Page 14 of When Ben Loved Jace (He Loved Him #2)

The moment I leave class, I pull the phone from my pocket. I promised myself not to check until then, since I’ve been doing so obsessively. Ever since this morning, when I got a text from Jace and sent an exceedingly sappy message in response. But hey, it’s Valentine’s Day!

Still no reply. That’s okay. I practically float across campus to my car, because he’s coming to stay with me.

In fact, Jace might be in town already. The only thing that worries me is his silence.

Yes, I’m aware that he’s busy keeping hundreds of passengers safe while flying around the country, but surely he could get the pilot to radio air traffic control so they can relay a message to me. That’s not asking too much!

I make it home, park, and check my phone again. Nada. Just when I tuck it back into my pocket, I feel it begin to vibrate. It’s him! I bet Allison let Jace in already. He’s probably watching me from the apartment window or something romantic like that. I’m grinning from ear to ear when I answer.

“Hey, boyfriend!”

“Hey,” he says, not sounding near as jubilant.

In the background, I hear an announcement about unattended luggage.

The smile slides off my face. “Where are you?”

“Not where I want to be. I’m really sorry. I don’t think I can make it tonight.”

“But you promised!” If I sound like a petulant child, it’s because… “We’ve had this planned for weeks!”

“I know. The flight I was supposed to be on was delayed. I switched with a coworker to a different route that would have gotten me home again, albeit late, but that got canceled. I’m stuck here for now.”

I try to set aside my disappointment. “That’s fine. We’ll still have the weekend.”

Silence follows this statement.

“Right?” I prompt.

“Please don’t be angry.”

“Jace!” I get out of the car, needing to burn off some of my frustration .

“Too many people have called in sick. It’s that time of year.”

“But you already took those days off!”

“Vacation days aren’t the same as sick days. If the airlines don’t have enough crew to staff a flight, it gets canceled, and that affects hundreds of people, not just me.”

“Oh. That’s fine then. As long as they all get to be with the people they love, then who cares about us?”

“I know you’re disappointed—” Jace begins.

“I’m more than that!” I snarl. “I’m tired of this!”

“Well maybe we can—”

I don’t let him finish. I hang up the phone.

Then I groan as the fight goes out of me, because this was supposed to be our special day.

And weekend. Logically, I understand where he’s coming from.

That’s simply the nature of his job. But it’s not like he’s a surgeon and people’s lives depend on him showing up to work.

Regardless, I really shouldn’t have hung up like that.

Then again, what does it matter when we never get to see each other?

I’m buffeted back and forth by alternating emotions as I go inside the apartment, ashamed and rejected and too many other feelings.

All except the one I’d hoped to celebrate today.

Although, if I’m honest with myself, that’s what is truly behind my outburst. I wouldn’t be so upset otherwise.

And it’s not like he did this on purpose.

I pick up my phone and call him back. He doesn’t answer.

Fuck.

“I’m sorry,” I say when leaving a voicemail. “Call me. Please.”

I straighten up the house for the next hour.

I don’t hear from him. I make dinner—the meal I’d hoped we eat together—and send a text while ignoring my plate.

No response. I wish Allison was here, but she agreed to steer clear so Jace and I could have privacy.

She’s out with Ken having a grand ol’ time.

Or at least getting drunk, which I’m tempted to try.

I shove my food away untouched and sit on the couch to watch TV.

Don’t ask me what. I’m lost in my own thoughts, most of them regrets.

Sometimes I manage to muster more anger, but it seems so pointless, because what am I going to do?

Leave him? I would rather see the man of my dreams once a month than never at all. What was I thinking?

I retreat to my room and put on music. Sad stuff that I sob along to.

Once I get it all out of my system, I run a bubble bath.

While soaking, I start scheming, because I’m not giving up.

I’ll win him back! Even if I have to beg for his forgiveness.

He’s worth it. Things were just getting good too.

No, scratch that, they were amazing from the very beginning!

I really do love him. I wouldn’t ache this much if I didn’t.

What a terrible way of proving it to myself.

Especially when I never thought this would happen again.

But it did, so I’m sure as hell not about to throw in the towel.

I dry off and get dressed, intending to go for a walk, because that’s when I do my best thinking.

Maybe I could write a song. Yeah! One so powerful that Jace will realize just how sorry I am.

