“Nah, he won’t be. Don’t you worry.” Jace pulled her closer and breathed in her scent. She smelled like vanilla and fresh air. He nuzzled closer. “I missed you, Blythe.”
He felt her shoulders tense. “You don’t believe me?”
“I must’ve missed all those messages you left me,” she mumbled.
“I haven’t talked to anybody since Thanksgiving.”
“Nobody? What about Billy? And Renie?”
“Ah, there we go. Now we get to what’s really bothering you. You have no reason to be jealous of Irene.”
“Who says something is bothering me? And who says I’m jealous?”
“You do. Come on now, let me make it up to you.”
The longer they danced, the more Jace wanted to kiss her. He waited, though. He wanted to be alone with her when he did. Not on a crowded, noisy dance floor. Maybe instead of staying with Billy and Renie, he should reserve a hotel room in Denver.
“Jace, I’m not sure—”
“Shh, don’t say it.”
“You don’t even know what I’m going to say.”
“I think I do.”
“He’s here with us whether you want him to be or not.”
It didn’t matter whether Blythe was with Tucker or Jace, the other was always there, too. She wondered if it would always be that way. Eventually, maybe she’d see them as individuals, separate from one another.
She shouldn’t have brought Tucker up, since Jace was being so nice, but she couldn’t help it. There was something about him that stuck with her. If she’d predicted which of the Rice brothers she’d hear from again, she would’ve said Tucker, not Jace.
“You can’t stop thinkin’ about him.”
“No. I can’t. I’m sorry. I’m worried about him.”
“He’s okay, Blythe. It’s somethin’ he has to work through, and he’s gotta do it on his own.”
“But—”
“It happened a few years ago. It’s his damage, darlin’. There isn’t anything you or I can do for him. Not until he decides he’s ready.”
“You’re still not going to tell me what happened?”
“No, I’m not. It’s up to him to tell you, Blythe. I’m sorry.”
They danced through the end of the song, and before Blythe could ask, he motioned toward the door.
“Why don’t you wait here? I’ll go get the truck.”
“No, it’s okay. I’d like to walk.”
“Okay, if that’s what you want to do.”
He held her hand once they got outside, and then pulled her closer and put his arm around her.
“Give me a chance, Blythe, please,” he whispered. When she turned to answer, he gripped her face and covered her mouth with his.
Just like when he’d kissed her at the ski area, she felt funny after talking about Tucker, but the longer his tongue did battle with hers, the less she wanted him to stop, and the more his brother faded to the back of her mind.