“Not bad, eh?” I shoved some lasagna into my mouth, savoring the subtly spicy taste of the marinara against my tongue. “The food, I mean. Not me.”
With a smile, Macey shook her head and lowered her fork, focusing on me. “You don’t give yourself enough credit,” she said. “You’re not like other guys, Jayce. You’re so...genuine. And not just as a man, or as a boyfriend, but as a person. How did I get so lucky to find you?” She chuckled, but it sounded almost sad. “I keep on wondering how I got so lucky. When is the other shoe going to drop?”
“Do you believe that will happen?” I asked, and when Macey didn’t answer immediately, I already knew what she was thinking. Shaking my head, I scooted the dishes out of the way and reached across the table to take Macey’s hands in mine, squeezing them. “This isn’t a teenage comedy,” I said softly. “I don’t intend to make you fall for me and then leave, or break your heart, or any of that other crap that happens in movies, and sometimes even in real life.”
“I know, Jayce,” Macey said. “I know.”
Chapter 24
Macey
After a lovely dinnerand drink on the beach, Jayce and I pedaled our way downtown where some of the charming little shops were still open and glowing. We turned in our bikes at the second location downtown, then walked up and down the cozy sidewalks after getting ice cream, window shopping and occasionally stopping in to check out the lovely merchandise. I lingered for a moment at a jewelry store window, admiring the glimmering stones and jewels set so beautifully in gold and silver.
“My mom used to have a necklace just like that,” I said, pointing to a ruby studded chain hanging from a mannequin neck. “Melanie and I got it for her for Mother’s Day the year before the accident. She wore it almost every single day up until then. I haven’t seen it since.”
“I’m sorry,” Jayce said, his lips lingering on top of my head. “Something so beautiful should be shown off. Would you like to go in and check out the store?”
“On, no, I couldn’t,” I said, taking a step back. “I love shiny stuff so much that I’d probably take out a credit card just to pay for it, and there’s nobody here that thinks that’s a good idea, Jayce.”
“Let’s go in,” he prodded. “Just for a moment.”
Hoping to dash in and leave just to humor him, I followed Jayce into the tiny boutique jewelry store. He didn’t stop to linger, however, and went straight to the counter to speak to the man behind the register. The first thing that sprung to my mind was probably the last thing I should have assumed.
“Holy shit,” I hissed, stepping up behind him with a thrill of wariness. “Please don’t tell me we’re here for a ring. I mean, I like you, Jayce, a lot...but wejuststarted dating.”
Jayce laughed so loud that for a moment, I was offended that my ramblings had been such an insult. Not like I hadn’t brought it on myself, but still. I had some dignity left. I think.
“It’s not a ring,” he promised, but then added in an undertone. “Just try not to react that way if it ever is.” Still grinning, amused, he turned back to the man behind the counter, offering his name. The man nodded and walked away, into the back room for a moment, before returning with a baby blue wrapped giftbox no larger than my hand. He handed it to Jayce, who tucked it into his pocket. And then, just like that, we bid the employee a goodbye and Jayce linked his arm in mine and walked out the door.
“Are you not going to show me what’s in that box?” I asked, and he shook his head.
“You ruined it.”
“Jayce, I’m sorry. I really didn’t mean it like that—”
“I’m just messing with you, Mace,” Jayce said with a laugh. “You’ll get to see, but not yet.”
