Grant me permission to be happy.
But the asking price is steep. This could create a rift we won’t be able to repair.
I squint up at the cloudless sky, imagining a blanket of stars. That vision sends me back to a different time. When a little girl with pigtails held the hand of a strange boy who randomly showed up at her house. No hesitation or fear. She’s had ahold of me since that moment.
A lump of something fierce lodges in my gut. “Will any man be good enough for Sutton?”
Jace’s head whips my way so fast I’m surprised it’s still attached. “Why the hell would you ask that?”
I resume rocking in my chair. “Genuine curiosity.”
“Is she fucking around with someone?” He’s on the edge of his seat, ready to fly off the damn handle.
“Fucking relax, yeah? It’s a simple question.”
He glares at me. “Nothing about my sister is easy.”
I grunt out a loud breath. “You’re continuing to blow this out of proportion.”
“You started it.”
“What’s with the temper tantrum? Did your period arrive early?”
“Don’t turn this shit on me when you’re the one with a sandy vagina.”
I almost laugh. “You’re such a tool.”
Jace scoffs and crosses his arms. “Takes one to know. As if you have a damn leg to stand on. You turn into a snarling beast if another man comes within a mile of Sutton.”
I shrug. “Learned from the best.”
“Pretty sure it’s the other way around.”
I scrub over my mouth. He has a decent point. There aren’t many people I care about in this world, but Sutton tops that short list. I’d lose my fucking shit if anything happened to her. Maybe that’s a valid reason in my defense of all this madness.
A choking sound has me looking his way. “Holy shit, brother. Are you smiling?”
Am I? The slight lift in my lips lingers for another moment. “Huh, guess so.”
Another strangled noise escapes him. “How strong are those pills you’re on?”
“They pack a hefty punch. But I haven’t popped one in hours.”
“Sure about that?”
“Yeah, why?”
Jace hitches a thumb at me. “You’re more loopy than a rollercoaster.”
If that’s the case, he’ll think I’m insane regardless of what happens next. Might as well rip off the damn duct tape. I clutch my cold bottle in a tight fist. No more wussing out. “I’m in love with your sister.”
His slack-jaw and bulging eyes are almost comical. “What the fuck did you just say?”
“I love Sutton. Always have.”
He goes utterly still. “You better be yanking my chain.”
“I’d have to find it first.”
