JACE
I don’t know if I’m supposed to be kissing Addie, I’m not sure that was the plan. But everything that I planned went out the window ages ago, ever since I started drinking. But this feels right. Now that I have my arms around her and her lips have molded in to mine, her hands knotted up in my hair, it just feels good.
“Oh, Jace,” she murmurs quietly, her words vibrating in my mouth. “This is crazy.”
“I know, I know,” I reply, but I do notice that she doesn’t pull away.
“What are we doing? How did we end up here?”
She giggles and runs her hand down my chest. The deep passion that flows between us is intense, powerful, it’s almost so shocking that I want to tear her clothes off right here and now. But she isn’t just some other floozy, some woman to wake up in my hotel bed, this is the woman who has always been the love of my life.
“I don’t know. But there’s something about you that I cannot resist.”
There’s a smile on her face so bright it makes me want to laugh. I know that we’ve both had a bit to drink and that might have something to do with our actions, but I also know this is what we both want.
“I’m going to walk you home,” I tell her determinedly. “And not for any funny business, you don’t need to worry about that, but I want to make sure that you get back okay.”
“Alright, I can’t argue with that. I don’t live too far away from here anyway.”
We talk easily while we walk, our hand swinging in one another’s like we’re a bona fide couple. It’s awesome, I absolutely love it. This is the happiest I’ve been in a very long time; I feel more like myself. Jace Fairs is back, the real one, not the man who has been in the media for six years. I like this version of me.
I give Addie a side-eyed look, smiling to myself. She brings me to life in a way that no one else has managed to do. I want more of her, more of this, more of this life. It’s more satisfying for me than any moment in the band. I can’t help it. I’m just over that. You know, I might be more willing to give it all up than I thought.
I came here knowing that everything was up in the air, the cards of my life are still flying above me, and I don’t know where they are going to land. I’m excited though, I’m looking forward to finding out.
“So, this is mine.” Addie points up to an apartment building. “I live up there.”
“Okay good.” I nod and smile, not a hint of wanting to go upstairs. I do, but I won’t. I still have tingles all over me from where she’s touched me in the bar. She was definitely flirting with me in that bar, she can’t deny it… but that doesn’t have to lead anywhere. A kiss is enough tonight. “Well, tonight was…”
“Interesting, yes.” Addie giggles and throws her arms around my neck. “But great too.”
She brings her lips to mine, making the first move this time, and as soon as her plump lips brush lightly against mine, I melt. I fall apart and that’s because of lov
e. Kissing Addie is different to kissing anyone else, it means that much more, it’s so freaking special. There’s just something tingling and more between us.
“Hmm, you taste incredible,” I mumble against her mouth. “All fruity and lovely.”
She brushes her hands over my face, loving me with her fingers. God, I want so much more from her, it’s hard for me to behave and be a gentleman. But I have to. For our future…
“I suppose I better go then. But… can I see you again?”
She cocks one eyebrow at me. “I better give you my cell phone number then. If we meet again then I’d rather it be just you and me. Not through the dating agency.”
Guilt floods me as she takes my phone to type in her digits. I did do something wild, but then it did play out well. Addie and I reconnected in a way that I wouldn’t have even dreamed possible. I’m here with Addie, after she ran out on me, we went some way to rebuilding the bridges severed in the past, and we had a laugh too. Plus, the wonderful kissing. That was just the most wonderful bonus in the world.
“I’ll call you,” I promise her. “I’ll call you so we can go out again.”
“I will answer this time.” She nods slowly. “You don’t need to worry about that.”
“Can I believe you?” I ask with a teasing tone. “Or are you going to ignore me again?”
“I will answer, I promised you that, didn’t I?”
Eventually, after a bit more kissing, Addie pulls away and she goes. I watch her walk into her building to make sure she’s one hundred percent safe, and also because I can’t drag my gaze away. Then once she’s gone, I turn and walk back to my place, a bounce in my step. I probably look like a mad person, but I don’t care.
This is the happiest that I’ve been in a very long time and I don’t want it to end.
“Maybe it doesn’t have to,” I remind myself quietly. “Remember what Mom said. I can live any life I want. It might not be the easiest to pull away, but if this is what I really want, then I can get it.”