Page 136 of When You Had Me Adapting

“It’s not just you. It’s Dad too.”

“What do you mean?”

“I wasn’t here when she died, Lacey. I did what I wanted to do. I found the Bix. What if something happens to him or you and I’m not here?”

She runs her hands through my hair and looks me in the eyes. “I know losing Annie was hard and I know you’ve held that guilt for a long time, but she wouldn’t want you to and he wouldn’t want you to either. This job sounds like a really big deal. You need to take everyone else out of the equation. Really think about what you want.”

“Okay, I will.” I agree, knowing that nothing I could say in this hotel room would convince her that this is not what I want. I need to show her. I lean forward and press my lips to hers.

“You promise?” She holds her pinky up toward me.

“I promise.” I wrap mine around hers and pull her in for another kiss. “So, about that shower?”

She laughs and leads me to the bathroom.

CHAPTER 57: YOU FUCK IN IT, YOU BUY IT

JACE

Jace: I miss you.

Pixie: You literally dropped me off at my apartment thirty minutes ago.

Jace: What are you doing around 5?

Pixie: Nothing. Poppy’s at Logan’s again, so I planned on reading. I thought you were going to see your dad?

Jace: I am, but it shouldn’t take long. I’ll see you at 5.

Pixie: What are we doing?

Jace: It’s a surprise!

Lacey swings open the door right at five. She looks me up and down, eyeing my casual clothes. “Where are we going?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” I lean in and kiss her cheek. “Come on.” I grab her hand and lead her to my Jeep.

“How was your dad?” she asks, as I turn out of the parking lot and onto the road.

“He was good. It was a quick visit. I had to pick something up.”

“What?”

“Just something small.” I flip on my blinker and change lanes. “He told me to tell you hello. Asked about you and work.”

“And what did you tell him?”

“That I love you.” I grab her hand, and she smiles.

“I love you too. Did you talk to him about the Australia job?”

“I did.” I don’t tell her anything else. If I do, it’ll ruin the surprise, and I can’t. I want to see the look on her face when she realizes where we are. We pull up to a red light and I grab my phone. Swiping up on the screen, I send her a link. Her phone pings and she looks down.

“Jace?” she questions. Looking at her phone. “Why’d you send me this article?” Her eyes glance over to me.

“Click on it. Read it. We’re almost to where we’re going and I need you to read it before we get there.”

Glancing over in her direction, I watch as she exhales deeply and then clicks on the link to an AJC article titledPhotographer Jacks Jackson’s Motivation For His Latest Discovery Might Surprise You. I return my eyes to the road, and after a few minutes, I hear her begin to cry. I turn down the street to our destination and park along the curb. I watch as she continues to read, wiping away her tears with her hands and when she finishes, she turns to face me.

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