Page 29 of Reckless Rebel

I smile, feeling the emotion at the back of my throat. “Thanks Mom.”

“Dressing up for our guest?” She muses, and my eyes widen when she refers to Jace.

“What? No! Of course not,” I stutter over every word and she laughs at me. “I have a boyfriend, remember, and besides Jace is Fia’s brother.”

My mom just rolls her eyes. “Please, you’d have to be blind not to see how beautiful Jace is, and he isn’t your brother.” She winks like we are on some inside joke with one another, but I just stare at her.

“Cool. So just to be clear you are siding with the tattooed Rebel, bad boy, over my boyfriend Rick who you have known forever?” She shakes her head at me as I speak, before her face turns serious.

“Sometimes forever is overrated,” she whispers, before she sighs and picks up the tray she has just loaded with food, “Of course that isn’t what I am saying, Darling. But you're seventeen, this is the time to play the field.”

I scoff, “You met dad when you were my age.” I remind her, and she smiles the same way she always does whenever anyone brings up their relationship.

“Your Dad and I were the lucky ones. You don’t always find your true love that easy.”

“Yeah and maybe Rick and I are the lucky ones too.” I reply with nothing but hope in my voice, and doubt in my heart.

She smiles again, more forced this time. “Maybe.”

Before we can say anything else the doorbell rings. “Can you please get that for me, Sweetheart, I need to get these out to your dad.” She is already moving towards the backyard before I can respond.

I sigh, turn on my heels and head to the door. I pull it open and find the topic of pretty much all of my conversations these days. Jace looks up immediately with that usual flirty smile, before his eyes widen as he takes me in. His eyes trail over me from head to toe, then back again, and I have to force myself not to fidget under his intense glare.

He whistles slowly. “Holy fuck, Riles.” I feel the blush coating my cheeks at his tone. “I didn’t think you could get any hotter.” He steps up towards me, and drags me in for a one armed hug like it’s the norm, and I freeze.

Thankfully he doesn’t linger, but his rich, chocolatey scent does, and I can’t say anything as he stares down at me with that smile. He continues to look at me, before he says, “Well I know we only just became friends, Riles, but at least invite me in,” he teases with a laugh.

I shake my head, “Sorry, I’m not with it today.” I step aside gesturing for him to come in.

He steps inside and pulls a drink from the tray he is carrying, “Good job I brought supplies then, huh?” He hands me some sort of iced, creamy drink.

I take it cautiously, “What is it?” I ask, looking at it trying to decipher it myself.

He rolls his eyes. “A chocolate frappe, of course.”

“I’m not sure the best way to start the day is on a sugar high.” I attempt to tease back rolling my own eyes, but take a sip anyway, and damn him for it being so delicious.

Suddenly his mouth is at my ear, “Of course it’s not, but I didn’t think you’d take me up on it if I offered you a wake up call the best way I know how.” He pulls back with a wink, and my blush comes back. “Where’s the rest of the fam?”

The fam... lord help me.

“Out back.” I vaguely wave to the back of the house, and he doesn’t hesitate to head that way.

I shut the front door and move to follow him just as my phone vibrates in my back pocket. I put it out and smile when I see Rick’s name.

Rick: Why are you dressed like that? Wish I was there too, have fun!

I read it once, twice, three times. That’s it? That’s all he has to say? I feel beautiful, sexy even, and felt that way sixty seconds ago with the way Jace’s eye trailed over me. Surely my boyfriend should react in the same way, if not even better. I don’t bother even attempting to reply, because I don’t know how. I just shove my phone back into my pocket and follow after the way Jace just went.

I’m not surprised to find Sofia already curled around his neck, as Jace stands by the table talking with my mom. It’s clear he has already snuck past her usual defences because she is treating him like just another of her kids.

“You look tired, Sweetheart. How have you been sleeping?” She asks him, and his eyes catch mine when I approach before he answers.

“Some nights are better than others,” he admits gruffly, and I wonder again what happened to him. I know he and my parents have alluded to something, and I remember the gossip from Sienna, but I have yet to actually learn what it is that has doing the things he does.

I see the concern in my mom’s eyes as I join them, but then she smiles a little. “Riley used to struggle to sleep but then she got into yoga, you should have her show you a few stretches to help you relax.”

My eyes burn into her as Jace turns to me. “I’m sure I’d enjoy seeing that,” he replies with a wink, like my mom isn’t standing right there.

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