She ran around, cleaning up quickly. She was just grabbing a few items she’d left lying on the kitchen counter when the knock came at the door. Suddenly her heart was racing, even though she had no idea why. This was Jace. Her longtime friend Jace. She didn’t need to be nervous.
Just breathe, Elle.
Slowly, she made her way to the door and tugged it open.
Jace towered over her, his eyes slightly glassy, his smile easy. “Hey, Tink. Can I come in?”
Wait, she knew that look. “Are you drunk?” She probably should have known from his rambling over the intercom, but she’d been so shocked she hadn’t connected the dots.
“I may have had a little bit of beer.”
Her lips twitched. “Liar. This is not ‘a little bit’ of beer, Jace.” She shifted back, and when he entered the apartment, his steps weren’t quite as steady as usual. She’d just closed the door when he stumbled, and she grabbed his arm, even though he was twice, maybe three times her size. “Let’s get you sitting down.”
When they reached the couch, he dropped, his head lolling back and his eyes closing. “Thanks. I knew I could count on you.” He reached into his pocket and tugged out his phone before throwing it onto the coffee table. “Damn thing keeps ringing.”
She lifted it to see Cody’s name flashing on the screen. “It’s your brother.”
“Asshole took my car keys. Told me I had to wait for him to drive me home.”
This time, she chuckled. “And what? You gave him the slip?”
“Fuck yeah, I did. I don’t need a babysitter.”
Hm, kind of looked like he did. “Why are you here, Jace?”
He turned his head to look at her, his beautiful blue eyes boring into hers. “Becauseyou’rehere.”
CHAPTER 6
Elle’s heart gave a funny little twist. Jace had been coming into the café at the visitors center every day, and every day she had to fight a million emotions inside her. But now, with him sitting on the couch, saying sweet things like that…how was she supposed to remain immune to him?
The phone stopped ringing only to immediately start again. She sighed and leaned over to answer it. “Hello?”
There was a short pause before Cody spoke. “Elle?”
“Yeah, it’s me. Jace is here.”
“I’m gonna kill that guy. He just ran out on me. Want me to come get him?”
“Tell him to leave me alone,” Jace groaned, head falling back onto the couch once more.
Elle’s lips twitched. “I’ll look after him.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah.”
“Thanks, Elle. I’ll call off Eastern.”
The phone wasn’t on speaker, but Jace clearly heard, because he scoffed. “I woulda given him the slip too.”
Cody chuckled. “Okay, call if you need anything.”
“I will.”
She hung up and moved into the kitchen to pour some coconut water into a glass. When she gave it to Jace, his fingers brushed hers, causing a tingle to run up her arm.
“Thanks.” He took a sip and made a face. “What the hell kinda water is this?”
