A night of celebration, a lifetime consequence

sha'

side, scanning the room before his gaze landed on me. He sm

g over to my table. "Sorr

I said, return

erate but relaxed. The waiter appeared, and Jace ord

ng slightly forward,

tted. "But goo

d with a slight chuckle. "Tho

off guard, but I brushed it asid

absurdities of daily life. I couldn't help but notice how easy it was to talk to him

shifted to hobbies, and I men

lifting in genuine interest. "L

hy. "I've always loved it, but it'

earnestly. "You seem like the type who

ouched by h

" I asked. "Any

s you count managing fa

out his family. He spoke about his father's busi

t's never quite enough," he admit

himed again, and an unexpected voi

ac

ing near our table. Her confidence was palpa

his smile tightening

ut calculated. Her eyes shifted to me, and her expression softened

a motioned to the man beside

her companion. She turned back to me

correct her, but

he said smoothly, a teasin

d, silently asking me to play along. Not wanting to make a scene,

grating. "Well, she's lovely, Jace.

s go for the b

aiter over to order. Meanwhile, Laura pulled an ornate e

, her tone dripping with sweetne

al, but his jaw tightened slight

he invitation to me instead. "Maybe

how to respond, but he did

toward memories of her time with Jace. Her attempts to rile him up were met

to the tension, sharing anecdotes

tch. "We should get going. Lo

lingering look. "Think ab

said, his tone p

t a breath I hadn't re

something," I said

his head. "She has

Jace offered to drive me home,

-

e space between us. I stared out the window, replaying the odd encounter wi

lancing at him,

look before focusing back on

," I clarified, folding my arms

kingly, "I never said that." A

"You didn't correc

xed. "What would've been the poi

eling the need to defend myself ev

me with a playful glint in his eye. "It's not

g him. "You're not g

"Who goes to their ex's wedding?

, "maybe you'll make history as the first ex

his head. "Yeah, n

e he gave me a sideways glance. "You're real

really, but Laura did ask me to persu

ink it over. "Fine. I'll co

ed, narrowing my eye

one light but his gaze holding an

surprised

one. And," he added with a smirk, "you did sa

early comfortable enough with me to propose such a bold idea. But another part of me fel

sing my words carefully

ession unreadable. "Why no

my plate right now. Between work, taking care of myself, and meeting my own needs, I barely

with a neutral expression. "I get that," he said after a pause. "Bu

d, turning to face him. "I'm just

heavy. I could sense he wanted to push furthe

ing to address the unspoken tension. "Jace

me fully for the first time. His eyes searched mine, a fl

echoed, his tone questi

friends, and family business drama are just part of the picture. My world is different. I have responsibil

hair. "That's fair," he said finally, though his voice

at?" I as

n just for a little while," he admitted,

r handle. "I appreciate that, Jace.

us. Jace's gaze followed me as I walked to my front door, and when I tu

y breath. Something about Jace stirred emotions I wasn't rea