Fever (Breathless #2)(114)

Her voice was quiet and resigned.

“Words are just words. The evidence is in how you act, how you react. What is wrong with you? You never even asked what Ash was doing here. Didn’t ask why. Other than asking us what the f**k was going on in that accusatory, shitty voice. And it wasn’t really a question you wanted an answer to anyway. It was more of an ‘Aha! I caught you in the act!’”

Jace closed his eyes. “I’m sorry, baby. I know damn well you weren’t doing anything behind my back. I knew it then too. I’m in a shitty mood, had a shitty day and I took it out on you and Ash.”

“Apologize to him,” she choked out. “You hurled a horrible insult at him. He’s your best friend. You’ve been best friends for twenty years. You’ve only known me a few weeks, so I guess I can’t ask for more in the trust department. But what you thought of him was just shitty.”

“I know. I know, baby. And yeah, I’ll absolutely apologize to him, but first I have to make it right with you.”

“You can’t make this right,” she said sadly. “No amount of saying I love you and I trust you makes it true when it isn’t.”

“What are you saying?” he whispered, fear paralyzing him.

“I’m going to pack my stuff and go. And no, I’m not running off or being irrational. But I can’t stay here. Not anymore. I’ll go back to the other apartment. It’s not like Jack is there anyway. I’ll figure out what to do next.”

As she started toward the bedroom, Jace caught her arm and pulled her roughly against his chest.

“No. You aren’t going,” he said with fierce determination. “The hell you’re going anywhere. We’ve been over this, baby. You stay and fight. Throw something at me. Yell at me. Do whatever you have to do. But you stay and fight for what we have.”

Her gaze was heavy and dull when she looked directly in his eyes.

“What good does it do for me to fight when you won’t?”

He sucked in his breath. Then he tightened his grips on her shoulders, curling his fingers inward to keep him from shaking.

“You aren’t going anywhere tonight,” he growled. “It’s cold and it’s snowing. You stay here where it’s safe.”

She closed her eyes, averting her face with a sigh. “Fine. I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“The hell you will.”

He fingered her collar, flicking at the diamond.

“You sleep in my bed. That’s not negotiable. No f**king way you’re going to sleep on the couch.”

Her shoulders slumped even further and she wrenched away from his grasp. Without a word, she walked toward the bedroom, leaving Jace kicking himself with every breath.

Christ. He had to catch Ash before this went too far. He had been a complete dick. He’d let Bethany cool off. He’d catch Ash, apologize and then he’d come back to Bethany when emotions weren’t running so high. And then he was going to grovel like hell and swear on all that was holy that he’d hold his f**king tongue in the future.

He pulled out his cell and punched Ash’s number in.

“What the f**k do you want?” Ash demanded.

Jace winced at the fury in his friend’s voice.

“You very far?”

“I’m getting into the car now.”

“Don’t. Have him circle. I’ll be right down. Meet me in front.”

“Fuck you.”

“Just do it, Ash,” Jace said softly. “You and I both know I was an ass**le. I’m not letting you leave pissed off.”

“Too late for that,” Ash snapped.

“I’ll be down in two minutes.”

He disconnected the call and hoped like hell Ash wasn’t so pissed off that he wouldn’t come back inside. He already felt like the biggest jackass on the planet.

Jace hurried into the elevator and rode down. When he got off, he made certain he positioned himself where he’d see if Bethany tried to bolt. When he glanced toward the entrance, he was hugely relieved to see Ash stalking back through the doors.

When Ash saw Jace, his features twisted into a glower and he strode to where Jace stood.

“What the f**k is your problem, man?” Ash demanded. “I cannot believe the shit you just pulled. Apart from the fact that you insulted the hell out of me, you shit all over Bethany. A woman who has done nothing but love you and put up with your bullshit from the start. You want to talk about being an ass**le the other day? What the f**k was that shit you pulled just now?”

Jace held up his hands. “I’m sorry, man. I know there wasn’t anything going on. I do. I don’t even question it. Don’t need to know what was up because I know whatever it was is cool. I’ve had a shitty day and all I wanted was to get home to be with Bethany and when I walked in and saw you touching her and saw her f**king smile . . . God, she hasn’t smiled like that for me in days. She was lit up like a f**king Christmas tree. It was so bright and breathtaking that it goddamn hurt to look at her. And I just snapped. It was stupid. Neither of you deserved it. But I took out my anger and frustration on you both.”

Ash just stared at him for a long moment. “This shit’s got to stop. This is twice you’ve bit at me. I’m not taking it a third time.”

“I get it,” Jace said quietly.