minute of it.
“What are your plans tomorrow?” Jace asked, his eyes regaining a little of their usual brightness.
“Kayleigh wanted to go shopping, but I can reschedule, why?”
“I want to introduce you to my real family,” Jace replied.
He had taken me by surprise—Jace had never bothered introducing me to any of his friends before. We hadn’t been dating long-but I had always wondered deep down if it was because he was embarrassed of me. Now I understood that Jace took his time—with anything in life—professing his love, opening up to me, introducing me to his friends…in a way, it almost made me feel more special.
“What time?” I found myself asking.
“I’ll pick you up around noon.” He kissed me passionately then, pressing one hand over my heart. I wasn’t sure why he did it—but it felt special; magical.
And then he was gone, with the wind. My eyes were still closed when he made his swift exit. I opened my eyelids, looking around, and realized he had pulled a magic trick on me and disappeared.
I lifted my fingers to my lips—touching the last spot his had been. They were still tingling. I don’t know why I ever let my heart and mind get so hazy when it came to Noah—the chemistry I had with Jace was off the charts; undeniable. It was like fate wanted us together seeing as I couldn’t shake him no matter what I did, and to be honest, it wasn’t like I wanted to…I slowly began walking back towards my house with only his face, his voice, and his scent locked into memory.
Jace was my boyfriend, my love, mine. No one held a candle to him…Not Colton and definitely not Noah. It had always been Jace—from day one—that’s when I realized just what I needed to do. I began writing the text to Noah that would either make or break our friendship and band…no more back and forth, no more confusion.
Jace was the one.
Chapter 19
The Only Thing I’m Drunk on is You.
Things That Make Me Smile
A comic you paid to see, your favorite show is playing
Your crush is flirting with you, these things would make me smile too
All we want is happiness, peace, equality, and fairness
Why can’t we live in a fairytale instead of living behind our veils?
“Where are you taking me?” I giggled as I felt the car jut to the right.
“Just a bit further,” Jace whispered, his voice giving me goose bumps. I didn’t know if I was ever going to get used to his effect on me.
After the day I witnessed his terrible father assault him, Jace had told me he wanted to take a weekend trip with me. He told me he was going to introduce me to his real family, whatever that meant.
What he hadn’t shared was the fact that I had to be blindfolded the entire way there…it was nearly three hours away from what I gathered after a few bathroom breaks and my rumbling stomach.
I was nervous about meeting anyone who was important to Jace. He was so closed off; so guarded—if anyone made it that close they had to be someone special.
In a way, the darkness helped my nerves and I wondered if that was Jace’s plan all along. Maybe he knew me more than I thought…
“Can I take this thing off yet?” I whined, already reaching my hands up to remove it.
“Not yet.” I felt Jace’s fingers close around mine, causing me to freeze in place—my heartbeat was racing.
It’s like he could sense me. “Relax,” Jace began in a calming tone. “They are going to love you…”
I took a deep breath, inhaling and then letting it out. Jace was right. He was the only person I needed to worry about, and he loved me…I’d say I was set.
“We’re here,” I heard a faint whisper in my left ear.
Eagerly, I ripped the bandana from my eyes and quickly scanned our surroundings.
We were in the wilderness. Yup, definitely somewhere in the forest. I looked over at Jace, c
onfused. “What are we doing here?”
Then the single worst thing that could have happened, did. He replied with camping.
The wilderness and I did not agree…it was going to be a long trip.
I wasn’t sure if the groan I let out had been in my head or out loud—but I found out quickly as Jace’s face fell. “Peyton, I’m sorry—I didn’t know you hated camping.”
He was making me feel like the biggest bitch in the world. “I’m willing to try anything again for you,” I said—surprising the both of us.
His lips curled up into a mischievous smile. “I have to know—what is it that you hate so much about camping?”
I paused. Where should I begin? “Well, for starters…” I unbuckled my seatbelt before continuing. “I hate being cold, and at night I’m sure it is going to drop below sixty degrees.”
Jace looked amused. “That’s what you have me for. I’m going to be your personal heater.”
My cheeks began burning up realizing that this was going to be the first time Jace and I were alone with no parental distractions. We would be sharing the same sleeping quarters.
“We’re going to be staying in yurts, you dork, there will be beds, blankets, and a heater. Can I get a thank you?”
“Thank you,” I said softly, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek.
He looked too victorious. He was trying to fight off the smile, but I could tell he was having difficulties.
“Okay, what else?”
He really wanted me to continue… “Jace, do you want to keep your friends waiting?”
“I want to hear what else you dislike about camping.” He was persistent—I’d give him that.
“They all seem dumb now that you told me we have a yurt,” I answered honestly.
“Oh, I see how it is…” Jace acted like he was hurt. “You just didn’t trust that I could treat my girl right, is that it?”
I would never get tired of him referring to me as his—in any way, shape, or form. “Say it again.” My eyes were pleading with his.
“My girl.” How he could always read my mind was beyond sexy to me. “You are mine.”
He lowered his lips to mine then, softly. My heart rate began to spike. I broke off the kiss quickly, not wanting to get carried away. “I’m ready to meet your family now.”
Jace smiled back at me widely. “Come on.”
