Page 53 of When You Had Me Adapting

I shake my head. “Oh yeah, I’m fine. Just tired and a little tipsy. What did you ask?”

“I asked how you were feeling about Jace being at my party?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I guess fine. Seemed normal. Glad he could make it.” She stops moving and looks at me with a smirk. Logan lets out a little laugh.

“What?”

“Nothing,” she chimes.

“Don’t nothing me. What?”

“Nothing. I’m glad y’all are trying to be friends again, that’s all. Come on Logan, I’m ready for bed.”

“You’re lucky it’s your birthday or I would make you tell me what you’re thinking.”

“Love you, Lace,” she says, giggling as they walk towards her bedroom, hand in hand. Logan leans over and places a kiss on the top of her head and then they disappear. There is a tug on my heart as I watch them walk away. Will I ever find someone who loves me that much?

“I love you more,” I chime, looking down at my phone to check for text messages from Chris, but there’s nothing. I make my way into the kitchen and grab a cup from the cabinet. My phone pings and I swipe up.

Jace: Tonight was fun! Thanks for the invite.

I quickly fill up the glass with water and head to my room, so I can text him back. I’m getting dressed in my pajamas when my phone pings again.

Jace: I think I will come next week to trivia, so shoot me the details when you can.

Lacey: It’s next Friday at Bruno’s. Starts at 6. I’m really glad you’re coming!

I crawl into my bed and snuggle deep into my pillows. Three dots appear on the screen and then disappear. Why am I watching his text messages like a teenager with a crush? I don’t have a crush on him. Even if I did, why would he ever give me another chance?

Jace: Can I ask you a question?

Lacey: Sure.

Jace: What was your favorite birthday (has to be one I missed)?

Lacey: Twenty was a good one.

Jace: What made it special?

Lacey: Poppy was back from Europe and she surprised me with ice skating. We snuck little bottles of peppermint vodka and spiked our hot chocolate. We spent the whole day together and had the best time. We even took pictures with Santa!

Lacey: >

Jace: You look happy.

Lacey: That day I was!

Jace: So Poppy went to Europe?

Lacey: Yeah for a year with fuck face. It ended awful and they broke up.

Jace: I bet you missed her.

I hesitate before I respond. My freshman year of college was the loneliest I have ever been. Jace was supposed to be back and we were supposed to be at Farrington together. Then, Poppy left to follow Lord Fuckwad around Europe and I was alone.

My parents were too busy with my brother and my dad’s job to notice how sad I was. When I did try to talk to them, I was met with lectures about how I needed to grow up and focus on getting my degree.

The only thing that made it bearable were my Friday calls with Annie, Jace’s mom, and I don’t know if I can handle that conversation tonight. I inhale deeply. We said we would try to be friends, but how much should I let him in?

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