I thought you’d changed your mind about staying.” “I couldn’t imagine why you left so abruptly. Every moment of longing, every skipped heartbeat, every iota of pain…and love seemed to hit me all at once. I’d tried so hard not to feel anything, but right now I failed miserably. I let everything out-everything I’d been keeping inside for the past three years. Feeling his heart beat against my cheek caused me to break down. I resisted for a moment, but it felt like…home. Without hesitation, he pulled me into his arms, enveloping me in his warmth. “I’ll be back, okay?” Nathan limped past Jace, out of the house.

“No, thanks,” Jace said, never taking his eyes off me. I have a half hour before they close at nine. “You know, I’m craving a calzone from Berretti’s.

“Good to see you, man,” Nathan called as he stood up from the couch. Jace took a few steps inside the house, then reached out and gently wiped the tear that had fallen from my eye. “I am.” He searched my eyes, undoubtedly noticing something I’d hoped he wouldn’t. The Christmas lights adorning the front of the house sparkled in his gorgeous eyes. He wore a black leather jacket and smelled like sandalwood. I opened the door before Jace had a chance to knock. Nathan and I were watching TV when the sound of a car pulling into the driveway brought my attention to the window. I had a night off from work, and I just wanted to chill at home. One Friday night, he was particularly miffed because I’d told him I was too tired to hang out.

I managed to act as normally as possible around Niles, but he wasn’t happy with me, because I’d yet to commit to going to North Carolina with him for Christmas. I listened to the words, and it made me wonder if being so cold to Jace since he came back had finally driven him away.Īs the days wore on, I became obsessed with the idea of Jace never returning to Palm Creek. On the ride home, U2’s “So Cruel” played on the radio. Was Jace reconciling with his ex back in Charlotte? Furthermore, why did I care so damn much? I wondered a lot of things as I fell into a daydream. I wondered for a moment what life would be like if that had been true. My thoughts veered to what Jace had told me about thinking that little girl outside of my old house might have been ours.

Penelope ward the crush