“It’s whatever. What she really wanted was to tell me to go to my cousin’s wedding next month.”
“In Michigan?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you and your cousin close?” Jayce asked.
“When we were three, maybe.”
He grinned. “Are you going to go?”
“It would make my mom happy, that’s for sure,” I said with a sigh, and Jayce shrugged.
“Would it makeyouhappy?”
I rested my head against his shoulder, inhaling the familiar scent of him, the subtle way his arm snaked around my waist as we walked, how his hand gently caressed my hip as we strolled. “I think I’m plenty happy right here,” I said quietly, and Jayce’s grip tightened on me as he pulled us to a halt and turned to face me, touching the side of my face with his knuckles.
“I am, too,” he said. “Truly. But I don’t want you to feel like you have to avoid your family to be with me, or even that you would want to. If it would mean a lot to your mom, maybe you should go.”
“I don’t know,” I said with a shrug. “I’ll think about it. That’s all I can promise anyone.”
“Fair enough,” said Jayce. “Now, where were we? Ah, yes, plans for tomorrow night.”
“Plans for tomorrow night,” I confirmed. “You will find me in my bed with a good book and a glass of wine.”
“Sorry,” Jayce said. “No can do.”
“What? Why? That’s the perfect weekend extravaganza.”
“Unfortunately for you, my dear lady,” Jayce said, hand lingering on my ass as he pressed his body against mine, “you are now a girlfriend, and not a lonesome single woman, and yourboyfriendwants to take you on a date.”
“Fine, but can’t I go home and sleep after?”
“Not in your bed, no.”
“In your bed?”
“Getting closer.”
“Jayce.” I smacked his hand away from my ass to glare at him, but he only smiled that wickedly beautiful smile and bowed to me.
“Pack an overnight bag,” he said. “We’ll leave tomorrow after your last class.”
~~
“SO WHERE IS HE TAKINGyou?” Kylie asked, her eyes scoping out the mess I had on the bed. A backpack set empty, and piles of clothes were strewn around the bed in a frenzied panic.
“I have no idea,” I said, reaching into my top drawer for some panties that didn’t have holes in them. I shoved them into the backpack and then folded up my pajamas—short shorts and a raggedy old t-shirt—then grabbed my overnight bag with my toiletries in it and stuffed it in after. Kylie watched me do this curiously, as if she was trying to decide what in the actual hell I was doing or why.
“Somewhere overnight?” she guessed as I stumbled over a pair of sweats on my floor and nearly fell. She reached out, steadying me, a grin curling on her lips. “Take a breath, girl, before you have a meltdown.”
“I know. I’m sorry. I’m just nervous.” I inhaled a long breath and held it for a moment before releasing, hoping to settle my nerves.
“Don’t be nervous,” said Kylie. “Jayce is crazy about you, Macey, and it’s clear to everyone who knows you. Whatever you do or wherever you go, it will be fun.”
“Until he figures out just how cool I amnot,” I said with a sigh. “We are two very different people, Jayce and me. I’m just waiting for him to realize what a mistake this relationship was.” Even as the words spilled out of my mouth, I wasn’t sure I believed it. Sure, I had my quirks, but so did he, and that’s what made us work. The true test would be whether or not he had to meet my parents and whether or not he’d survive. At that point, I wouldn’t blame him for bailing out the door and never looking back. I know I would.
