She says it from her heart. I can see that, hear it. For some reason, that calms me. Knocks a load off my chest. Hell, everything she said helps. I don’t know how to explain it, but she calms me. But still, the marks are there, taunting me. As I look into her eyes, I want to say something, I do. But her face is so bright. She looks so happy, and I don’t want to ruin that. I can’t ruin it.

“Blame it on the alcohol if you want, but I think it was when you held me after my almost panic attack,” she adds, her eyes searching mine. “Believe me, I want to be your girlfriend.”

Biting into my lip, I look away. “Are you gonna tell me why you almost had a panic attack?”

She shrugs. “One day.”

“Today?”

She shakes her head. “This isn’t about me. It’s about you, Jace. You need sleep, baby.”

Damn it. This is not going to be easy. “You’re right.”

“I am,” she says with a wink. “Now, why don’t you go home and go to sleep?”

“I have another shift at the shop. I doubled up so I don’t have to work on game day.”

“Okay. Well, go home afterward and sleep till tomorrow.”

“You don’t want to meet up?” I ask, moving my fingers through her long hair. “Thought maybe we could hang tonight?”

And maybe I can grow the balls to ask her about the marks.

“Not tonight. I have a date with Angie.”

“Angie?” I ask, confused. “My Angie?”

She grins. “Yup, Lucy Facebooked and asked me if I wanted to come up to the shop and make posters for tomorrow’s game with Angie. She’s been asking for me, you know, because I’m her new favorite.”

I scoff. “Please, I got years in on that kid. She is loyal to me. But cool, I’ll come.”

But she shakes her head. “No, you go sleep. Jace, you need it. You’re thinking you’re declining. That’s crazy talk from you, especially when you are amazing at everything you do.”

My lips curve and I know she’s right, but still, I want to see her tonight. “Counter offer?”

Her brow quirks up, a grin pulling at her lips. “I’m listening.”

“It’s only a two-hour shift. I’m covering for Chase while he does a supply run, no big deal. I’ll be home by two, and then I’ll sleep until you come back from my sister’s.”

She eyes me and then leans into me, going up on her tippy toes to kiss my chin. “Deal.”

Wrapping my arms around her waist, I kiss her nose. “Good.”

“You’re lucky I want to see you, like, all the time.”

“I am,” I agree, running my nose along hers. “Thanks for listening.”

She sighs at me, her arms tightening around me. “That’s what you do in a relationship, catch the crazy and help tuck it back in.”

Searching her eyes, I wonder if she is listening to herself. Doesn’t she realize I’d do the same for her? When she glares, I know she sees it in my eyes. “Shut up.”

“Just sayin’.”

“Yeah, yeah, give me a kiss. I gotta go to class.”

I go to drop my lips to hers, but then I pause. “Why were you over here?”

“Had to get some equipment so Todd and I can work on our set for this weekend. I’m on my way to meet him.”

Instant jealousy eats me alive as I look down at her. They have been practicing for a while, and I don’t like it. While she says they are just friends, I’m pretty sure Todd wants more. How could he not? She’s amazing and gorgeous, with a huge wall keeping everyone out. Not that he knows that part. But she’s hot, and I don’t miss the way people look at her. Hell, the way Todd looks at her.

“Don’t look at me like that. We’re friends. I’m your girlfriend, remember?”

“Thank God,” I say, cuddling her up in my arms. “But still, blow him off. Sing with me.”

That has her bubbling with laughter. “Ha! No. Our duet was a one-time thing, and I still can’t believe you lied to me about being able to sing.”

I feign hurt. “What? Are you saying I can’t sing?”

Grinning at me, she searches my eyes. “Please tell me you know you aren’t good?”

I grin. “Yeah, yeah, shut up,” I say, squeezing her, which makes her giggle.

“But yeah, don’t worry about Todd. I’ve got my eyes only on you,” she says with a wink.

“You better keep them there,” I warn and she nods.

“No problem,” she promises and then we are kissing. I melt into her kisses as our lips tangle and our tongues dance. Her lips are flawless and everything I crave. If I didn’t feel good before her lips touched mine, I feel amazing now. I’m not sure why her kisses take my breath away like this or even why it feels like the first time every time, but I fucking love it.

I love her.

Ah, damn it.

Walking toward my bag, I reach for my phone to see if Jace has texted me. I’ve been so worried about him since I left him at the coffee shop. He just looks so tired and worn-down. I wish I could have talked him out of working, to just go straight home to sleep, but he’s too proud. He wants to prove he can do it all, and I wish he’d slow down. We’re going to have to talk because his sleep is imperative and he hasn’t been getting any, especially when we’ve been spending every moment together. Unlike me, where I only have to worry about classes and my gigs, he has hockey, work, and classes, not to mention his family. And he’s stressing himself out.

Finally unearthing my phone from my bag, I see that Jace did text me, right at two fifteen, too.

Jace: I’m home. In my bed. I wish you were here though. Call me when you leave my sister’s.

I smile, but I won’t call him. I’m going to let him sleep and just head over when I get done. I should probably let him sleep the whole night, but I know he’ll be upset if I don’t come over tonight. Plus, I want to go. I miss him. Like, all the time, and I want to be with him. Gah, I still can’t believe he questioned that. I feel like he’s been hinting that he wants more for a while. And now that I’m down, he thinks it’s not real? That I was just saying that to cover up for what happened? That irritates me. I know it shouldn’t, but it does because I meant it. I want to be with him.