Page 5 of Jace

“I’m not sure my infant daughter can hang for a girls’ night.” Bree laughs and then I hear the soft giggles of my Goddaughter.

“Are you kidding, she loves ladies night.”

I hear Roger and William talking as they round the corner heading back to their cubicles. I lower my voice even more, but don’t end the call. “Movies, ordering in and girl talk, that’s all I’m thinking. Low-key, nothing big, probably at your place because little munchkin needs to be in her space. Luna, me and you, even Presley since she’s living closer now.”

My cousin Presley hasn’t had the best record when it comes to men. The father of her son is a real piece of shit, and after more than three years of his bullshit she finally realized both her and her son deserved better. I know inviting her means she’ll have to bring her three-year-old son, but he’s a good kid. He’ll be out by nine.

“Dax is taking a trip with my dad next weekend; we should plan something then.” He rarely left Bree and Piper. Nothing is sweeter than seeing the big cranky bear of a man melt in the presence of his girls. Bree and his daughter are his everything and I love that she has him. She deserves to be loved in the way he loves her.

“You sound sad,” Her words surprise me. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah,” my burdens were not hers, and I made sure I kept them tucked close. With the exception of Zac not many know how truly messed up I am from the attack of Luna’s ex. I hated that him coming after her inflicted insecurities in me. That man was, is a monster. He took advantage of a young girl and then secretly harassed her for years. He got off on knowing she feared him.

Now he was behind bars for the things he did to her and other women that have come forward.

But in my opinion prison was not a harsh enough punishment. One day he’d be free, and in my heart, I felt that was wrong. Because deep down Luna and the other women would never truly be free of the darkness he bestowed upon them.

Where is the fairness in that? He should rot in a dark cell for the rest of his life.

“You’d tell me if there was something going on, right?”

“Yes,” the lie felt wrong. “So about that girls’ night, are we on for next weekend?”

“Sounds perfect.” I know it’s more for me than her. She knows me too well even when I’m trying to hide something she feels it too. Only she doesn’t push me.

We talked a little while longer, making plans before I had to let her go.

I can’t say that I love my job, but I need it. The money was good, and my tastes are expensive. I like pretty things, its therapy for my soul.

I’d planned to leave work early, go home and finish a few things before getting ready for the dreaded schmoozing my bosses had planned. We’d recently landed a new account with a large firm. We would be handling all of their social media, their website and the monitoring and design. New branding, a complete face-lift and I’d be leading the graphic design team. I wasn’t nervous, I was good at my job. But I hated the sucking up, brown nosing to impress side of things. I’d be perfectly happy to hide behind the scenes and let someone else take the credit if it meant I didn’t have to play nice. They could have all the praise, just give me my weekly check and any bonuses that came along and I’d be golden.

Quietly I gathered my things, offer a little wave to the guys, and make my way toward the exit on the fifth floor.

My phone rings and I’m relieved to see Zac finally calling me back. “

Sorry, I hate to bother you when I know you’re working,” I say in a rush.

“It’s okay,” he says, and something about his voice sounds off. Nervous energy races through me because he can’t back out on me now.

“About tonight, can you meet me outside of Margo’s, it's actually a couple streets over from Bree’s studio.” I feel out of breath as I hurry down the last flight of stairs carrying three bags I swear have the combined weight of three toddlers.

He’s silent for far too long and I pause, my stomach tenses and I wait for the excuse he’s about to give me. “Wait, what?”

“Dinner, tonight.” He forgot! “Did you forget?”

“No.” The word is drawn out, and I know without a doubt he has in fact forgotten. “It’s good. I’m good, we’re all good.”

“Zac.” My nostrils flare. I cannot sit through a drab work dinner with a bunch of boring people alone. I need him to keep my awake, I’ve told him this a million times, he is my entertainment. “Forget it, can you be ready at five and I’ll pick you up?”

If I got ready before I left the office instead of going home to change, I would be able to get to the shop, get him, and then to the restaurant just in time for appetizers.

I hope!

“Five works,” there is a pause, “Margo’s is fancy, right?”

“Oh my God!” I can’t hold back my laughter. “Not suit and tie fancy, but a nice shirt, without skulls or some kind of vulgar saying would be best.”

I’ve never met a guy that has more dirty shirts than Zac. Every single one of them has some kind of hidden innuendo.

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