He’s always the most forward one, having no issues with sending me nudes and sexy material all the damn time.
The first time he did, I got hit in the head by a football, and I’m never opening my messages when I’m playing catch with my brothers ever again. ThankfuckI’m quicker than them, cause they chased me around the yard trying to grab my phone to see what distracted me.
Those pics and videos are now safely locked away in a separate, password protected folder and I only open them when I’m in my bed. Alone. Naked.
But even though I really,really, like those, Ilovethe sexy calls. Too bad we don’t nearly have them often enough.
I can feel my smile falter again at that unwelcome thought. I claw at my chest, digging my fingers in my ducky-shirt, over my bruised heart.
“Babe? You good?” Jace asks just as Lam nudges me. I refocus on my boyfriend and my pain is reflected on my other half. Hisgorgeous face shows concern, his eyes searching mine for signs of distress.
I swallow and nod.
“Good.” A soft smile grazes his features again, but I wish I could wipe the lingering sadness away. But I can’t, since there are miles between us. “Now open your present.”
I glance at my mom, puzzled. “Did we get any mail today?”
She gives me a soft smile and sets a flowery envelope on the table, topped with a bright pink bow. I raise my brows.
“Hey, if he asks me to gift wrap it, I get to choosehowto gift wrap it,” she says with a shrug. “I don’t get to use my cute prints nearly enough.”
I love her to bits, and she’s fierce as hell, but my mom isverygirly. She’s never played favorites, we’re all the lights of her life, but Idoknow she’s especially happy to hang out and do girly stuff with Charity, my oldest brother Mason’s girlfriend. Somehow, he’s still dating her. Never thought we’d see the day Mason would settle down.
My train of thought screeches to a halt when a plane ticket falls out of the envelope.
“What?” I pick it up, frowning.
It’s inmyname.
Departure time: today. In just a few hours, flying from Santa Barbara—the closest airport—to Providence.
Where Jace is.
Where I’m apparently going.
Today.
I’m going to seemyJace.
Today.
“Happy birthday, baby.”
I meet his gaze, my heart pounding, mouth parted in stunned silence.
“You were right,” he continues. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you when you said you wanted to fly over today, so I called your mom to see if we could fix something. I couldn’t wait any longer to wrap you in my arms and never let you go.” The words come out in a whisper, laced with longing and love and regret.
My heart swells to the point of bursting, eyes following suit, and I blink back the stupid tears because I’m not going to fucking cry. Lamar would have way too much fun with that.
“I’m really going to see you?” I ask, voice barely more than a whisper.
“Yes,” he says, smiling softly. “You’re flying out in a bit.”
Before I can say anything else, Mom wraps her arms around me from behind, resting her chin lightly on my shoulder.
“I cleared it with Coach,” she says. “You’re starting a few days later at training camp.”
I blink, stunned. “Wait—Coachagreed to that?” I glance over my shoulder at her. “OurCoach? Mr. ‘Pain is Progress’?”
