Page 21 of When You Had Me Adapting

“I don’t either, but I trust her.”

I follow him around the front of the house. Beau’s family owns a bunch of property perfect for a bonfire. They don’t have neighbors, so we can essentially do whatever we want out here and no one will ever know, especially since Beau’s parents are never home. The house is enormous—a giant monument erected in the middle of a perfectly manicured lawn, reminding everyone of how much money they have. In their front yard, a huge oak tree sits next to a small pond.

“Let’s swing,” I say, taking off toward the wooden swing hanging from one of its limbs.

“Wait up,” he yells.

I sit down on the swing and feel him walk up behind me. I consider telling him how I’m feeling, but then he puts his hands on my back and begins to push me gently. My brain scrambles and my breath hitches with his touch.

“I can’t believe school is already starting back next week. I’m so not looking forward to having Ms. Norris for homeroom. I think she actually takes it seriously,” I spit out.

He doesn’t respond and I feel myself begin to still. His hands are no longer on my back and when I look over my shoulder he’s backing away from me.

“You okay?” I ask.

“Did you know you’re my favorite person?” he asks softly, looking into my eyes. He moves to the tree and sits with his back against the trunk.

“You’re one of my favorite people, too, J,” I say, jumping down and walking towards him. “What made you tell me that?”

“I’ve just been thinking a lot lately. You’re the only person I can be myself around. You don’t mind when I go quiet.”

“Yeah because sometimes I need the quiet too.” I sit down next to him and give him a little nudge with my elbow. On the outside I’m trying to stay cool, calm, and collected, but on theinside butterflies are swarming my stomach and my heart rate is beginning to pick up its pace.

“I know you do. I guess what I’m trying to say is. Damn, I’m more—” he cuts himself off.

“You’re freaking me out. What is it?” I ask. He grabs both of my hands and looks me deep in my eyes. The light of the sun is barely visible above the horizon. The faint glow of lightning bugs is beginning to show in the distance. It’s only him and me. Poppy and the rest of the party are in the backyard, nowhere nearby. I squeeze his hands encouraging him to continue.

“Lacey, you’re my best friend in the entire world. I’m about to start my senior year and I don’t know where life will bring me after that and when I look back on high school, I don’t want to have any regrets.”

“Okay.” I try to remain calm, but I’m pretty sure the butterflies in my stomach are doing a full out acrobatic routine.

“And I guess I wanted to tell you that you mean more to me than anyone else ever has and I think I’ve known for a really long time that I love you.”

“I know you love me,” I joke.

“No, I don’t love you like I love Poppy. I love you like if I have to wait another minute to tell you how I really feel my heart might burst out of my chest. I love you like you are the one person in the world I was meant to be with.” Words keep pouring out of his mouth and I’m frozen. He looks at me like I’m the only girl he’s ever seen and my heart is beating so rapidly, I think it might burst. “And I know we’re best friends, but isn’t that what people say? That you should be friends first. And well I’ve known you my whole life and I want to give us a shot. I want to see if we could be more than friends because I love you.” He’s smiling now. “Gosh, I’m sorry I keep saying it, but it’s true and I’ve just waited so long to tell you and?—”

“Hey, Jace?”

“Yeah?”

“Will you kiss me?”

“You sure?”

“I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life.”

He pulls me onto his lap so we’re facing one another. He moves a strand of loose hair behind my ear and then cups both of my cheeks with his hands. Our lips find each other in an instant.

Kissing Jace Jackson is everything I dreamed it would be and more. It’s the type of kiss you read about in fairytales. It’s my past, present, and future, and I know the minute it happens nothing will ever compare.

CHAPTER 10: DRINK UP, BUTTERCUP

JACE - PRESENT

Lacey walked into Logan’s place thirty minutes ago and I haven’t been able to stop myself from staring. She’s wearing a short black skirt and a cropped white T-shirt that has the word “chaotic” in small black font across the front. She’s still wearing the locket and it’s taking everything in me to not confront her about it. She looks fucking gorgeous and I’m quickly realizing if she ever gave me a second chance, I would take it in a heartbeat.

I pull my camera up to my eye and the flash goes off brightening up Logan’s living room and catching the attention of the emerald-eyed beauty sitting across the room from me. The redhead she walked in with says something and Lacey’s laugh fills the apartment. It’s everything I remember it being and more.

---