To trust both him and Lennon.
Still, as I shower, I wonder if he’s going to slip into the bathroom. Then as I dry off, if he’s waiting for me in my bedroom. And as I dress, if he’s going to barge through the doors and claim me.
That’s when I realize it’s not Jace I don’t trust but me.
To make the wrong decision. To pick the wrong one. Not just Jace or Lennon, but any guy. One who isn’t afraid to hurt me. One who doesn’t care as much about me as I do about him. A cheater. A liar. A snake.
I would love to believe that neither Jace nor Lennon is like that. They’ve given me no reason not to trust them, to believe what they tell me. They’ve both shown me, on multiple occasions, how they feel about me. But so did Wren.
For years.
Convincing me of his lies.
Before he ruined my life.
With my hair tied on the top of my head in a messy knot, dressed in jeans and a tank top, my face free of makeup, I exit my room to find Lennon and Jace sitting on the sofa, drinking coffee in silence.
Well, fuck.
“What’s going on?” I ask when they both look over their shoulder at me.
“I was coming over to see if I could cook you breakfast, but it looks like Jace beat me to the punch,” Lennon explains.
“Oh,” is all I manage to squeak out.
What am I supposed to say to that? Let’s all have breakfast together? I don’t think so. That would be awkward. And unfair to everyone involved, including me.
“How was your date with Milo last night?” Lennon asks, breaking the silence that surrounds us.
“Fine. Weird. How was your date with Natasha?” I counter, needing the attention off me for a second.
Jace lets out a little huff of laughter only to be rewarded with a punch to the shoulder from Lennon as he says, “Interesting.”
I saunter past both of them, then take a seat in the chair opposite the couch. “Care to elaborate?”
“Let’s just say she had one thing on her mind and Lennon wasn’t willing to give it to her,” Jace answers for him with a shit-eating grin on his face.
“You better watch yourself. She’s going to try the same shit with you tonight.” Lennon’s warning sounds sincere even if he is smiling like it’s funny.
“I’m aware. I’ve heard what her week has been like so far. Drake was a little too open about what happened with them the other night. No shame, that guy. No shame at all.” Jace shakes his head but doesn’t seem all that annoyed.
Which makes me wonder what happened between Drake and Natasha the other night. And if she was trying to get Lennon in bed last night, will she be exploring the same tactics on Jace tonight? What if he falls for them? He said he was aware of her devious ways, but that doesn’t mean he’s immune. He is, after all, a guy. He has needs. And as far as I know, he hasn’t had those needs fulfilled since arriving.
“Well,” Lennon says, pushing himself off the couch before walking over and kissing me on the cheek. “I’ll let you guys get to it. If he burns your breakfast, feel free to come over to my place. I’ll be happy to cook something edible and spend the day with you.”
A sly wink and he’s out the door.
“You okay?” Jace asks as I stare straight ahead.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“What’s on your mind? Because I can tell something is going on up there.”
Did Lennon just give up the fight? Or is he being the bigger man? Trusting that he doesn’t have to compete with Jace for a piece of my heart. Either way, I feel the loss of his presence.
“I’m just exhausted, that’s all. In fact, I think I want a rain check if that’s okay. As nice as a ride sounds, I don’t think I’d be the best company.”
Not now that my heart may have just splintered.