“Okay, never say those words to anyone again,” I replied as we climbed into my car.
Jace grimaced, no doubt finding the loose spring that stabbed any passenger right in the spine. “Cozy.”
My spine stiffened at his words. Was that judgment for my dated little hatchback? I hadn’t seen his ride, but it was probably some souped-up truck. Maybe it wasn’t as fancy, but this car had driven me thousands of miles with little hassle, had even served as my home for a couple of rough weeks when I first moved to the city. The car, which I’d lovingly named Betty, was my most prized possession. My mom gifted her to me for my high school graduation. She’d worked overtime for six months to afford the car. I refused to part with her, no matter how much money she cost me.
“If you’re going to insult Betty, you can get out right now,” I said, pointing to the passenger-side door.
“Betty?” I arched a brow as I pointed to the dashboard. Jace shook his head as he held up his hands. “My apologies, I would never hurt Betty’s feelings on purpose. How did she earn her name?”
“You have to work a little harder to earn my secrets.” I popped the key into the ignition, praying it would come to life.
Jace hummed as the engine reluctantly turned over, turning to stare out the window as I pulled out of the lot. The Skyline sat at the heart of the city, right in the action of downtown. As we drove away from the bar, he directed us toward the outskirts, away from all the high-end restaurants and usual haunts.
Where the hell was he taking us?
Even though I’d grown up in Erie City, I’d always lived in the heart of it, never bothering to venture out into the suburbs. My mom had sold my childhood home after I left for college, and she’d lived in a small, two-bedroom condo on the south side of the city for the past five years. While I loved it for the warmmemories inside its walls and the vintage elements, it was a far cry from the luxurious homes that lined the lake.
“Do you live out here?” I asked, trying to break the quiet.
He sighed. “Sort of.”
Before I could ask any more questions, Jace motioned for us to turn into a diner parking lot. When he smiled up at the aged, fifties façade, I couldn’t help but laugh. “Thisis your favorite place?”
“Fuck yes,” Jace said, rubbing his hands together. “Best breakfast in all of New York State.” His brow furrowed for a moment. “Please tell me you like breakfast foods.”
“Is that some kind of deal breaker for you?”
“It might be.” Jace grinned. “It is the most important meal of the day, after all.”
Glancing at the clock, I rolled my eyes. “It might not count as breakfast at this hour, but I’m willing to see if you know your stuff.”
“Have a little faith in me, Kins. I’m a fucking expert about quality food.”
He stepped out of the car, and I followed, staring up at the faded sign.Doris’.The flickering fluorescent sign stood out in the modern neighborhood, which made me even more curious. There had to be something special for it to stand the test of time.
As Jace pulled open the front door, the yellow-toned lights illuminated his handsome face.Okay, Kins, don’t get distracted by his charm. Why did you even come here with him?Oh, right. I wanted to escape for the night. It would have been smarter to walk away—to ignore this odd familiarity in my chest. But every time I thought about leaving, Jace would wipe away those doubts with an easy smile.
“Thanks,” I muttered as I moved past him, trying to ignore the hint of his cologne wafting off his sweater. It was a soothing scent—almost like a campfire and summer nights.
I stood in the entryway, taking in the diner in all its glory. Stepping inside seemed like jumping into the pages of a fifties magazine, just with a little more wear. Teal pleather covered the booths, and chrome accented all the curves and lights. The only thing missing were the servers in the old-fashioned uniforms with the aprons and paper hats. Instead, an older woman wearing a floral shirt and a flowing skirt stood in front of a mirrored bar, straightening a pile of menus. When we pulled the interior door open, she tossed her long, white braid over her shoulder, ignoring the pens jutting out of it at every angle.
“Jace!” she called out when we approached. He stepped around me, pulling the woman into a tight hug. When they separated, she whacked him on the shoulder. “It’s been too long. Why haven’t we seen you?”
“Busy season,” he chuckled. “You know my trainer would kill me if he knew how much you fed me.”
“Pssh,” she replied. “You’re a growing boy. Need to keep that meat on those bones. They work you too hard on that field for my liking.” As if she had just realized they had an audience, she glanced over his shoulder and smiled widely. “And who is this gorgeous girl?”
“This is Kinsley. She’s a new friend.” He turned back to me. “Kins, this is Doris.”
Before I could get a word out, Doris swept me into a crushing hug, and the scent of patchouli erased all traces of Jace’s cologne. Doris pulled back and searched my eyes. “It’s so nice to meet you, Kinsley. It’s about time this boy brought someone else with him. And such a pretty thing too. Sure you’re just friends?”
“Doris…” Jace warned.
“Breaking my heart.” When another customer called out her name, she waved us off. “Your usual booth is available, honey. Just holler when you’re ready to order.”
Jace placed his hand on the small of my back and led me through the diner, taking us over to the back corner booth. Some of the late-night patrons watched us as we walked past, but no one said anything to him. It was so different from earlier in the club, where everyone tried to stop him and his teammates. There, they were all on display, playing their part to entertain the masses, but here? It seemed like Jace could just breathe.
As we climbed into the booth, Jace sat across from me, and I glanced at the diner from a new angle. Sure, it needed a fresh coat of paint and other updates, but the environment felt cozy, much like the diner my mom used to take me to on Sunday mornings, where I’d pile my pancakes high with syrup and whipped cream. I shook my head, willing the memories away. When I turned back to Jace, he stared right through me, as if he’d gotten caught in my daze.
