That perks her up a little, and I rush to the kitchen to place their orders. On my way back, Jace meets me in the dim hallway.
“You don’t have to hang out with them if you don’t want. I was going to let you off after they’re done, but I can tell them I’m keeping you.”
Servers and bussers brush past us, and he nods toward his office. I follow him in, and he shuts the door behind me.
“Sorry if I’m being overprotective, but you’ll just end up alone with Tommy all night if you go over there. I just wanted to give you an out.”
I groan. “I know. But Emily needs me right now. She and Derek are going to different colleges soon, and—”
“I know. But I worry about you being in that situation.” He takes a seat behind his desk. “Unless you want to be in that situation.”
“No!” I blurt out. “No, no. Not at all.”
He laughs quietly. “Okay, I didn’t think so. Just say you have to stay till closing.”
“Okay, thanks.” I kind of wish he would keep me till closing. I’m not up for Derek’s, but I don’t feel like going home either. Maybe I can go to the bookstore. I haven’t been there in months.
“No problem,” he says. “You did really great today; I wasn’t playing around.”
“Thanks. My feet are killing me, though.”
He laughs. “Yeah, welcome to the restaurant biz.” He pauses for a moment. “Hey, can I ask you something?”
I clear my throat. “Sure.”
Why am I nervous all of a sudden?
“Are you and Tommy really over, or do you think there’s a chance you’ll get back together?”
I hesitate. “We’re . . . done. Why?”
His eyes penetrate mine, and I force myself to hold his gaze.
“Are you seeing anybody?”
I glance at my shoes. “No,” I say, my voice weak.
“Am I making you uncomfortable? I mean, I know I’m technically your boss now, but I’ve known you forever. There’s no pressure.”
“It’s okay, Jace,” I say, tucking my hair behind my ear.
He leans back in his chair.
“I’m probably too old for you, anyway,” he says with a slight smirk.
He’s two years younger than Slate.
“No, actually. Not at all. But aren’t you with Rebecca?”
“Nah, we broke up months ago.”
“Really?”
Hmm. They were together for at least two years.
“Have dinner with me tonight.”
“Jace,” I say, shaking my head. I glance behind me through the small window in the center of the door. I can see part of the table where my friends are sitting, and I watch as they laugh together, seeming so carefree. I feel a twinge of jealousy and turn back around. “I can’t. I’m sorry, I’m not ready.”
He leans forward in his chair and rests his elbows on the desk. “He’s not worth it, Kaley.”
I don’t think I’ve ever heard Jace call me by my first name. It catches me for a moment, causing the dormant butterflies to stretch their wings inside me.
“It’s not just him,” I say, playing with a loose thread on my apron. My heart throbs, reawakening the pain, and I push back the sudden tears. I don’t want to think about him.
“Hey,” he whispers. He springs up from his chair and is beside me in an instant. “Don’t get upset, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been so forward.” He places his hands just below my shoulders. “Forgive me?”
I push a smile through my blurred vision. “Of course. I’m sorry I’m such a wreck.”
“He really did a number on you, didn’t he.”
Elijah’s face appears in my mind, the merciless pain becoming almost unbearable. I don’t want to think about him anymore. He chose his career over me. I don’t blame him for that, but it’s the harsh truth. It’s over.
Done.
“It’s not Tommy,” I say. “I mean, it’s . . . it’s a lot of things. I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Damn, I’m sorry.”
“Quit apologizing. I’m not upset with you. Just the situation.”
Aren’t I too young to be this bitter? If my heart was intact, I just might give Jace a shot.
But he ruined me.
They both did.
“I’m here if you ever need to talk, okay? As a friend.” He puts his hands up in defense.
I manage a weak smile. “Thanks.”
“Are you okay to go back out there?”
I nod and turn to the door just as Avery joins the table, standing next to Tommy. What is she doing here?! Emily’s face looks strained as she glances around the restaurant. Looking for my whereabouts, no doubt. Panic grips me, and I spin back around before Jace can stop his stride, and he knocks me against the door, the back of my head smacking against the glass.
