Page 20 of Next Time I Fall (Excess All Areas 2)

“If I can speak freely, I’m not sure it works.”

Jase reached for her coat and held it while she slid her hands through the arms. “Yeah. Well, I’m an angry fucker, Cerys.” He buttoned her coat up and reached for her scarf. “And you are too cute to make me mad right now.”

She put her hands back on his chest. “You think I’m cute?”

Drunk, flirty Cerys was more than cute. But the beers he’d drunk made it hard to think of the right word. He tapped her on the tip of her nose. “Stop fishing for compliments, and let’s get your scarf on.”

He wound it around her neck, taking care to not get her earrings caught, then pulled on his own coat.

They said their goodbyes to Ben and Alex, but as he turned to follow Cerys out of the bar, Alex grabbed his arm. “Do not fuck her.”

Jase shrugged off his hand. “I’m not going to. Don’t you think we’d be in more shit if we got Baby Bexter pissed and then left her to find her own way home? Try explaining that to Bexter.”

Alex rolled his eyes. “You know what I mean. Just ... don’t ruin this for us.”

The beer buzz and unfamiliar feeling of happiness he’d felt only moments before began to dissipate. “I hear you. Later.” Jase marched after Cerys.

“Here,” he said, opening a car door for her, and then sliding in after her. “What’s your address?”

Cerys looked at him, and he could see the confusion in her eyes, before she did as he’d instructed.

“Why are you in this taxi?” she asked.

“I’m seeing you home.”

“But it’s really out of your way.”

Jase sighed and looked out of the window. “Yeah. And while the majority of cabbies are nice guys, some aren’t. I wasn’t going to let you get into a cab, half-cut from alcohol I paid for, so you could take your chances.”

Cerys put her hand on his leg. It shouldn’t have soothed him when she did that. “I don’t think we should ... well, are you ... were you hoping to come in?”

He shook his head. Why did everyone think he was trying to get into her pants? Couldn’t a guy just do a nice thing for someone? Sure, she was cute. But she was here in the States. And soon, he’d be back in Manchester. “No. Don’t go getting ideas.”

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t.”

Cerys didn’t speak for the rest of the ride to her home.

And her silence burned him inside.

4

On Monday morning, as her alarm blasted, Cerys opened her eyes slowly, and sighed in relief to find the hangover that had lingered all day on Sunday completely gone. All that remained was the certainty that she’d upset Jase with something she vaguely remembered saying. No matter how hard she focused, the details were blurry.

They’d had fun, he’d made her laugh with his crass comments. There were signs that the angry, sullen singer was only a part of who Jase was.

She couldn’t decide why he hid the rest of himself from the world.

At first, she’d thought it was alcohol. But then, she realised Matt and Luke weren’t there. All the reports she’d read in preparation for their visit suggested it was Matt and Jase who didn’t get on with each other.

It was still on her mind after she’d gotten ready for work and completed her commute.

On Friday, she’d removed her quote from the board, but over the weekend, somebody had added letters.

May the bridges you burn light the way.

She looked around, which was dumb, really. It could have been anybody. The quote was an odd one. At first glance, it felt petulant. But then, with further consideration, perhaps it meant that leaving toxic people and relationships behind was a good thing.

For some reason, her father popped into her head.

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