Page 101 of Touch Me

2 words. Scooter Uber.

Ella:

Never again!

Me:

Ok ok I get it. Drinks only. I’ll text Ally and see if she wants to come.

Jess:

Ok see you Saturday.

Ella:

Yay!

I spend the rest of the dinner preparations wondering why he didn’t want to see his parents.I never really asked him anything about his current relationship with his dad. I know it was strained when he was younger, but I assumed once his parents realized he was a successful, independent business owner they would get over whatever animosity was between them.

I know all too well what it feels like to not have a parent show up for you. It was naive of me to think seemingly normal families don’t have the same issues I had to deal with. From the outside the, Lancasters look so perfect. Of course, I didn’t really have a stable frame of reference, but I never would’ve thought the idea of a family dinner would cause such an upheaval.

The sweet, engaging Jace I’ve come to know the past few weeks is no longer coming out to play. Dinner was quiet, uncomfortable. I told him of my plans to have drinks this weekend with his sister and asked if he’d like to tag along. We could curb the birthday talk for another day if need be. He declined and went for another workout an hour after dinner.

He stayed in the gym for hours and didn’t say a word when he came into the room to shower.

The bed dips next to me when he crawls in, and I prop myself up on my elbow, facing him. His eyes never leave the ceiling.

“Hey,” I whisper.

He turns his head toward me and gives me a weak smile. “Hey.”

“You okay?”

He sighs. “Yeah.”

“Listen, we don’t have to do anything for your birthday. I’ll talk to Jess this weekend.”

“Actually I was thinking maybe we could still go out. There’s this little bar down the street called Knockouts. Max and I have gone a few times. The food is decent. Maybe you, me, and Jess can still go. Just for a quick dinner and a drink.” He reaches over and threads his fingers through mine.

“Would you be terribly disappointed if Ella came? She kind of already invited herself.”

“That’s fine. And maybe I’ll call Max. But I have one other request.” He squeezes my hand in pulses, a nervous tick.

“Anything.” I squeeze back.

“Can we go on an off day? My birthday is on a Saturday, and I don’t think I can take the crowd.” He makes eye contact for a split second to gauge my reaction and then looks down at our joined hands.

“Of course. Anything you want.”

He doesn’t look at my face. His focus stays on our hands.

“I never thought this would be possible.” He lifts our threaded hands and kisses my knuckles. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me. You’re the one doing all the work.” We continue to give each other small squeezes and caresses with our hands in between us.

“No. It was you.” His hand stills and he levels me with an intense gaze. “It was always you.”

I try to read his expression, but he’s giving nothing away. “I don’t know what you mean.”

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