Allison and I can figure out which flight he’ll be on, buy tickets, and bring a little boombox on board with us.

I’ll sing to him right there in front of everyone!

Although, before I go to all that trouble, I should probably try calling him again. This time, when I place the phone to my ear, he picks up.

“Jace—” I begin.

“Where are you?”

“At home.”

“Okay.” After some rustling, he swears, the sound muffled. “Just give me ten minutes. I’ll call you back.”

He hangs up on me, not that I have any right to be offended. Besides, he didn’t come across like he’s pissed off. Just overwhelmed. He’s probably had one hell of a day. And I made it so much worse.

I postpone my walk, not wanting the neighbors to see me have a breakdown, depending on how the call goes.

I’m pacing the living room when there’s a knock on the door.

Allison! Thank goodness. She can be my Cyrano de Bergerac, listening in on the call and whispering the lines needed to fix this mess.

I throw open the front door, intending to drag her inside.

Then the breath catches in my throat, because it’s Jace.

He looks exhausted and disheveled. I’ve never found him so attractive!

“Ben—” he begins to say.

He lets out an “oof!” as I slam into him and cling to his torso.

“I’m so sorry!” I blubber “I shouldn’t have hung up on you. I’m such an idiot!”

“You’re not,” Jace says, his arms wrapping around me. He pulls back and adds, “You might be a brat… But it just so happens that I love you.”

I stare in disbelief and shock, because it’s the first time he’s said it to me.

The first time any guy has said it to me in fact, excluding my father, but he’s the furthest thing from my mind as I press Jace’s lips to mine.

He responds with just as much enthusiasm.

Even if he hadn’t spoken the words, I would have known anyway, because it’s all contained in that kiss.

“I love you too,” I say when breaking away. “I’m so glad you’re here. Come inside.”

He shakes his head. “I can’t stay. I have to get home to Samson.”

A cry of anguish starts to escape my throat before I manage to strangle it, but I nod my understanding.

“Although I do have a little time. Wanna go for a drive?”

I’d rather be alone with him, but after my behavior earlier, I’m willing to do this on his terms. All I need is my coat.

“How did you get here so fast?” I ask on the way out.

“It didn’t feel fast to me!” Jace says, taking my hand. “I ran around the airport trying to find a standby flight that would get me home. Sorry I couldn’t answer when you called. We were boarding and I needed Greg’s help with something.”

“And then you drove here,” I say when seeing his car.

“Straight from the airport. Greg met me there. I drove like the devil, which is especially crazy considering—” He stops to open the passenger side door for me. I climb in, but only after kissing him again.

“I still have to fly out in the morning,” Jace says when getting behind the wheel. “I know it sucks, but—”

“It’s okay,” I assure him. “I got the temper tantrum out of my system and now I can see things clearly again.”

He studies me a moment before nodding in approval.

“Where are we going?” I ask once we’re on our way.

“You’ll see. I might be late, but I still have a little surprise for you that will—hopefully—make up for it.”

He must have found a restaurant that’s still open. Works for me! Although, again, I would have been just as happy to stay home. Preferably while in bed together. He loves me!

I ask him about his day and am much more sympathetic when hearing everything he went through.

“The holidays are always crazy,” he confides. “Even this one.”

If that’s the price I have to pay, I’ll do so willingly. I’m sure it’ll take some getting used to, but I promise myself not to add to his stress next time.

We head away from the downtown area, which seems odd.

In fact, we’re driving past different subdivisions.

There isn’t much else out here besides residential neighborhoods.

Jace keeps glancing over at me nervously as he speaks, as if there’s something he wants to say. Then he changes subjects abruptly.

“Have I uh…” Jace hesitates. “Have I ever told you about my college roommate, Adrien?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Oh. Well… We used to date. Don’t worry, this isn’t another maudlin story about an ex-boyfriend of mine. Adrien and I were a bad match. It’s as simple as that.” He seems to reconsider. “Although he might feel differently. Anyway, we stayed friends after we broke up. In fact, he lives out here.”

We’ve turned into one of the subdivisions now. I’m still in full-on repentant sinner mode, but if he really thinks I want to hang out with one of his exes, today of all days, then… I’ll keep my cool. But we will have a nice long talk about it some other time.

“That’s great,” I manage.