Fever (Breathless #2)(117)

“Okay,” she said hoarsely.

She rolled back to her side as he moved away from the bed. And she closed her eyes again, drifting back into the dark void.

Her thoughts were chaotic. She’d thought about the situation all night. Only in the hour before dawn had she been able to drift off fully.

The problem was that there was nothing she could do to fix the issue between her and Jace. He either trusted her or he didn’t. There was no magic solution. Nothing she could do to change it. It was on him and if he didn’t trust her, nothing she did or said would ever change that fact.

She had no doubt that he was truly regretful for the way things had gone down the prior evening. But that didn’t mean he trusted her, and it didn’t mean that it wouldn’t happen again.

She listened as he quietly readied himself for work. When it was time for him to go, he came back over to the bed and leaned down to kiss her forehead. He lingered there a moment longer, as if he was reluctant to leave.

A part of her didn’t want him to go. Wanted him to stay and hold her so she could pretend this issue didn’t exist between them. The other part wanted him to leave so she could have time to herself to sort through her mixed feelings.

Finally he drew away after smoothing the hair from her face and forehead. Then his footsteps sounded and retreated from the bedroom until she could no longer hear him.

Her eyes burned with more tears and she closed them tighter, determined not to give way to them again. She’d spent the entire night alternating between anger and deep sadness. She still wasn’t sure which was the clear winner. Her emotions were a mess lately. Between Jack and Jace she was on a roller coaster from hell.

She dozed fitfully, checking the clock each time she awoke. She finally realized she was willing time to pass knowing that Jace would be home much earlier than usual.

Even after all of that, she was eager to see him.

She sighed, knowing full well that she’d forgive him and they’d move on. The question was whether Jace would truly make the effort to control his temper and hold his tongue in the future. Some might say she needed to develop a tougher skin, but to hell with that. No one deserved to be flayed alive because someone else was in a crappy mood. Shit happened to everyone. It was no excuse to take it out on others.

Anger felt much better than the pathetic weariness she’d displayed the evening before. She could deal with anger. It made her feel stronger, less vulnerable. Despair and damn tears were for the birds.

But there was also the fact that trust took time. Was she really being fair to Jace? He’d only known her such a short time and trust was earned. What had she really done to earn it yet?

Calm settled over her. They could work this out. Trust wasn’t automatic. Sometimes it took months, even years to fully achieve. Nothing about her life or her past was exactly conducive to gaining instant faith. And Jace was trying. She knew that without a doubt.

Her cell phone rang and she automatically reached for it. She glanced at the LCD screen, holding her breath as she realized she hoped it was Jace. She frowned when she saw Kaden’s name as the identifying contact.

“Hello?”

“Miss Willis, this is Kaden. I tried to call Mr. Crestwell but he’s currently unavailable. So I wanted to let you know that Mr. Kingston is back at the apartment.”

She sat up fully in bed. “Jack’s there?”

“Yes, ma’am. He returned a half hour ago.”

She threw off the covers and swung her legs over the side. “Where are you right now? Are you still there?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I’m coming over. Stay there, please. Jace wouldn’t like if I was there alone. Just don’t let Jack leave before I arrive, okay?”

Kaden hesitated a brief moment. “Okay. I’ll be here and I’ll go up with you. Those are the conditions.”

“Of course,” she said hastily. “I’ll leave right away.”

She disconnected the call and hurried out of bed to dress. She looked like crap but she wasn’t going to take the time to shower and make herself look any better. Jack might not be there that long. Who knew what he was thinking?

A few minutes later, she went down to the lobby and asked the doorman to get her a cab. Twenty minutes later, she arrived at the apartment building. Kaden was waiting for her just outside the main entrance.

“He’s still here?” she asked breathlessly as she ran up to the door.

“Yes. I’ll go up with you now. I left a message with Mr. Crestwell’s receptionist, but I was told he’s in closed-door meetings for the next while.”

“Yes,” Bethany murmured as they got into the elevator. “He’s really busy this morning.”

She used her key to get inside the apartment and Kaden came in with her, sticking close to her side.

“Jack,” she whispered when she saw him standing by the bar in the kitchen.

Jack’s head came up and his eyes sparked with surprise when he saw her.

She flew around the bar and hugged him fiercely.

“Jack, I’ve been so worried. Where have you been? Why haven’t you called? Why did you let me think the worst?”

Jack pulled her away and grinned crookedly at her. He looked awful. Paler and thinner, more gaunt. And he had shadows under his eyes that told her he hadn’t slept in forever.