Jace was also lying back in a reclined position with his legs outstretched and turned his head at my question.
“It’s kind of a funny story, though not as funny as almost being named after a dick.”
I bit my lip to keep from laughing again.
“I’m named after my Papa Vargas, my pop’s dad. He and my yaya, that’s my grandma, immigrated from Greece to Atlanta before Pop was born. My mother and Yaya didn’t get along, from what my sister told me. Anyway, when my mother was pregnant with me, Yaya got sick, so they went to see her before she died. Apparently on her deathbed she grabbed Momma’s hand and made her promise that she’d name the baby”—he pointed a finger at himself— “after my Papa Vargas, and then died one minute later. Making it literally, her dying wish.”
I narrowed my eyebrows. “Jace? I don’t see how that’s funny. Like at all.”
“Calm yer britches, I’m a gettin’ to it,” Jace teased, putting on a thick accent. Which, you know,swoon.
“My Papa Vargas’s name was Antonios Jason. Momma shortened Jason to Jace, ignoring the name Antonios altogether as a way of spiting Yaya, but still keeping the peace with the family.”
“Your mom sounds like she has a little temper in her. Does your dad speak any Greek?”
“Only some curse words.”
“What are your siblings’ names?”
“My sister’s name is Sarah and my older brother’s name . . .” Jace squinted one eye closed, “is Kent.”
“Kent! As in the clown?”
Jace chuckled softly. “I know. I have no defense, except that you were standing there, staring at me like I was a pervert and Kent had pissed me off the night before, so his name popped out.”
I wrinkled my nose. “You two don’t have a great relationship I take it?”
Jace sighed, looking up to the ceiling. “We didn’t really grow up together. My parents had high expectations for Sarah and Kent. They were both accountants with steady, stable jobs and wanted that for their kids. Kent is a CPA and does real estate in Florida.”
“Your parents never pressured you into being an accountant?”
“Nah, they pressured me plenty, but by that time, Kent was off in Florida, living his own life. I dropped out after a year of college. I didn’t want to waste money on a degree I wasn’t going to use. I haven’t found a career worth pursuing yet and have no interest sitting behind my desk. I’m happy with the jobs I have; I’ve always liked variety.”
I gagged, bound, and sat on any disappointment I felt when he said he liked variety. “Maybe Kent’s just jealous of you.”
“Well, naturally. He didn’t get the Vargas hair, after all,” Jace joked, running his hand through his curls, making them flop haphazardly around his face.
“Have you always kept your hair long?”
“This is short for me. I cut it not too long ago because it was getting in the way at sparring. It was down to here for most of my life.” Jace made a motion to the middle of his neck. “I liked it, but it didn’t make me too popular in middle school, let me tell you.”
I sucked in a breath, imagining Jace with long curly hair, down past his chin. I wondered if he ever wore it in a man bun. I was always a sucker for a man bun.
I was so lost in thought that I blurted, “How do you get your curls to be so pretty?”
Immediately, Jace closed his eyes and put his hand over his heart, acting like I’d wounded him.
“It’s like middle school all over again,” he groaned dramatically.
“That’s not what I meant! I just meant they’re usually so well defined that I want to know what products you use!” I protested, realizing I was digging my hole deeper, laughing as Jace covered his face with his hands and moaned in mock offense.
After another minute, I was able to get myself under control and let out a long audible exhale, a content feeling radiating through my bones.
“I didn’t mean it like that, and you know it,” I told Jace, who still had his hands over his face. “Your hair was one of the first things I noticed about you. It caught in the wind and looked sort of wild, yet, sort of beautiful at the same time.”
My words came out unintentionally breathless. Jace stilled, then slowly dragged his hands from his face, his eyes instantly ensnaring mine. I tried to think of something else to say, but words left my brain when Jace’s fervent, wanting stare dropped to my mouth. Flutters made their way through my chest as my palms broke out in a cold sweat. His tongue peeked out from between his lips, wetting them, triggering a reflexive pulse in my core. I felt pulled toward him, unable to bear the space between us. Jace swallowed as he inched slowly toward me.
Then, like the involuntary reflex it was, I yawned.
