"Turn around, J," I murmur.
He slowly does what I asked. His eyes are red and puffy from the silent tears making their au down his face.
The pain and anger, the resentment I've been feeling for almost three years disappears when I fall into my best friend's arms.
Like he can’t hold himself up anymore, he slides to the ground and I fall with him. I almost don't feel the excruciating pain in my ribs that shoots up when I fall because he breaks down in my arms. His sobs muffled by my shirt as I pull him into me.
"I'm sorry, Ro." Jace sobs. "I'm so fucking sorry."
"I know, I know," I soothe him. He grips my shirt like he's afraid I'm going to leave.
He keeps saying it and I let him get it all out. I lean back against the wall, using it to support us. He lays his head on my chest and my fingers stroke his cheek, making him shudder.
Once he's calm enough, I continue, not letting him go.
"After that…I was too weak to try again," I say just loud enough for the others to hear me. "I couldn't go to the cops after what happened when Dec died. There must be dirty cops on my father's payroll if no one came to look for me to give my statement. I just had to wait it out." I look up from J to the guys. I give them a watery smile. "I guess Dec had other plans."
The guys smile and after one look at each other, they get up and walk out. Dominic kneels down to kiss my forehead before he gets up and follows the others out.
Jace exhales and lifts his head. He wipes the tears from his eyes.
I frown at the faint scar that goes through his left eyebrow. "What's this?" I ask softly.
He shakes his head. "Just a little run-in I had."
I sigh, still smiling and shake my head. It feels good.
Jace lifts a hand, trailing it down my cheek. It leaves little sparks as it goes. I push away the feelings that stir from the past.
"I missed you, J." I lean into his hand that cups my face.
"I missed you too, Ro." His grey eyes full of an indecipherable emotion. "So fucking much."
I snuggle into Jace's arms, laying my head in his chest. His arms tighten around me and he exhales loudly, like three years worth of tension leaves his body.
“I’msosorry, Ro. I wished every day for the last three years that I never left you. God, Iknewit was a possibility that he’d come looking for you but I never thought I wouldn’t be there to protect you.” Jace looks at me like he’s afraid this is a dream and I’ll fade away.
“In my head…I knew you weren’t at a party. You didn’t like going out in general but I didn’t have anything else to believe,” I tell him. God, I’m emotionally exhausted.
Jace sighs, kissing my forehead. Emotion washes over me and he hugs me tightly.
“I don’t understand how they didn’t know.” Jace shakes his head. It takes me a moment to realise he was talking about the guys.
“The same reason I didn’t know the mystery sixth group member was you,” I say softly. “Why would I be here? Why wouldyoube here? This whole time they’ve just called you ‘J.’They never met me. They didn’t know anything about me—Dec was too protective for that.”
“That’s for sure,” Jace chuckles and I smile.
"So," he murmurs. "What's the deal with you and the guys?" I try not to tense.
"There's no deal," I deny quickly. Too quickly.
Jace chuckles, brushing my hair from covering my face. "You're such a shitty liar, Aurora Annabelle Winters."
"Don't full name me, Jason Oliver Hamilton." I grumble.
He laughs richly. "Come on, Ro. You know you can't lie to me."
Sometimes I wish I could. I lift my head but he doesn't let me move. His grey eyes search mine.
