"So, you and Mace finally pulled your heads out of your asses?"
"Who said anything about Mace?"
Arden shot me a look that said I wasn't fooling anyone and that I could take my shit and shove it. I rolled my eyes. "I wouldn't say we've pulled our heads out of our asses exactly, but—"
Arden squealed, cutting me off and jumping up and down in the hall and grabbing my hand. "I knew it! I knew it! You guys have been fucking meant to be from the very beginning!"
Fighting the smile on my face was pointless, so I didn't even try and let my lips stretch wide. It felt good to be excited about something and especially good to be excited with my best friend.
"Oh my God, look at that smile. You have to tell me everything!" Arden looped his arm through mine as we made our way down the front steps and out onto the sidewalk. We turned right for the two block trek to the little bistro where JJ and Cody were probably already waiting for us.
"There's not much to tell, honestly," I said to him while we waited for the light to change at the crosswalk. "It just kind of happened."
Arden huffed. "What do you mean it just kind of happened? I need details! Who kissed who first? How were things the next day? Why hasn't he proposed?"
A loud bark of laughter sprang out of me, and I shook my head. "Okay, okay. Technically, I kissed him first—"
"Oh, I like it! Take what you want!"
I could feel my cheeks getting hot, but still the happy smile wouldn't wipe off my face. "And yeah we fooled around, obviously, and the next morning was perfect." I knew my voice had that stupid dreamy quality that I so often made fun of others for, but it was like I couldn't help myself.
Waking up that next morning with Mace in his bed had been perfect. He'd kissed me good morning, while bright sunlight filled the room through the large windows, and then made us coffee and breakfast. We’d taken a shower together, each taking turns washing the other, and after a pair of handjobs he’d loaned me some sweats and a T-shirt before driving me back to Spritz in his truck.
It'd all been so domestic—right down to the kiss goodbye—but it was still hard for me to believe it was real. Because I’d never had that, never had a real home life, never had a real boyfriend. I still didn't know if that was what Mace was, but I felt like it was where we were headed. I'd been so afraid of it, but now that it’d happened, I decided I wasn't going to be afraid anymore. Or at least I wasn’t going to let it hold me back, because Arden was right, I did want Mace. I wanted him to be mine, and for me to be his, and he'd given me no reason not to trust that that was what he wanted, as well.
We made it to the restaurant to find Cody and JJ already seated at a table in the corner by the windows. As we made our way over, they both stood to give us a hug. Cody squeezed me tight, and I could tell that he saw the hickey, but he was too sweet to say anything, so he only gave me a little smile before settling back in his seat. He and Eben had been together since New Year's, and while I hadn't been in the best headspace when I'd met him, he’d easily become a good friend.
JJ arched a brow at me and pulled me in for a hug. He was a singer in a locally famous band and stood out in the earth-toned bistro with his electric-blue tipped hair. He was also dating Cleave, the Iron Heretics Road Captain. "I'm guessing someone had a good night last night?" JJ asked as we all took our seats.
"Night before last, actually, but yes, it was a very good night," I said with a conspiratorial smile.
Arden plopped his elbows on the table with his chin in his hands. "And now he's going to tell us all about it."
We all laughed, and I gave in, sharing a couple details about my first time with Mace and just how happy I was.
Lunch had stretched on into the afternoon, but it had been a good feeling to be out with my friends, joking, laughing, and catching up on all the things that had been going on with each of us. Arden left with JJ and Cody after I assured him I was fine to walk back by myself. It was a warm sunny afternoon and Mace was supposed to be coming to meet me at my apartment. I'd mentioned wanting to get back into weightlifting, so he’d asked if I'd like to go to the gym together.
I thought that was a great idea as long as we spent as much time lifting weights as we did flirting. I smiled to myself, breathing in the city air and enjoying the sunshine on my face. The two block walk breezed by and before I knew it, I was rounding the corner of my apartment building. Just as the building’s entrance came into view, Leith and a tall man in a baseball cap stepped off the bottom step. Leith waved and shot me a smug little smile that told me the man with him was probably a booty call. I glanced at him and for a moment, the world froze. Dark blond hair was half-hidden under a baseball cap, and as they turned away, I only caught a glimpse of his profile, but the sharp edge of his cheekbone and straight line of his nose looked so much like the man who'd assaulted me my knees got weak.
I was seeing ghosts, I knew that. The man who'd hurt me was dead, and this was just someone who resembled him—probably some completely innocent guy—but my first instinct was to scream for Leith to get away from him and run. I pressed a hand against my chest over my rampaging heart and looked the way they'd gone, but they'd already disappeared around the opposite corner.
I took a deep breath and let my wobbly legs collapse, sending me to my ass on the steps of the building. I propped my elbows on my knees, put my forehead in my hands, and breathed in and out until I felt myself settling down. I had no idea how long I sat there like that.
"Pax?"
Mace's voice startled me and I looked up, the sudden movement making my head spin.
"Hey, easy, are you okay?" Mace knelt in front of me, hands grasping my wrists and eyes searching my face. I threw myself forward, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and burying my face in his neck. I felt his balance teter, but he righted himself and held me back just as tightly.
"Pax, you need to tell me what happened. Are you hurt?"
I shook my head, sucking in the scent of him, burying my nose against the leather of his Iron Heretics vest. I was safe, Mace was here, and even if that man was still alive, I knew he'd never touch me again because this man wouldn't give him the chance.
“No, I’m not hurt. I just…” My voice came out in a raspy croak. I felt so stupid now for seeing things that weren’t there. “I saw something that freaked me out. I’m really fine.”
Mace scrunched his brows together. “What did you see?”
Tears stung my eyes as humiliation made my whole body feel hot. “Just someone who reminded me of…you know.” I shrugged, the hollow pit in my stomach spreading.
Gentle fingers brushed over my cheeks, wiping away tears I hadn’t realized I’d let loose. “I wish you’d have called me.” His green eyes were dark, filled with worry and so soft I wanted to cry all over again.
I looked down and noticed the gym bag on the step beside his feet. “Shit, I ruined our plans.”
He shook his head. “No, you didn’t, because my only real plan was to spend the afternoon with you. The gym will still be there tomorrow. Now, come on, let’s get you inside and out of the sun.”