Page 18 of It's Complicated

By the end of the night, I’m so dizzy and confused that I’m unable to form a single logical thought in my head. Thank goodness that’s also about the time when Kirsten remembers they have to go.

When we say goodbye outside the bar, Kirsten pulls me into another hug, chirping, “Remember, we have an appointment at the bridal shop tomorrow for dress fittings.”

I had actually forgotten about tomorrow’s appointment. Or rather, my the-love-of-my-life-is-marrying-another-woman traumatized brain had tried to shield me from the prospect of a preview of Kirsten in her white gown and selectively erased the memory.

“Sure,” I say.

“And we have to get dinner together afterward, the four of us, I insist.”

“Oh, well, Jace?”

I look up at him, silently begging him to get us out of it.

Instead, he drops an arm on my shoulder. “Sure, you want to go for sushi since you’re going for steak tonight. I’ve heard the place on Clark is good. And the vegetarian menu is supposedly great, too.” He smacks a kiss on top of my head. “So it should be perfect for you, too, babe.”

The sound of the wordbabeon his lips is pure sin. I’m an emancipated woman, I should deplore such monikers. But my fluttering heart is apparently still stuck in the Regency era.

Jace smirks down at me, and I stare daggers at him. So much for getting us out of it.

Across from us, Kirsten’s smile in response to our confirmed dinner plans is blinding. All that fake ceramic in her mouth should come with a potentially-damaging-to-the-eye warning.

We say our goodbyes, and the moment Aiden and Kirsten have turned the corner, I get away from Jace and the arm he still has wrapped around my waist. That leaves us awkwardly standing on the curb a foot apart. For the first time in my life, I feel self-conscious around him. We stand in silence for a few seconds, looking at each other.

Jace’s eyes dance with that mischievous, boyish twinkle as he asks, “Do you think I’ve sold them on being helplessly in love with you?”

My stomach bottoms out. I don’t know about them, but I’m sold on the Jace Barlow experience.

Unsure how to answer that question, I choose to be flippant. “I don’t really get the helpless part, but tonight, you were the perfect, attentive boyfriend every woman dreams of.”

The lopsided grin that cracks his lips is disarming. Again, I’ve seen it a million times. Even weaponized against innocent, unsuspecting women. And I’ve always rolled my eyes at it. But tonight I’m suddenly not immune anymore.

Jace makes a mock bow and whispers, “I live to please.”

And is it just me who’s reading double meanings in everything he says? To be cautious, I bring the conversation back to safe ground.

“Did you see Kirsten tonight? What was up with all the hugging? I thought she hated me.”

Jace gently taps the tip of my nose. “You’re so clueless it’s cute.”

I cross my arms over my chest. “Please explain the way of life to me, oh sage one?”

Jace scoffs, fake-annoyed. “Until a few hours ago, in Kirsten’s mind, you’ve been Aiden’s hot, single friend. A potential threat. But now you’ve suddenly become my girlfriend, aka the most untouchable woman on the planet for her fiancé.”

Did he sayhot, single friend? I think he did.

I roll my eyes. “Please, you seriously expect me to believe perfect, posh Kirsten saw me as a threat? In what universe?”

“I’d pick you over her a million times.”

The statement puts an incredibly silly smile on my lips. And I feel an almost imperceptible shift in my gut. But I refuse to acknowledge the fact that his words have affected me more than I’d like to admit. “You’re saying that just to stay in character.”

“That of your besotted boyfriend?”

“Yep.”

“What can I say? Maybe the performing arts were my real calling. As soon as I’ve repaid all my student loans, I’ll leave medicine behind and become a street artist.”

“You’re forgetting the mortgage on the office.”

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