Chapter 28
ALEX
I hated lying to Zoey. I needed desperately to confide in my best friend because I was flying blind with how to handle the situation. Telling her half-truths made me feel like gagging. Internally cringing because I knew Jace wouldn’t want me talking to her at all didn’t help, I just couldn’t stop myself. Now Jace was upset. We were teetering on the head of a pin, and I could tell from the tone of his texts that he was about to fall off.
Then I saw my gorgeous, shirtless Jace standing in the patio doorway wearing his mirrored Ray-bans, board shorts, and flip-flops, his hair blowing in the slight breeze. My heart stopped. I loved him desperately. I knew he was looking at me even though I couldn’t see his eyes. I chose to wear a bikini from Italy, hoping to get us back on track.
But Italy hadn’t ended well, so I was now worried about bringing bad juju into an already volatile situation.
Hoping he’d follow me like I asked, I headed to the guest cottage, eager to at least get some one-on-one time. He didn’t follow me. Eventually, I changed into a T-shirt and cutoffs and went inside to test the waters in the group. He said a polite hi but didn’t make any move to talk to me the entire evening, instead, he got engrossed in a conversation with Zane and Connor.
So much for coming out to our friends.
While Ty cooked, I joined in a conversation with Zoey and Ronni Miller, the actress, who seemed to now be on the safe list. She was delightful, and we were all laughing and having a good time hearing about her and Ty’s fake romance. Even though I was enjoying hanging out with the girls, I could feel Jace watching me. Every second. Finally, when I looked over, his eyes locked with mine and then he very deliberately looked away, his jaw set.
The party was breaking up anyway. Ty and Zoey had to get up early to do an interview in the morning, so everyone began making moves to leave so they could get some sleep. Jace stood by the door with his arms crossed, waiting for Connor and Zane. Deliberately avoiding eye contact with me. I hung back, not knowing what to do. I was supposed to go to the hotel with him. All of this sneaky shit was so goddamn stupid.
I felt like such an asshole. We were surrounded by some of the most important people in our lives, yet somehow, I felt like it was my fault that Jace was questioning my commitment to him. I decided to make a move. To explain and get things back on track. Strolling closer to where he was sitting, I stopped when I was beside him and gave him a nudge and a smile. He didn’t smile back.
“Can we talk for a second?” I said super quietly, no one really noticed because of all the goodbye conversations going on at once.
“I’m good.” Jace didn’t look at me.
“No, you don’t. Can I meet you at the London?” I whispered, hoping he still wanted me to stay with him. And also hating myself for chasing after him. Games. Emotions. It was hard to tell what was really going on with us.
“Whatever.”
“You’ve got it so wrong,” I implored, my voice raised above a whisper. “Let’s talk.”
“Shhh. You don’t want anyone here to know we were together, so you should keep your voice down.” Jace rolled his eyes all the way back into his head.
“Were?” I gaped at him, shocked.
“You tell me,” he said through clenched teeth.
“We’re together.”
“Doesn’t really seem that way, Alex.” He sighed and rubbed his eyes. “Look, I get it. None of this is your fault.”
“I’ll be there, give me an hour,” I said under my breath and headed down to the pool house.
Exactly an hour later, my Lyft pulled into the drive of the London hotel in West Hollywood. I walked through the marble lobby, and Jace was sitting on a powder-blue velvet couch with white, fluffy feather pillows waiting for me. He looked tired and stressed, but slightly relieved to see me.
“I’m an asshole.” I sat on his lap and kissed his full lips. “I’m sorry.”
“Things are so fucked up, Poppy.” Jace helped me stand, took my hand, and moved us toward the elevator. “Let’s get up to my room, there’s a lot of fans milling around now that they know we’re staying here. I’ve already had to sign a bunch of autographs and pose for selfies. I’m not in the mood.”
“Okay.”
Jace swiped his card in the elevator, which was lined with gray velvet and we headed to his penthouse suite, which was huge and opulent with powder-blue furniture and gold embellishments. His room was darkened, and the turndown service had already been there so the curtains were drawn. Only the lamp by his bed illuminated the room. Soft, ambient music was playing through the television. The minute the door clicked, I reached for him and he let me hold him.
“I do want everyone to know, Jace.” I reached up and smoothed his dirty-blond locks away from his cheeks. “I heard the words spilling out of my mouth, and they felt so wrong. But I can’t keep half-lying.”
“Maybe tonight was for the best, Poppy.” Jace kissed my forehead. “At least until I find out.”
“Why do we make this so complicated?” I traced his lips with my finger. “I love you so much.”
“I love you too.” Jace finally smiled at me, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “But, to be honest, I feel like I have a boulder on my chest right now.”
It was the first real thing he’d said to me since New York.
Guiding me toward the low-profile couch in the living area, Jace flopped down on his back. I lay next to him, snuggled in the crook of his arm. His hand lazily stroked my stomach, and
