Gifted Connections 1

“Good luck,” Troy said with a grin at me. “You’re going to need it.”

I sighed, took a bite of my cinnamon bun, and moaned as it melted in my mouth. I saw Mr. Jace’s, Troy’s, and Remy’s gazes on me. “What?” I asked, mystified. “This is really good.”

“I need to learn how to cook,” Troy muttered as he drank his coffee.

Jemmy started to giggle and turned to the guys. “It’s so cute that she doesn’t even realize how cute she is.”

I rolled my eyes and continued eating my cinnamon bun. “You need to text Drake and tell him his cinnamon rolls are phenomenal.” I ignored her comments.

Mr. Jace handed me a phone. “All our numbers are already programmed in there. You can text him yourself.”

I gaped at the brand-new iPhone. This could have fed Ella and me for a month. It could have paid our rent and then some. “I can’t accept it,” I stuttered.

“You can, and you will,” Will said sternly, but there was a smile on his lips. “You need to be able to reach the guys, and they need to reach you.”

“I have a phone,” I held up my battered burner phone.

He shook his head. “Which has seen better days. You’re a part of the Bell clan now, get used to it.”

I should have bristled at his/their audacity, but I knew resistance was futile. There was no use trying to fight them. I would have to save my energy for bigger issues.

Soon it was time for the guys to get going. Troy hugged me first and promised to see me soon. Remy gave me a surprisingly gentle squeeze before jumping into his Land Rover and driving off.

“I have an assignment this weekend,” Mr. Jace said as he came up to me. “So, I will probably see you next weekend, but text or call me for anything, okay?”

I nodded. “Thanks, Mr. Jace.”

He gave me a rueful smile. “I’m not your teacher anymore,” he grabbed my chin gently, “maybe you should start calling me Jace.”

My breath hitched at his gentle touch. How quickly things had changed. He went from my childhood friend to a teacher to one of my connections. “Okay…Jace,” I said softly.

He smiled once more and stroked my cheek before turning. He didn’t attempt to embrace me, which left me strangely bereft as he left as well.

“Well, we have some shopping to do!” Jemmy said with enthusiasm. “I googled the best mall around here, and there’s one thirty minutes away.”

I knew what mall she was talking about, but I had never been. It was a high-end mall, and I had never had the money to even bother window shopping there. I knew my lane, so I had stayed in it.

“Be safe girls,” Will said fondly as he handed keys to Jemmy.

“Thanks, Pops,” Jemmy placed a kiss on his cheek before skipping to a red BMW convertible I hadn’t seen before. So, I assumed there were more cars in the garage.

“See you later,” I said awkwardly, not sure if I could ever break out of this shell I had put myself in.

Even though Will had put me through a lot as a child, I knew he had changed, and he had done a lot for me and Ella already.

I climbed into the beamer and made sure Ella was buckled in before I buckled myself in. Jemmy turned on the stereo and cranked up the music. I tried to catch Jemmy’s enthusiasm, but I was struggling.

I opened my new phone contacts and figured I would text Drake. I may never decide to make these connections, but I could at least try to get to know them. He was so endearingly shy, but I had a feeling still waters ran deep.

Me: Your cinnamon buns were amazing. Thanks :)

It didn’t take long for my phone to vibrate in my hand.

Drake: You’re welcome. Good luck with my sister today.

I giggled out loud.

Me: Thanks. I have a feeling I’m going to need it :-/