Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 108362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108362 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 542(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
“Yeah,” Jace added. “I’ll bet those steaks taste just as good cooked on the grill inside.”
“They’re better barbecued,” Jay shot back. “Take my word for it.”
“Daddy,” Zara called, and Jace’s face lit up when he saw her. She ran to him, and he lifted her onto his knee. His eyes found mine then, and just like that, we were back in my kitchen, him on his knees staring up at me like he was ready to commit sin. Tingles skittered down my spine, and I could tell by his hooded expression that he was thinking about it, too.
My throat ran dry, and I had to turn away, forcing myself to make small talk with Matilda until the food was ready. Like always, Angus and Kami greeted my presence with cool stares, but I refused to let them make me feel uncomfortable. Jace was Zara’s father, so they were just going to have to get used to me being around. Plus, Jay had invited us, so we had every right to be here.
“I’m starving,” Elias complained. “How much longer for those steaks, Uncle Jay?”
“Yeah, I’m this close to ordering a pizza,” Kami added.
“Just a few more minutes,” Jay answered, closing the top of the barbecue to let the meat cook. I noticed him checking his phone before turning to his guests. “Oh, and before I forget. I emailed you all tickets to my upcoming show, but there were some technical difficulties. Can you check your emails now to see if you got them?”
Everyone began pulling out their phones to check, and I followed suit. Sure enough, there was an email from Jay with the tickets attached. When I looked up, about to tell him I’d gotten the email, I noticed how closely he was scrutinising everyone. Well, no, not everyone. Mainly, Roan, Elias, Kami, and Angus.
“Tickets are in my inbox,” Angus said.
“Yeah, mine, too,” Roan added.
Everyone else started chiming in that they’d gotten the email, and I started to suspect the whole ‘technical difficulties’ thing was a ruse. But why?
Moments later, the steaks were ready, and Jace went to help his dad dish up everyone’s plate, while Jay said, “Do you know what? It is a little too cold out here. Why don’t we take this food inside?”
“Bloody hell, he finally comes to his senses,” Elias said loudly while the others were quick to carry their plates into the house. Cheerful conversation ensued, and I found myself sinking happily into the background, just letting the sounds of family wash over me. I managed to grab a seat in between Matilda and Lille, avoiding Jace because I had a feeling he wanted to talk to me, and I really wasn’t ready to dissect this morning’s encounter.
When we finished eating, and everyone began chipping in to tidy up, I spotted Jace’s dad heading upstairs and decided it was the perfect time to corner him and question him about what he was up to earlier.
Unfortunately, by the time I reached the top of the stairs, Jace was coming up behind me. “Shannon, we need to talk.”
“There’s nothing to—”
“Yes, there is,” he cut me off, his warm hand meeting the small of my back as he guided me into his bedroom. Well, this was possibly the worst place we could have this conversation. Standing in the room where Jace and I had fooled around and shared so many intimate moments as teenagers threatened to overwhelm me. It still smelled the same, like soap with a hint of cloves and leather. Not to mention, all his old band posters were still on the walls, and the room had the same curtains, even the same bedsheets.
“Listen, Jace,” I said, putting some distance between us as I went to stand by the window. He easily ate up all that distance with his long strides. “This morning. It was a moment of weakness.”
“I agree,” he said, and I blinked. He agreed? “I crossed a line,” he went on. “It won’t happen again.”
I stared at him, taken aback, and what was that sinking feeling in my stomach? He just said what I wanted, no, needed, to hear, and yet I stood there having the gall to feel disappointed.
“Okay, well, it’s good that we’re on the same page.”
I moved to step past him, almost to the door when he said, “We’re not, though.”
I turned back around. “What do you mean?”
Again, he closed the distance between us, his voice low and gravelly when he replied, “I want you back, Shannon.” With those five simple words, my world tilted on its axis. My skin began to tingle, a fizzy nervousness sizzling through my stomach. “But I won’t resort to fogging your head with sex. That was, as you said, a moment of weakness. What I will do is prove to you that I’ll never hurt you like I did before. I’ll show you with actions that I’ll be there for you and Zara consistently. And if, after I’m done proving myself, you still don’t want me, well, I might not like it, but I’ll graciously accept your decision.”