Carter’s eyes roam over me, calculating. “We’ll see.” He spins toward the door, pausing before he pushes it open. “Be at my office by nine a.m. tomorrow for training. You have two days to complete it before you report to Hayden on Thursday, and trust me when I say you don’t want to piss him off.”
“Who the fuck is Hayden?”
“Your new manager.”
If I wasn’t shooting daggers at him I might've missed the wicked gleam in his eye as he saunters out the door. He thinks he’s won? That a ballsy dude will make a difference?Bring it on, boss.
Chapter twenty-five
Blake
Ihang up the phone and give my head a shake to clear it. “I guess high school me wasn’t as good at pretending that I didn’t notice guys as I thought I was.”
“Captain America was your favorite, wasn’t he? I can see a little boy scout underneath the rugged bike guy thing you’ve got going on.” For the first time since Kane left, Jace almost smiles. “And you’ve got his square jaw underneath that stubble.”
“You think I look like Chris Evans?” That almost makes me smile myself.Almost. “I can’t complain about that. I don’t think I’ve got a boy scout quality, though. Not after the way I handled things.”
I love Jace for wanting to share the blame, but when it comes down to itI’mthe one who was reluctant to come out, soI’mthe one that may have just cost us our shot at happiness with Kane. Maybe even with the two of us.
Jace and I may have made promises to each other about staying together regardless of what happens with him, but that was before we got glimpses of how epic things could be with the three of us. I can’t unsee how perfect that future looked, so even if losing Kane doesn’t tear Jace and I apart, there will always be a void where Kane should be.
Please let us be able to fix this.
“Okay, first, we both screwed up, so stop insisting it’s all your fault. And second, we said from the beginning no matter what happens with Kane the two of us are in this. That hasn’t changed for me. I love you, and I’ll love you no matter where we go from here.” Jace’s gaze holds mine hostage, daring me to object. “Are you with me?”
“Yeah.” I try to smile, though I’m pretty sure it wobbles. “I’m with you.”
“Good. Now, instead of getting hung up on how we both fucked up, let's figure out how to fix it.” Jace chews on his lip for a moment before nudging me with an elbow. “Think your mom would have any ideas?”
That snaps me out of my funk. “MyMom? Why the hell do you think she’d have any ideas?”
“She made that comment about relationships being hard.” He lifts a shoulder like that explains everything.
“Would you ask your mom for advice about how you and your boyfriend could win back your other boyfriend?”
Jace runs a hand through his hair. “Yeah, okay. Bad idea. Think maybe one of the guys would know what to do? I mean, your friend Cade is married. He’s gotta have some good advice.”
Though Jace isn’t acting jittery, the fact that he’s tossing out random,ridiculousideas tells me his outer calm is an act, probably for my benefit.Shit. If he’s worried then…
The doorbell has us looking at each other expectantly for a split second before we launch off the couch and scramble for the door, our arms and legs a tangle of limbs as we claw over one another to get there with single-minded focus.Please let it behim.
I throw open the door to find Axel on the threshold, an uncharacteristic frown on his face. He looks over each of us head to toe before shoving his way inside. “Get dressed. We’ve gotta talk.”
Jace and I exchange a nervous glance before trailing him into the living room.
“What are you doing here?” Jace plays casual.
Axel spins abruptly, stopping us in our tracks. “Lennon told me Kane canceled on brunch. Apparently, he’s not feeling so hot, although he sounded more depressed than sick. Like he’d been crying. Lennon thought you two would like to know.
“Why us? What does Lennon know.” Jace’s voice is eerily level, his stiff arms evidence that he’s holding onto control by a thread.
Axel crosses his arms in front of his chest, though he’s too nice a guy to look truly intimidating. Just like a disappointed older brother. That’s almost worse. “Pretty much everything.”
“What the fuck, man?” Jace explodes. “I told you about the three of us in confidence.”
“Yeah, well, I was worried you’d get hurt with all your secrets, but you wouldn’t listen to me. So, I talked to Lennon.” He twists to face me. “He’s the only one, though. You’re friends with him, you know he’d never repeat anything.”
Jace glances at me and I nod to reassure him. “Lennon’s solid.” Turning to Axel I add, “I wish you hadn’t told him before I did, though. Like you said, I’m friends with him.”
