BEAUTIFUL BROKEN MESS (Broken, Series #2)(80)

I turn and kiss him one more time before we’re forced to play this silly game in front of everyone again. Gradually, I push the pantry door open, hoping it’s not a creaky door. Jace holds on to my hips as I step out of the dark room. Instantly, I see Em and Quinn sitting at the dining room table, with their chins in their hands and huge shit-eating grins poised directly at us. Jace’s hands fly off my hips and I sigh in frustration.

“Damn...” Quinn laughs.

“I bet that was awesome,” Em adds. “Jax and I will have to try that one. Did you guys do it on the washing machine?” she boldly asks.

My head slightly shakes and Jace says, “I was just talking to her in there.” The guilt drips off of each of his words.

“Riiight, just like you were ‘talking’ to her over winter break in the back of the Camaro, and just like you were ‘talking’ to her when you snuck in her bedroom,” Em says defiantly. Shit. I didn’t tell Jace that they knew. His eyes bug out and he takes a step backward, almost as if he wants to go hide himself in the pantry until we leave.

“Jace, she’s our friend. Newsflash, we’re girls and we talk,” Em says, before he has the chance to get upset.

“Fuck, Em. Let me talk to Jax before you open your mouth,” he pleads.

“Well, seeing as I’ve known about this for awhile now, I think your secret is safe with me. For now.”

Jace nods his head, saying, “Stop dragging him off to your secret lair so I can actually have some time to explain everything.” He drags his hands through his hair in frustration.

“Fine, why don’t you talk to him tomorrow? Everyone’s going to the beach for Mason’s birthday,” she explains.

His face contorts and he says, “I don’t like Mason.”

“Since when? You used to hang out with him all the time.” Em is a freaking bulldog when she’s on a mission. There’s no stopping her either. Although in this case where she’s trying to push Jace to talk to his brother, I’ll let her bully on.

“Since Audrey danced with him at the club, remember?” Quinn pipes in.

“They know about that too?” his voice rises and he quickly looks at me.

“Don’t we have a movie to see?” I ask, trying to change the subject.

With a deep groan and a few labored breaths, Jace says, “Shit. Fine, I’ll be there tomorrow night.”

“Awesome!” Em claps her hands in victory and reaches for her purse. “Okay, now that it’s settled, let’s head out.”

I file in behind them. As we make our way for the front door, Quinn exclaims, “Dang girl, your wrists are red!”

“It’s fine,” I mumble and rub circles around them.

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Jace whipping back around from his earlier retreat down the hallway. “Go on ahead, she’ll catch up with you in a second,” he says to Em and Quinn. When they walk out the door whispering to one another, he reaches for my hands. Tenderly, he kisses the reddened skin that rings my wrists. “I’m not gonna lie, it’s pretty damn hot that you have to walk around with this all night, but I’m sorry if I hurt you.”

“You’ll really talk to Jaxon tomorrow night?” I ask, because I’m not concerned about my wrists. He nods his head in response, continuing his soft kisses. “And you didn’t hurt me. I trust you.” I hope he understands the double meaning behind my words.

He kisses me and wishes me a good night as I open the door. Before I can get two feet down the outer hallway, he calls out, “Don’t forget, no bending over! That skirt is too f*cking short.”