Page 2 of Touch Me

“Dinner is ready,” Dr. Lancaster calls from the bottom of the stairs.

After hours of swimming earlier, I drop my phone with a quickness at the mention of food.

Dinner at the Lancaster’s is always a big affair. A full meal, with dessert most of the time. Not the ramen or gas station hot dogs I would get at home—if I could find enough change lying around. Everyone sits down together, and it still blows my mind sometimes.

Walking into the dining room, I spot Jack and Jace already seated. I train my eyes on a blank spot on the wall so I’m not tempted to glance at Jace. Always hyper aware of his presence, when he runs his hands through his hair, the action draws my traitorous eyes right to him. I wish I was running my hands through his hair.

Dammit.

Every time.

Why do I do this to myself?

And why does he have to be all sexy and mysterious?

My face heats like it always does when I see him, which, considering how much time I spend here, isa lot.My heart beats to the rhythm of Madonna’sCrazy for You,and my knees wobble. One good thing about walking through life as the proverbial wallflower, no one notices. Especially not Jace. He never looks at me. Not that he has a reason to. With my dull brown hair, barely noticeable green eyes, and stupid freckles on my nose, I easily get lost in the sea of beautiful girls at our school. I stumble to a seat and sit like a ghost, free to observe because, as I said, no one notices.

But not Jace, everyone notices, much to his detriment if his attitude is any indication. He’s gorgeous, with jet-black hair and an icy gaze that would freeze me in place if he ever graced me with actual eye contact. His tall, muscular frame gathers the attention of most girls at our school. Although, I guess I shouldn’t feel all that bad that he doesn’t look at me. He doesn’t pay attention to anyone.

He turns heads in every hallway but walks straight, with his eyes cast down or facing forward. The girls lean on their lockers with hearts floating above their heads, whispering to each other, and he walks on by. The few friends he seems to hang around with always razz him about being a lady killer, but he always looks uncomfortable. Actually, uncomfortable isn’t the right word. He always looks pissed—fists clenching at his sides and a tick in his jaw.

Sexy?Yes.Approachable?Hell no.

Similar in looks, Jack is handsome as well. But where Jace is quiet and unapproachable, Jack’s popular and outgoing. I’m surprised he’s even here tonight.

Jack digs his phone out of his pocket when it pings with a notification. “I’m heading over to Beck’s after dinner.”

Jess’s head whips toward Jack, and she bumps my knee under the table. My lips quiver, trying to hold back a grin. She has a little crush on Beck.

“What are your plans?” Dr. Lancaster asks.

Jess’s shoulders bunch up around her ears as she pulls and stretches the cloth napkin in her lap. I snicker, being the only one aware of the napkin abuse used to hide her nerves. “Maybe he could come over and swim?”

Jack cocks his head and narrows his eyes at her. “Nah.” Jess physically deflates in her chair, and the napkin is safe from further strangulation before he continues, “We’ll probably just hang out for a little while. He has to work in the morning. You should come, Jace.”

Jace freezes, his plate the object of his fixation. “Uh, no thanks.”

“You should go. School starts in a couple weeks. It’ll be your last taste of freedom before hitting the books hard your senior year,” Mr. Lancaster urges.

Even though they could afford to send their children to any school they wanted, they always made academics a priority. My mom doesn’t even know what school I go to. Cue the sad girl music.

Everyone’s silent. All eyes land on Jace in anticipation of his answer, and his lips twitch from the exaggerated silence and attention. Jace never goes out. He doesn’t play sports, doesn’t have friends over, and even though he gets good grades, you can see the longing on his dad’s face. He wants him to be like Jack—outgoing, interested in a social life,andan excellent student.

Jace picks up his glass and stares into it like it’s the most interesting thing he’s ever seen. “I, uh. I think I’ll just stay in and get my stuff organized for school. I have a book to finish for AP Lit anyway.”

Mr. Lancaster sighs and purses his lips. “You know, this is your last year. I think you should try out for baseball again. Some of my best memories of high school were playing sports.” Mr. Lancaster is trying to convince Jace, but the smug look on his face isn’t going to get him far. Jace grows more and more restless, his eyes bouncing all over the place but landing nowhere. “You really bond with teammates when you’re working together toward the same goal.”

The corner of Jace’s eye twitches, and he shifts in his seat, picking up his fork. The screech of his fork across his plate is deafening as he pokes aimlessly at his food, head bowed over his plate. “Umm, I have a really full class load this year, and I’m not really interested in sports.”

Mr. Lancaster slams his hands on the table, and everyone jumps. “That’s because you never gave it a chance!”

Jace doesn’t pick up his head, and the tops of his ears tinge pink. “I tried, it’s just… it’s not my thing,” Jace mumbles, barely loud enough to hear.

He shrinks in his seat, literally curling in on himself, trying to appear smaller—less like a target.

Mr. Lancaster’s face flames red, and he throws his napkin next to his plate. Pushing back in his chair, the screech across the tile floor has everyone’s heads turning in his direction, waiting.

My heart hammers against my ribs, and I pull my lips into my mouth. Whatever animal is really good at staying still to go unnoticed is what I’m trying to be right now. Is it a bird? No, it’s those bugs that look like leaves or branches. Those things are cool as hell. Creepy when you come up on one, but still damn cool.

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