Reckless Faith

“What’s this I hear about you getting plastered last night?”

Jace internally cursed Cody for telling Kayden. “I wasn’t plastered, just had a few more than usual.”

“So many that our brother had to take your keys so you wouldn’t drive yourself home?”

He rolled his eyes. “You know I’d never drink and drive.”

“So you admit you’d had too many to drive?”

Jace’s gaze ran over the mountains as they neared the end of the skywalk. He’d just finished packing up after a rappelling session that Kayden had helped him run. “Yeah, but I was a happy drunk.”

“So happy you waddled on over to Elle’s house.”

“Did Cody give you my whole life story?”

“Just the CliffsNotes.” Kayden squeezed his shoulder as they stepped off the skywalk. “Hey. I know you’re usually the easygoing, adventurous brother, but if everything’s not okay—”

“It’s fine, Kay. I’m fine. Just like I told Cody I was fine.” He crossed his arms, not wanting to talk about his shit anymore. Not here, not now. “You heard from Lock lately?”

Their last remaining out-of-town brother was on a Ghost Ops team. They never knew where he was or what he was doing, and he rarely checked in.

Kayden sighed but let the change of subject go. “Nope. Haven’t heard from him in a while. For all I know, he’s on the other side of the world doing God knows what.”

One side of Jace’s mouth lifted. “And loving every second of it.”

Kayden opened his mouth to respond, only to stop and frown at something over Jace’s shoulder. Jace turned and followed his gaze to see a very angry-looking Elle storming toward them.

“Shit, she looks mad,” Jace said, more to himself than his brother.

“What did you do?”

Jace glanced back at Kayden. “Why do you assume I did something?”

“Because that is the face of a woman who’s about to unleash hell on you.” He clenched Jace’s shoulder again. “Good luck. Looks like you’re gonna need it.”

“You’re just gonna leave me?”

Kayden was already walking away. “Yep.”

Chickenshit.

Elle stopped in front of him, slamming her fists onto her hips. “Why? Why did you do it?”

“Give me a hint of what we’re talking about here, Tink.” Acting innocent felt safe right now.

“Don’t play dumb with me.” She jabbed a finger into his chest. “You texted Art from my phone, telling him I wasn’t interested!”

“You’re not.”

Her jaw dropped, and if possible, the red of her cheeks darkened further. Damn, she was gorgeous when she was mad.

“You son of a bitch,” she gasped. “You don’t get to tell me who I am and am not interested in. Who I date is none of your business. It wasn’t fifteen years ago, and it isn’t now!”

“But that’s where I disagree. You have always and will always be my business. And when I say you deserve better than some guy named Art, I’m serious.”

Anger darkened her eyes. “You infuriate me! You know that? You’re a…a…”

“Charmer? Comedian? God-given gift to women?”

“A jerk! You’re a jerk. It was bad enough that you scared off any guy who tried to date me in high school. Now you’re an adult and still doing it. Do not ever meddle in my dating life again.” She spun around and started back toward the visitors center.

He caught up to her in a few strides. “Come on, don’t be mad.”

“I’m not mad.”

He almost laughed, or maybe he did, because he got an angry glare pointed his way. “Really? Because you look mad.”

“No. I just don’t like you.”

“Yes, you do.”

“No, I don’t.”

“Tink—”

“And don’t call me that. My name is Elle—use it.”

“You’ve always been Tink to me. And I think you like it.”

“No, I don’t.”

“You do.”

She stopped and spun. “Stop it! Stop presuming to know me so well.”

“I do know you.”

“You used to. Not anymore.”

“Really?” He stepped closer, catching the sharp intake of her breath. “So a ring of black doesn’t surround your irises when you get angry? Cola skulls aren’t your favorite candy, and you haven’t watched every episode of The Office at least twenty times?”

Her mouth opened and closed. “They’re just facts. They’re not who I am.”

“I know who you are.” His hand twitched to touch her. Cup her cheek. Grip her hip and tug her closer. “And you deserve better than Art.”

She swallowed. “Who then? Who do I deserve?”

One word came to mind. A word with two letters that crawled up his throat, threatening to break free, but he didn’t let it.

As the silence lengthened, something akin to disappointment crossed her face. It came and went so quickly he almost thought he’d made it up in his head. Then the anger returned.

