Chapter 22: The Pact: Chapter 22

As soon as Roman stormed out after kissing me, Asher called. He was freaked out that I’d left the car behind and he hadn’t been able to find me. Jace had taken the phone from me, and after some yelling and growling, he calmed down and stalked into his room, with my phone, slamming the door to talk to Asher in private.

I’d started to remember what had happened the night before, and it made me sick to my stomach that I hadn’t been as careful as I thought. How could I have let my guard down like that? I was almost…raped.

I’d thought I was playing it safe by not drinking. But even completely sober…

. I’m so stupid. It can happen anytime. You don’t have to be intoxicated to not notice someone slipping something into your drink. You can be sober, dancing and having a good time.

It hadn’t taken long for Asher to turn up at Jace’s with Walker in tow. As soon as Asher saw me, he hugged me tight to his chest. He told me how sorry he was and that he would take care of me. I hadn’t wanted to talk about it. I was already emotional and confused after a long night and even stranger morning. Mostly, I was grateful nothing worse had happened and those girls clued into what was going on.

Asher gave me my bag, told me that my Dad thought I came home last night, and to lock the doors behind me. I fished my keys out and did just that. I locked the doors, ran upstairs, and took a long, scalding shower.

Knocking at the door woke me from a nap. I was worried who it would be. I wasn’t ready to face the three of after what happened that morning. But Grady’s face appeared with a huge smile, a bag of popcorn, and chocolates, so I let him in.

“Let’s watch movies…like old times.”

My smile faltered only slightly. I was glad to not be alone with my thoughts, and Grady was safe. I could trust him not to kiss me or make me talk about what had happened with his brother, or more so, with Roman. Because he’d seen that…hell, he saw me in my underwear, too.

But he acted as if it didn’t happen, and I silently thanked him for that.

The movies we use to watch were fairy tales. The movie Grady chose was a different type of fairy tale. There were hot scenes that made me flush with heat, making me acutely aware that Grady sat right beside me. I could hear him breathing deeply, and he shifted slightly, grazing my hand with his. My heart sped up, and I didn’t know it if was good that it was Grady here…or if things just got more complicated.

That had been Saturday. Grady left, and I spent my Sunday overanalyzing everything that had happened with Jace and Roman and the weird tension with Grady.

Monday comes faster than I would have liked, and I still haven’t spoken to any of the guys. I’m not sure if they’re mad at me. Are they talking to me now? Or are they only jerking off and kissing me?

I hate not knowing. It makes my stomach all twisted up.

I don’t know what to expect when I get into Grady’s car and he drives me to school. Did he feel the weird tension between us Saturday? Or am I imagining things? I’m more nervous now than I was when I started at a new school in a whole other state.

I need my own car. I will have to ask Dad if I can get one. Just something cheap to run around in. Hell, if I have to ask Mom, I will. That’s how nervous I am about seeing Grady. I’m willing to call my mom to avoid him.

I hold onto the brass doorknob and release a deep breath. I have this. I’m strong. I’ll walk out there with confidence and get this over with.

The sun hits my face as soon as I step outside, and I smile at the beautiful day. Nothing like sunshine to make you feel cheerful. I put my hand up to block the glare of the sun and look over to where Grady parks his car.

It’s not there.

My stomach drops. He left me.

I walk to the curb and look down the street to see if he might have parked somewhere else. But I know that’s not the case. I’m stalling, trying to figure out what to do. It’s too late to call Sadie and Cadence. It would make them late if they have to come get me now.

I glance at my phone. I have Grady’s number. Maybe I should text him? Ask him if he forgot about me? I turn back to my house and contemplate taking the day off. Dad will be okay if I say I’m sick. He’ll believe me.

“Hey, Mila.”

I spin and see Jace coming toward me. His eyes are squinting from the glare, but he looks happy to see me. He stops at his car, the black SUV, and opens the back door to throw his bag in.

“Hey, ah, have you seen Grady this morning?” I ask.

Seeing Jace for the first time since that…well, the whole jerking off thing has made me very aware of what he’s hiding under those shorts of his. Fuck, will I be this worked up around him from now on? Now that we’ve crossed some strange boundary in our friendship?

If that’s what this is—a friendship? He didn’t like me last week…now, I have no idea.

Jace’s smile is a slow, sly one as his eyes roam up and down my body. I’m very aware of the pink dress I chose to wear today with my white Converse. My pulse picks up under his gaze, and I lick my lips.

He leans against the slick, black metal and nods. “Yeah, Makai called, said he was having car trouble. I told Grady I’ll give you a lift today so he can help his friend.”

Huh, okay. That sounds like a good reason. Unless Grady is avoiding me and lied about his friend’s car trouble. Ugh, I need to stop overthinking this shit. Nothing happened. It’s all in my head.

“Okay.”

I round Jace’s car to the passenger side. When I open the door, he’s chucking clothes and empty water bottles into the back seat, and I raise my brow at him. Jace is a slob. And I thought his room was a mess. This takes the cake.

“You need to clean your car.”

He gives a deep, throaty chuckle. “Been meaning to. Don’t normally have anyone else in here but Roman, so I’m kinda lazy about it.”

I smile at that as I climb in. As soon as his door closes, the scent of his cologne hits me. It’s musky but sweet. Or maybe the musky smell is his car? I hide my smile at that thought.

There’s an awkward silence between us as we drive to school. He doesn’t speak to me, and I nervously chew my nail as I peer out the window. I don’t know if I should bring up what happened in his bedroom. That’s what this awkwardness is, right? He’s trying to ignore it, and I am too.

Or is he upset about Roman kissing me…me kissing him back? Or because I broke their pact again? He didn’t really talk to me after I mentioned that. Asher had called and that was the end of our conversation.

My heart races, and I feel like I’m sweating in his leather seat. The A/C is on, but I can’t cool down. I just want him to bring it up before it blows up in my face today. I need to know what’s going on with us. But he just blares his tunes, tapping on the steering wheel to the beat like this is a normal day. Even if I wanted to talk, he wouldn’t hear me over the music.

In the school parking lot, he cuts the engine but doesn’t move to get out, so I stay where I am. Is he going to mention it now? Why am I being so silly? I should just ask him. I swallow the lump in my throat. The more I think about it, I realize I don’t want to hear him say that nothing’s changed. That we aren’t friends still.

I look down at my palm, the scar there matching one on Jace’s hand. I run my finger over the raised skin.

Jace clears his throat, and I freeze, waiting for the rejection. “Do you remember that day?”

I turn toward him. He holds out his right hand, palm up, showing me his matching scar. That wasn’t what I’d been expecting him to say. But I smile as the tension inside me eases slightly.

“How can I forget? You passed out from the sight of blood.”

Jace chuckles with a huge grin, and my chest swells at the sound. This is what I wanted when I came back here. This smiling and happy Jace, talking about the good times.

“I’ll have you know, I’m okay with blood now. No getting weak in the knees if someone cuts themselves.”

“I’m glad you’re not fainting at the sight of blood anymore.” I reach over and lightly trace his scar with my finger. It’s just like mine. I’ll never forget that day. It’s burned into my memory.

“M The memory makes my chest heavy. Our lives were perfect before I left and fucked everything up. I look into Jace’s eyes, not expecting to see the same sadness I feel inside.

“Blood friends for life,” Jace says.