Before I knew it, he had dragged me out of the car and to one of the first yurts we came across. He pounded loudly on the door. “Honey, I’m home.” His voice rose unusually high as he attempted to fool the people inside.
The door swung open with a bang and standing inside was a scrawny looking dark-haired male with green eyes and freckles. He was grinning so big it was as if they had been separated for years.
“Elijah,” I heard Jace say.
They ran to each other and embraced roughly. “How in the hell have you been man?” Elijah asked, slapping one hand down on Jace’s shoulder.
“I’ve been good,” Jace replied.
“How long has it been?” Elijah was looking for an answer from Jace.
“A couple of months,” Jace said softly, almost as if he was too ashamed to say it aloud.
“Don’t ever let it happen again.” Elijah looked at him, serious and sincere.
“I won’t, I promise.” It appeared as though they were having some kind of inner dialogue between one another within their stares. Maybe Elijah knew about Jace’s asshole of a father? If Jace was as close with them as he made it seem—I wouldn’t put it past him.
“Is that Austin I hear?” I heard a deep masculine voice come out of the neighboring yurt.
He stepped out into view and I caught his light blond hair, brown eyes, and bulging muscles.
“Boone!” Jace shouted, then re-enacted the same scene from earlier.
“Well, that was rude,” Elijah stepped out beside me. “You must be Peyton.”
I nodded, clicking my eyes back to Jace and Boone who were still too wrapped up in one another, oblivious to the world around them.
“It’s like you guys haven’t seen each other in years…” I said softly, still admiring the two.
“It feels that way,” Elijah responded, glancing at me then back at his two friends. “We used to hang out every day before…” he trailed off and I didn’t even need to guess where he was going with it.
I looked down, instant guilt overtaking me; flushing my cheeks. Elijah didn’t miss a beat. “You have nothing to be ashamed of—to feel sorry for.”
I looked over at him, his green eyes burning into me. “He told you?” I wasn’t sure whether to be angry or intrigued.
“Jace and I tell each other everything. He’s my brother.”
I was still turned towards Elijah when Jace appeared beside me, his arm slipping comfortably behind my back. It was as if we were two puzzle pieces that fit perfectly together. His touch brought goose bumps all over my skin. “I’m an ass,” he whispered so only I could hear.
“Yes you are.” I nudged him playfully.
“Eli, Boone, this is my girlfriend, Peyton.” I smiled to myself again when he used the word I had grown to love.
Boone had joined us on the porch, shaking my hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you Peyton.”
“Good or bad?” I looked up into his brown eyes for the answer.
“Only time will tell,” he responded. He was going to be harder to win over than Elijah. Good thing I was up for the challenge. “Peyton, this is my girlfriend, Lana.” I was surprised I had missed her before, all 5’3 of her. She was cute and petite with short brown hair and kind eyes.
“Nice to meet you.” I threw out my hand politely.
“Thank God there’s another female on this trip! We need something to combat all this testosterone.” She joked and I instantly liked her. Yep, we could be friends…
“There’s a couple more people I want to introduce you to,” Jace whispered into my ear. “Excuse us?” He addressed his friends questioning stares.
“Sure, hit us up later.” I heard Elijah call out. “Pleasure to meet you Peyton.”
“You too,” I replied as we proceeded to the third yurt in the row.
“Who am I going to meet now?” I asked eagerly before we reached the door.
“Someone, or rather two people who will mean just as much to you as they do me—if not more…” That had my mind racing; my heart rapidly beating against my chest.
I didn’t need introductions this time around; I recognized the pair quickly.
“Kayleigh, what are you doing here?” I asked, still walking up to hug her.
She glanced at Bentley who was planted beside her, grinning wildly. “Come on, did you expect Mom and Dad to let you spend a couple of nights all alone with Jace?”
“I’m a senior!” I gasped, but wasn’t mad in the slightest. Kayleigh and I had become close over the course of the year. She had been there for me more than anyone else in the world—she was my guardian angel.
“We’ll see you a bit later,” Bentley chuckled as he closed the door in my face.
I looked up at Jace puzzled. “Kayleigh means a lot to you. Probably more than anyone else you know. You really look up to her. I see it in your eyes. She’s your family—she’s my family now.”
I stared up into his cobalt eyes. “You’re everything I could have ever wished for. Everything I ever dreamed of.”
I saw sadness flash across Jace’s eyes then, utterly confusing me. “What is it?”
Jace had walked down the porch to the gravel road. I followed him, slowly. “How many years did you fantasize about my brother before you realized there was literally a Jekyll and Hyde inside of him?”
I knew no matter what the answer, he was bound to be hurt.
Truth was I went to school with Jax my entire life, loving him from afar—he didn’t even acknowledge my existence until junior year—when it all changed for me.
“It doesn’t matter.” I paused, looking up into his eyes. “I w
as drawn to you for different reasons.”
“And what were those?” His voice was dripping with intrigue.
“Your gentleness, your attentiveness, and this mysterious magnetic pull I feel to you, constantly—as if we are connected mind, body, and soul…yeah, that about sums it up.” I giggled, pulling him in close.
His eyes were suddenly dark and serious. “Peyton, there’s something I need to tell you…”
My heart dipped into my stomach. The famous words that had shattered so many dreams, ripped away so many hopes had just come out of Jace’s mouth—you could say I was a bit hysterical on the inside.