I eyed him for a moment, finding his open, curious expression irresistible as always.
“Sure.” I handed it over, figuring it was fine since there was nothing addictive in it. His eyes remained on mine. My heart fluttered annoyingly as he took a quick drag, wincing before he handed it back.
“It’s a bit too sweet for me,” he said. I bobbed my head, hoping he’d leave. Unfortunately, he didn’t. Instead, he took a step closer, those mesmerising eyes once again running over me. “I never took you for the addictive type.”
No, that was always you, I thought but didn’t voice it. “It helped with my anxiety at first, made me relax, but then it just became a crutch, hence why I decided to quit.”
He studied me for a very long moment, and something thick and undefinable passed between us. Realising he wasn’t going to grant me my wish of a few minutes alone, I slid the fake vape back in my bag. “We’d better get inside.”
I made to move by him, but he caught my arm lightly. “I’m sorry about before,” he blurted, and I blinked, staring up at him. “I think you’re an amazing mother, and I’d never criticise your parenting. Everything you’ve done for Zara, especially when I …” He trailed off, his throat bobbing a little as he swallowed down some kind of emotion. “When I couldn’t,” he finished at last. “I appreciate it more than you know.” He paused, exhaling heavily as he took me in. “Anyway, it was a dick move to prod you about the driving thing. I just always want you and Zara to be safe.”
Now I was the one swallowing down emotion. “We are safe,” I replied, my voice quiet. “Like I said, there are other transport options, and my house is close to everything we need. Also, you don’t need to worry about my safety. I’m not your wife anymore, Jace. Zara is your only concern.”
“Hey,” he said, dipping his head to me. “We might not be married, but you’re the mother of my child. I’ll always care about you.”
Those words had another lump forming in my throat. They reminded me that he was once my best friend in the whole entire world, the person I’d told everything to, confided in with my biggest dreams and worst fears. Now we were relegated to this separate, almost transactional relationship, and it made me feel so horribly empty. “Jace—”
“God, you still smell exactly the same,” he said, breathing in, his face close to mine. “I love that perfume.”
“You know it’s always been my favourite,” I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. My eyes flicked to his, and I wasn’t sure what compelled me when I blurted, “You smell different.”
Jace’s eyebrow slowly began to rise, his expression somewhat amused. “I do?”
I cleared my throat. “Your cologne. It’s a new one, right?” Oh, hell, could the ground open up and swallow me, please?
His amusement grew. “Yeah, it was a gift.”
“I see.” So I’d been right. He must’ve had some new woman who’d given it to him. Perhaps an actress or a model, another musician even. But then, just as I was certain I’d figured everything out, he read the connections my mind had made, a smile pulling at his lips.
“A gift from mymother. She and Dad picked up some things in duty-free on their way home from their holiday in Ibiza last month.”
Chagrin set in, my spine straightening and annoyance building at the knowing look in his eyes. “It’s nice. Your mam always had good taste.”
“Uh huh. You thought it was from a woman, didn’t you?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I stepped away and began walking towards the school entrance. Jace fell into step alongside me.
“I’m not seeing anyone, just in case you were wondering.”
“I wasn’t.”
“Uh huh.”
“Quit uh huhing me, Lister,” I snapped, only after I said it realising I’d used his old nickname. His smile grew wider.
“What about you, then?”
I shot him an irritated glance. “What about me?”
“Are you dating?”
The question made me even more tense than I already was. I didn’t want Jace knowing anything about my romantic life or lack thereof. So, I simply replied, “That isn’t your business,” before quickening my step and hurrying into the school.
2.
Jace
Shannon had always been the most beautiful girl to me. It wasn’t just her pretty face, the delicate dimples beneath each cheek, her curvy body, her dark, wavy hair, or her equally dark eyes that I could just fall into and get lost in. No, it was everything about her. The way she spoke, her mannerisms, how her presence had this way of calming me down and silencing the demons in my head.
