Page 12 of Jace

“I had no idea I had company until the moment something hit me.” All I saw was a blur of dark hair as Aurora stormed off followed by the loud slamming sound of a door.

“She should have thrown a chair.” Luna shrugs, crossing her arms over her chest as she leans back against the door frame. “Or a hammer.”

I stare at her and she doesn’t give me an inch.

“That girl shows up, pours her heart out and you say nothing,” She unfolds her hands and allows them to drop to her sides. “That was a dick move.”

“I didn’t hear a fucking thing.” I hold up the earbud I’d pulled out of my ear. The left one still planted in place with the music still blaring. “I had no idea I wasn’t alone until something hit me.”

“She found out you punched Zac.”

“And she showed up her to defend the honor of her new beau.” I can’t help the irritation in my voice. Its uncontrollable.

“I love you Jace, I love all of you, but you really are a complete tool sometimes.” I’ll never win; this is where things get messy. We are family and there will never be sides. “You have no clue; it’s like you are completely blind. You’re too busy seeing things that aren’t even there and your missing what is.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“It’s not up to me to fix your stupid.” She throws her hands up in the air, frustrated. “All I will say is you need to wake the fuck up.” I’m afraid to respond, she looks really pissed. So instead I remain where I am, staring at her. “I have no idea where in the hell you’ve been. I don’t pretend to understand how in the hell your brain works, but someplace inside that skull I have to believe that you know how big of an idiot you’ve been.” Luna doesn’t wait for me to respond, instead she storms off too, leaving me standing there confused and annoyed.

All I was trying to do is clean my shit!

I stand outside the front entrance to Aurora’s apartment building. The longer I stand here, the heavier my feet feel. Like two cinder blocks holding me in place, refusing to allow me to get any closer.

My head running through all the shit it always does. Reminding me of all the reasons why it’s a terrible idea I even turned left instead of right when I left the shop.

Her car is here, parked in the space designated for her based on her apartment number. I’m too afraid to look around for Zac’s bike or truck. Maybe that’s why I can’t manage to bring myself to walk toward her door.

The idea of him being the one that may answer her door, makes my entire body ache. The reality of their closeness being thrust in my face yet again, it all surrounds me like a hot wave and suddenly it feels like everything is closing in around me, crushing me slowly.

“You planning on standing out here all night?” Zac’s voice infiltrates my thoughts. The sound of his voice making my stomach feel as though it does a million flips, then tightens.

“I imagine you are the reason why I’ve been called to deliver this.” I glance over when the sound of a paper bag is rustled at my side. “An excessive amount of chocolate, and three flavors of ice cream.”

Looking up I meet his gaze and the faint resemblance of a bruise on his jaw is the first thing I see. The yellowish green discoloration reminds me of what I did.

“You know it’s not like that with her and I.” He shrugs. “I’m the best bud she calls when she’s bored and Bree and Presley are busy with the kids. I’m the goof that she needs to make her laugh after a shitty day. I’m that friend she reaches out to when she needs to bitch about you. The one she calls when she can’t sleep because she heard another—” he stops abruptly and I turn my body more so that I can see him clearly.

He immediately looks down at his feet, shifting nervously.

“Heard another what?”

He ignores my question. “Here.” He shakes the bag. “Take this up.”

“Nah, I should go it was a bad idea to come here anyway.”

“She’d rather have you bring it up, believe me. She may be mad or upset or whatever but trust me when I say the guy she wants to show up at her door isn’t truly me. I’m a fill in, but I’ll never be you, not in her eyes.”

I stare at the guy who until lately has always been the one person I’ve always had at my side. No questions asked, he was there, ready to fight right alongside me.

“It’s always been you Jace, and I know with all the shit constantly rolling around in your head you think that you can’t be the guy she needs. But you can. Aurora’s had a thing for you since that first day she came into the shop. The two of you constantly bantering back and forth pretending there was never anything there, but we all saw it. And we’ve all seen in every day since. The two of you need to talk. Not yell, and argue, but truly listen to what the others saying.” He pushes the bag into my hands and then releases it before stepping back.

“Zac,” I call out his name, but he doesn’t stop. I’m left in the middle of the sidewalk with a choice to make. A choice that could make or break Aurora and I’m not sure it’s a choice I’m capable of making.

The stakes are too high, and I’d never be able to live with the fact that I broke her.

Because the truth is I destroy everything good. I always have.

Chapter Ten

---