Page 15 of Jace

“It’s not because of you,” Olly interrupts, his voice resembling a growl. “You didn’t invite that fucker to your place. He’s to blame, not you.”

Oliver doesn’t mess around when it comes to Luna, he is fiercely protective.

“You know what I mean,” Luna adds.

“I know you are trying to lay blame at your feet because some crazy fuck showed up here and stalked you. You’re holding the guilt that you somehow drug Aurora and Presley into the mix.”

“She can’t sleep in the fucking dark Oliver.” Luna’s voice raises. “She has nightmares and no, I may not have invited him in to terrorize us all, but it’s because of his attachment to me that Aurora is going through hell now. I hate that she is living this, I did for years and now that I’m free she is the prisoner. It kills me and she is too fucking stubborn to talk it out, instead she pretends she is okay but inside she’s walking on eggshells.”

My chest grows so fucking tight I can barely breath.

“We’ll get her help,” Oliver insists and I can’t quite make out Luna’s response because its muffled. I assume due to Oliver holding her close.

Without another passing second, I place my hand on the door and push it open, when three sets of eyes lock on mine.

“Someone wanna fill me in here on what’s going on with Ror?” It’s something I’ve called here almost from the start. It all began when she’d get so pissed at me, she’d raise her voice and glare. Almost like she was roaring at me. I said it once and it kind of stuck. It’s mine for her and somehow that feels so personal. Some hidden place deep within me takes claim and it’s all ours, no one else can take it.

“Jace.” Luna is the first to speak as she stands taller and wipes at her eyes. Oliver watches her closely not paying any attention to Zac or me, it’s like he’s waiting for a sign he needs to intervene. Her personal body guard, slash hero.

I respect him deeply for taking on that role.

“We were just talking.” She shrugs it off like I’ll accept that as the only needed explanation and move on. Only I don’t, I stare, waiting for her to continue.

“Can uh,” Zac, swivels around in his chair, “you think you and I can move this to the break room?”

“As long as that’s code for, you’ll tell me what the hell is going on.”

Zac nods, stands, and moves past me.

“Keep your fucking hands to yourself this time,” Oliver barks. “Everything he tells you, accept it; it’s not what you think, but probably shit you won’t want to hear.”

A few seconds pass and both him and Luna watch me, waiting for my response.

“I ain’t hitting anyone.” The reality that I’ve already punched my best friend once eats away at me every day since I threw my fist in his direction.

Joining Zac in the break room, he sits in one of the chairs at the table, holding a bottle of water with both hands in front of him. He points to a second one on the table across from him. It’s not what either of us truly want, but it’ll do for now.

My stomach feels sour, joining him I twist off the cap and take a drink. My throat suddenly feeling dry, like sandpaper.

“I know you think that there is or was something going on between Aurora and I, but it’s never been what you’ve allowed yourself to envision.” He drags his hand over his face. “I don’t know how she and I got close, it just happened. You and she have constantly been so fucking up and down from the start. After that asshole barged into Luna’s place and attacked them, she somehow attached herself to me.”

His focus lands on me, our eyes lock.

“I’m not complaining, because Aurora is a good friend, but we’ve only ever been friends.”

He holds my stare, ensuring I let his words sink in.

“It started the night we all went out for dinner after they locked Dylan away. After he broke into Luna’s place. You and Aurora were still playing the back and forth, neither one of you openly admitting you wanted more than casual.”

Zac arches his brow at me, daring me to deny it, and instead I nod, surprising us both.

“You left, she stood around long after everyone was gone, and when I asked her if there was something wrong, she fell apart.”

“What do you mean fell apart?”

“I mean she tried not to, she tried to hold back, but I’d never until that moment seen Aurora cry. She didn’t want to go home; she was frantic and then pissed at herself for being weak.”

My stomach was so tight it ached.

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