Page 39 of When You Had Me Adapting

“I was all over Eli?”

“Yes, well, you two were laughing and staring at one another. Anyone could see you were into her and she was into you.”

What in the actual fuck?

“I mean, Jace, you barely had time for me. You left and said we would talk everyday and we didn’t. When we did talk, your calls got shorter and we were barely texting. I tried to convince myself you were busy. That our schedules were different and it didn’t mean anything, but then I saw you withherand it all made sense. You no longer wanted what I wanted. You wanted her and I wanted you.”

A sob escapes her throat and she swallows hard, wiping her face with her hands. She takes a few deep breaths. “And now you invited me over to talk and I walk into seeing her walk out of your bedroom. How cruel can you be?” She shakes her head.

I knew she thought I cheated, but with Eli? Is she serious? I let out a laugh and I immediately try to stifle it.

“God, you’re such an asshole. I shouldn’t have agreed to this. I was doing fine hating you.” She turns to leave and I grab her hand once more.

“No, shit, I’m sorry. Eli was my mentor in the photography program and then she became my friend. We were never anything more. I swear.”

“You really think that’s all it’s going to take for me to believe you?”

I rub my hands down my face and place them on top of my head. “Lacey, Eli is married to a woman.”

Her eyes meet mine. “A woman?”

“Yes, a woman and has been for a while. I’m not her type and she’s not mine.” I shake my head. “She stopped by today to pick up a photograph for an auction she’s going to later. The photos were in my room, so when you walked in, she had just finishedchoosing one.” She wipes the remaining tears from her eyes. “Don’t cry, pixie.”

“I thought I told you to stop calling me that.”

“Can we please go upstairs and talk? You can ask her yourself if you want.”

To my surprise, she nods her head and follows me back to my apartment. When we enter, Eli is sitting on the couch holding the photo of the macaws.

“Eli, this is Lacey. Lacey, this is Eli.”

Eli’s eyes flair at Lacey’s name and I give her a small nod. “It’s nice to meet you, but I’m afraid if I stay much longer I’ll be late to the auction and my wife might kill me.” I walk her toward the door and she gives me a big hug. “It was good seeing you, Jacks. Thanks again for saving my ass.”

I chuckle. “Anytime.” The door closes behind her and I turn to face Lacey who is sitting on the couch. Her brow furrows.

“Now what?” I ask.

CHAPTER 18: FRENCH FRIES AND FUCK UPS

LACEY

The last fifteen minutes have felt like being trapped on a roller coaster. I’m still processing what happened when Jace shuts the door behind Eli and turns to face me. I’m honestly not sure where we go from here. For ten years I built up what he did to me in my head and have hated this man because I thought he betrayed me.

I play back the memory burned into my mind of that day in the coffee shop. I was so sure. Mariah was so sure. She wouldn’t shut up about it. Kept pointing out all the little things I missed. And then I got home and when I told my mom we broke up, she didn’t even ask why. Instead told me I should have never tried long distance and it was doomed from the beginning. Her words solidified everything I was feeling and I completely crumbled.

How could I have been so wrong?

“Now what?” I hear him ask. He walks over and sits in a chair across from me. “Are you hungry? I made fries.”

“You made fries?”

He nods. “Yeah, I remembered you liked them and thought I might need a peace offering.” He lets out a low chuckle and I sitthere stunned. He rubs his hand over the back of his head. His eyes locked on mine.

“Hold on.” He jumps up and moves into his kitchen. I hear the shuffling of what sounds like pots and pans. He walks back into the living room. His hands are full of a bowl of freshly cut fries, a plate, and a variety of dips. He sets it all on the coffee table in front of me. He didn’t heat up something frozen. He actually made me fucking hand cut French fries.

“Thank you.” I bite my lip and grab one from the bowl. Squirting a little ranch on the plate, I drag the fry through it and then pop it into my mouth. He returns to his chair and watches me.Fuck they’re good.

My mind races, trying to come up with something to say. How do I even begin to tell him how sorry I am?

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