Page 79 of When You Had Me Adapting

“Gosh, it kinda feels like we’ve been here before, except this time you’re telling me about it.”

“You’re hilarious.”

“The two of you always thought you did such a good job hiding your feelings for each other. Did you ever wonder why I didn’t even blink when you told me y’all kissed at that bonfire? It’s because I fucking knew you two loved one another. You both are about as subtle as the main characters of a Disney movie.”

I dig through my suitcase, find a pair of denim shorts, and pull them on.

“It’s because I know you better than I know anyone else. And I know I haven’t seen Jace in a decade, but you two still look at each other the same way you looked at each other in high school,” she says.

“And what should I do? Pretend like the past decade didn’t happen and tell him I want to try again?”

“That would be the mature thing to do.”

“Shut up.”

“The past decade didn’t happen babe. It was made up in your head, so forget about it.”

We make our way back downstairs. Her words circle in my brain over and over. I try to push them away. Now is not the time. I’ll deal with Jace Jackson and my feelings later.

The rest of the group is waiting for us on the deck and we make our way outside.

“Y’all ready for a boat ride?” Enzo asks, lifting a cup into the air. The group cheers and heads toward the dock.

My body is exhausted,but my mind won’t settle. The day out on the lake was full of tubing and drinking. I should be asleep, but I’m not.

I turn over and stare at the clock on the bedside table. It reads one fifteen. I swing my legs out of bed and tiptoe down the hall and then the stairs to find a cup of water. I round the corner towards the kitchen and stop in my tracks. On one of the small loveseats in the living room I see Jace’s feet hanging off one end.

I try to keep quiet as I move toward the cabinet and carefully pull a glass down. I press it up against the water dispenser and the loud sound of ice falling fills the house.

“Shit,” I say in a hushed voice trying to make it stop and frantically hitting the water button.

“Lace, is that you?” I flip around to see him sitting up.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you. I couldn’t sleep, so I was coming to grab some water.”

“Yeah, I can’t sleep either,” he breathes out and stands. He’s shirtless and his gym shorts hang low on his hips.Fuck me.

He walks into the kitchen and grabs a glass from the cabinet and moves over to where I’m standing. I freeze as he invades my space and I swallow hard.

“Lacey?”

“Um, yeah?”

“You mind scooting over so I can get some water too?”

“Oh, yeah, my bad.” I take a few steps back.

“So what’s keeping you from sleeping, pixie?”

You.

“I don’t know. There’s a lot on my mind I guess.” I sip my water and move to one of the barstools.

“Enlighten me.”

“It’s nothing. Boring even.” He walks over and takes the barstool to my left. I think he might continue to press me on what’s in my head, but he doesn’t. “What has you awake at this hour?” I ask.

“Let’s see. Tanner’s snoring and the mattress up there is so thin I can feel every spring, so I figured I’d try a couch, but these are more like love seats and I’m too tall,” he laughs. “I don’t think sleep is in the cards for me tonight.” He moves his head from side to side stretching his neck.

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