Page 218 of Jocks

Taking a few minutes to see where my stomach is at, I decide that toast is all I can eat. Once he leaves to get breakfast, things between Jace and me get tense.

“Um, I want to apologize for the mess you came back to,” Jace starts, looking down at his hands. “It was Lilli’s idea and had we known, we would have stopped her.”

“Yeah, I kinda figured that out. Though, it was nice to get a little revenge out of it.” I smile at him.

“Did you know it rained that night?” he asks me, his eyes lighting up like they used to when he teased me.

“No, it didn’t. But there might have been a puddle where I set the boxes.” I grin at him, letting him know there are no hard feelings.

I watch as he goes from this fun, confident guy to someone who is uncomfortable and almost distraught. “You know, back in Huntsville. We felt horrible about what we did. Dad said no goodbyes and in our messed-up, adolescent heads we thought making you hate us would make it easier for all of us.”

Putting my hand on his arm, I take a deep breath before speaking. “I know. I heard you guys in the basement yesterday. I would have understood and kept your secret, but I also get it. We were fourteen. At that age, you do what you are told.”

A tray with a plate of toast, cup of coffee, and small cup of juice is put in front of me. Looking up, I see Brax, his eyes glossy. “I’m so sorry. I wish we had defied Dad now. Knowing you were on our side, even if hours away would have made it so much easier.”

Ripping the crust off the toast, I look between the two guys. “I don’t know if we will ever get back to where we were, or if we have a future. But I think I would like to get to know who you are now.”

Popping a piece of toast into my mouth, I chew slowly, waiting for the anvil to drop.

“I bribed you with watching Princess Bride last night, but you crashed before we even turned it on.” Jace grins at me, while grabbing the remote off the stand.

“As you wish,” I eat my breakfast knowing that like Wesley, I am saying something totally different. Once I wanted them crushed beneath my heels, but now, realizing that there are two sides to every coin, I would rather walk side by side with them, as equals.

“Carbie!” The high-pitched yell hurts my head, even from two rooms away.

“I’ll deal with the Queen Bee,” Brax jumps up.

“Don’t you mean Whore Barbie?” I snark, irritated that she is taking one of the guys away.

“Is that what you call her?” he laughs.

“Yup! And when I feel more myself, I’m gonna crush her under my heel.”

It's only the end for now!

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