Page 66 of Wanna Bet?

Jace never responded. But he never blocked her either. He couldn't bring himself to do that. The truth was he read every notification. Every single one. And every single one hurt.

On the tenth day, Issaky finally cornered him. Literally.

Jace had walked into the kitchen looking for coffee and found Issaky standing in the doorway.

Blocking the exit.

"Move." Jace grumbled, running a hand through his morning hair.

"No." Issaky said plainly.

Jace narrowed his eyes. "Move… please?"

"Nope."

Jace sighed heavily. "What do you want?"

Issaky crossed his arms. "You need to talk to her."

Immediate resistance flared. "No."

"Why?" Issaky asked, cocking a brow in the same way he did when Jace was late for work.

Jace opened his mouth. Then stopped. Because he didn't actually have a good answer. "I'm not ready."

Issaky considered that. "Maybe. But I don't think avoiding her is helping."

Jace closed his eyes and took a breath. It was too early for this shit.

The apartment hummed around them. Traffic outside. The refrigerator running. Life continuing.

Issaky's voice softened. "Do you know what I think?"

Jace shrugged.

"I think you're scared."

That irritated him immediately. "I'm not scared."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Issaky raised an eyebrow. "Then go talk to her."

Damn it. Jace hated when people made good points. He leaned against the counter, suddenly exhausted. "What if she never actually cared?" The question escaped before he could stop it.

Issaky's expression softened immediately.

"I don't think she would be blowing Ellis’s phone up at five in the morning if she didn't care." Issaky sighed.

Jace looked down, because there it was. The real fear. It wasn't the bet or the betrayal, or even the lie. He didn't know if he could forgive her, but he wanted to.

Issaky stepped closer. "Jace." His voice was gentle. "I've seen that girl look at you."

Jace swallowed. Hard.

"Nobody can fake that for weeks."