“Who said I don’t want to stay here? I thought I’d be here at least through August. Do you not want me here anymore?”
I shook my head vehemently, my nerves taking over. “No! That’s not what I want. If it was up to me and you wanted to stay forever, I’d say yes in a heartbeat. But you haven’t tried to touch me in days, and the kids are a lot. Between your future in teaching and my father, I don’t see how this, you and I, could work.”
Jace’s jaw tensed. “Polly, it took every shred of willpower I had not to crawl into bed with you last night. But you looked like you were about to fall over from exhaustion, and I knew if I was there, there’d be no sleep for either of us.”
“Oh,” I said on a whispered exhale.
“I wasn’t going to tell you this yet, but I applied to an online university this week. I also talked to the professor that Sienna knows on Tuesday, and I’m going to apply to their program as well. If I’m accepted, I thought we could look at the time requirements together, working out my class schedule with what works best for me to stay here and watch the kids this fall and then, well,” Jace smirked, “for however long I can get with y’all after that.”
I hesitated. It was like someone was offering me a cookie, but I felt like the moment I reached for it, a giant hand would swoop in and snatch it away.
“Is that what you want?” I hedged.
“Have I ever given you the impression that I do anything I don’t want to do?”
“No,” I answered quickly, searching his face, my stupid hopeful heart beating wildly in my chest.
“You’re right. I don’t. Once I’m in, I’m all in.”
My pulse pounded in my ears. I wasn’t yet able to trust that I could really have what he was offering me, free and clear.
“What about my father? If we tell people about us, he could find out and then he’ll kick us out of here. Max and Ryla are just getting settled. I don’t want to uproot them again.”
Jace nodded his head thoughtfully. “There are a few important people in my life that I trust not to say anything. For everyone else, we could keep up the appearance that I’m your nanny and that we’re just friends until you have another place to go.”
“Could that work? We’d have to pretend for I don’t know how long.”
Jace’s eyes were dancing in the moonlight as he leaned toward me. “I don’t know if you’re aware, but you have the lead from the Green Valley High School’s illustriousRomeo and Julietproduction sitting across from you.” He flashed his dimples. “And I’m a fabulous actor.”
I ran his plan over in my head, looking for any weaknesses. Yes, my father could find out. And if he did, yes, he could kick us out of the house.
But sitting here with Jace in the starlight,thiswas the future I wanted. This was the future I wanted to fight for.
And that was worth all the risk.
“How in the hell are you single?” I blurted out. “You could have a dozen girlfriends or, like, your own personal Jace harem.”
Jace didn’t laugh or roll his eyes, he merely tilted his head. “I thought I already had one.”
“Am I your girlfriend?”
“I guess if you’re askin’,” he teased.
“But I’m like . . . old.” I made a face.
“Alright, this needs some discussin’. I could care less about our age difference. You’re hot as hell, love with your whole heart, and as a bonus come with two great kids. If anything, I should be the one worrying about what you see in me. I’m a homeless, twenty-four-year-old kid without a college degree. I promise if you give us a chance, Polly, I’ll work hard to be the kind of man you deserve.”
Unable to stand it anymore, I grasped Jace’s face, pouring everything I felt into the kiss. His lips instantly opened, his tongue finding mine as we savored each other, showing our love with our actions, until we finally broke apart.
I looked down. How I ended up in Jace’s lap, I have no idea.
I traced the outline of his cheekbones with my thumbs, trying to memorize this moment, still feeling like somehow, something would take him away from me, but willing to fight for this. For us.
“I better not catch you saying anything bad about my boyfriend again. I know how to kill someone and make it look like an accident.”
Jace’s hands trailed up my arms until they encircled my wrists. “Darlin’, you say the sweetest things.”
“Y’all must be rubbin’ off on me,” I teased in my best drawl.
