Willow
And possibly be rejected? I don’t think my ego can handle that right now.
Mia
That’s your problem. Leave your ego out of the equation and just do it.
I’m coming to the lake house for the weekend. Let’s go out.
Willow
Where are Caleb and Tella?
Mia
He’s taking Tella to see her grandparents on her mother’s side. They invited me to go along, but I think it’s something they should do without me.
Willow
Are you coming for the whole weekend?
Mia
Just for Saturday night.
Willow
Let me know when you get in and I’ll come pick you up.
Mia’s family has a house on the lake on the outskirts of the Hollow. With her father’s job coaching the Aston Archers, he mostly stays in Aston and Mia only comes every once in a while. Normally, she has Caleb and his daughter with her, but not this time.
Mia
Okay! Love you, see you Saturday!
Willow
Love you!
Locking my screen, I tuck my phone in my back pocket just as the bell above the door dings, drawing my attention away from the empty walls. My feet spin, my body turning as I throw a glance at the front of the store and see Jace as he steps into the space. My heart thumps faster in my chest as I allow my eyes a long second to roam as he looks behind him to make sure the door shuts.
He’s wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, matching joggers, and sneakers. I’m not going to lie, I don’t think this man could look bad in anything he wears, but I do like this athletic look he’s got going on right now. And to top it all off, he’s wearing his white baseball cap backwards.
“Hey,” he says, turning back around to me. A smile spreads across his lips as his eyes meet mine. His footsteps are light, yet his strides are purposeful as he walks across the store and stops right next to me.
“Hey,” I say softly, my forehead scrunching. “What are you doing here?”
Jace plants his feet and crosses his arms over his chest, raising one eyebrow. “Have you been here since this afternoon?”
“Yeah, I stopped by the market and grabbed a salad earlier and came here.”
“Have you eaten since?”
I shake my head. “No, I kind of forgot to,” I admit with a shrug and gesture to the mess of shelves on the floor. “I got a little distracted.”
He purses his lips as he looks down at the floor and back to meet my gaze. “Come on,” he says, reaching his hand out for mine. His hand is so big, his fingers long and strong. There are little calluses at the base of each finger. There’s no reason to be reluctant. It’s just Jace. Harmless and hot Jace Miller who almost kissed me the last time we were this close.
My palm slides against his, his skin warm as I thread my fingers through his. “Where are we going?”