“We’re done. Do not show up at my house again. Do not message me. Just let me live my life in peace.”

Every word felt like a kick in the gut. It was only when she turned away from him that he knew he couldn’t let those be the last words she said to him.

He jogged to catch up with her again. “I can’t do that.”

“You don’t have a choice.”

“Look, I’m sorry I texted him. That was wrong. I just feel protective of you.”

“I don’t need protecting.”

Yeah, he knew that. Elle was strong; but he felt so fucking weak these days. “What can I do to make it up to you?”

“Nothing. And it doesn’t matter anyway. We’re not friends, Jace. We haven’t been friends for a long time.”

He lifted a brow, almost finding that funny. “I consider you a friend.”

“Stop it.”

“Why can’t we be friends?”

“Go away.”

“Not until you answer my question.”

“No.”

He grabbed her arm to stop her. “Tink—”

“Because I loved you, you idiot!”

Elle wanted to slam her hand over her mouth. Either that or dig herself a hole so deep that she’d never get out.

Shit. Shit, shit, shit.

Had those words really just released into the world? Had she really just told Jace Walker that she’d loved him?

No. She had to be dreaming. Stuck in some dark nightmare she couldn’t find her way out of.

Jace frowned, and for a moment he was silent. “Loved? Past tense?”

Really? That was all he had to say about her earth-shattering, world-changing confession? And why the heck was she so disappointed? She hadn’t actually expected him to say he’d loved her too, had she? Because she always knew he hadn’t. Not in the way she’d loved him, at least.

Holy crap, she needed to get out of here.

She pulled her arm back and moved faster toward the café.

“Tink, stop. Let’s talk about this.”

“There’s nothing to talk about. Forget what I said. I just came down here to tell you to stay away from me. And I’m going on a date with him.”

“The fuck you are!”

“I am.”

“You really want to go on a date with a guy named Art?”

“Stop saying his name like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like there’s something wrong with him.”

Again, he grabbed her arm and tugged her to a stop. It took her two entire seconds to gain the courage to look up at him, and when she did, it felt just as gut-clenching as usual.

“You loved me?” Jace asked.

“As a friend.” Big. Fat. Lie. “Let me go, Jace.”

His brows flickered. “I just want you to be happy.”

“I’m trying.” She’d been trying since the day he’d left town. Hell, since before that.

Again, he inched closer. “I’m sorry. I crossed a line today.”

Her heart sped up in her chest. When he stood this close, she couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t speak. She could barely think.

She needed to go. Get away from him in case more stupid words about loving him slipped out. “I need to go.”

She didn’t wait for him to respond, just turned away again, almost running back to the café. When she realized he wasn’t following her, she felt relieved, but there was also this other part of her, a part she hated, that was disappointed.

That was stupid, though. Disappointed that he’d done exactly as she asked? Disappointed that he hadn’t chased her down for a third time?

She crossed the deck and pushed into the café, almost running straight into Molly.

The other woman gasped. “Elle! Are you okay?”

No, she wasn’t. She was a stone’s throw away from falling apart. “Do you mind if I leave early? I’m not feeling great.”

“Oh no. Are you all right?”

“Yeah, just a headache.”

Molly nodded. “Of course. Go. Rest. I’ve got the shop.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.”

“Thank you.” She grabbed her bag and rushed out to the parking lot. The entire time, she expected to see Jace again. To see him running out after her.

She’d told him she loved him. Love! God, what was wrong with her?

She slid behind the wheel and for a moment, just scrunched her eyes closed. Because a part of her had wanted him to say it back. And wasn’t that the most pathetic part about all of this? That a big part of her, even after all these years, still hoped he cared about her in the same way she cared about him?

But he didn’t say it, because he didn’t love her. He never had. What he felt for her was friendship. It had always been friendship. He’d proven that time and again by dating girl after girl right in front of her. Gorgeous girls. So beautiful that she just faded into the background in comparison. And for years, she’d stood and watched, her heart breaking.

And now he was back in Misty Peak, and she was falling for him all over again.

Her fingers trembled as she lifted her phone and sent a text to Art.

Elle: I’m sorry, my friend took my phone and sent that last message. They thought it was funny or something. How about Saturday for our first date?