“Oh!” He steps back in a flash. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, sorry,” I mumble, clutching the back of my head.
“Okay . . .” He waits for me to speak or move, but I can’t do either.
Is Tommy already moving on? Elijah clearly is. I think about my mom’s affair and her new boyfriend and wonder if my dad will have a girlfriend soon. Everyone just moves on. Everyone. And here I am, suffering. Stuck in limbo.
Stuck in despair.
Stuck in the shadows of Elijah’s cutting words: You’re too young for me, Kaley. I’m sorry I ever let anything happen.
“Hey, are you okay?” Jace’s voice pulls me back to the surface.
The top button of his shirt is undone and I catch the edge of a tattoo, but can’t decipher what it is. When I lift my gaze, his eyes give away that he noticed me noticing, and I feel myself blush. He’s undeniably sexy, but there is no way I’m ready. No way I can trust him.
I glance behind me through the little window again. Avery is now sitting at my table. What the hell?
When I turn back around, Jace is only inches from my face, his jade-green eyes laced with solicitude. “What’s the matter?”
I grab his collar and pull him close, pressing my lips against his. He slides me away from the window, and I hear the door lock as he presses me up against the wall. My heart pounds against my aching chest as his tongue tangles with mine. Wow. He’s highly skilled, but it isn’t the same as—don’t say his name. Just feel something.
Anything.
I slide my arms around his neck, slipping my fingers into his hair as he wraps his arms around my waist. Don’t think. He squeezes me tightly against him as his lips maneuver expertly around mine. He almost kisses like it’s some kind of art form. If my heart ever heals, I could have fun with these lips.
The door handle jiggles, and I jump. He breaks away, but keeps his eyes on me as he tries to catch his breath. Someone pounds on the door.
“Did they see us?” I say, gasping for air.
“No, it’s okay.” He reaches for the door, but I stop him. I wipe the smeared lip gloss off his mouth, and he gives me a half-smile that makes my stomach flop.
He cracks open the door, using himself as a barrier between me and whoever is outside.
“I’m in a meeting,” he says with authority.
The noise from the kitchen drowns out the person’s voice.
“It’s fine, just go,” he says. He closes the door and turns to me. “Well, my manager is sick, so I’ll be covering tonight.”
“Okay.” I suddenly have trouble keeping eye contact.
“I’d still like to have dinner with you. What about tomorrow night? My place.”
Whoa.
“Your place?”
“Yeah, I’ll cook.”
My chest swells. He’s a fabulous chef, and his gesture catches me off-guard.
“You want to make me dinner?”
“I’d love to.”
“Well, my mom’s moving back in tomorrow,” I say, “and we’re supposed to have dinner together. I could probably cancel, though.”
“No, don’t do that. Are you going to D’s graduation party on Thursday?”
“Of course.”
“I’ll be there too, if you want to hang out. Then dinner on Friday?”
I hold my breath. “Okay.”
A faint smile crosses his lips, and he leans in, raking his fingers through my hair, and kisses me artfully, suggestively . . . finishing with a gentle tug on my bottom lip before leaving the room.
I exhale as I tighten my apron.
What did I just do?
My hands shake as I pull on the door handle, and I pause before heading back out to the floor. I dread returning to my table, but I can’t stay in this office a moment longer. If I don’t deal with Avery right now, I never will. I boldly step out of the office and stride up to my only assigned table as all eyes fall on me.
“Will you be joining us tonight, Avery?” I say with an arctic smile.
She hesitates, which is rare for her. “Actually, I’m with that group over there.” She points to the booth adjacent to the table, and I glance at her Skank Squad.
“Oh. Well, perhaps you guys would like to switch to a larger table, so you can all sit together.” I don’t know what my face looks like, but if everyone’s expressions are any inclination, it’s anything but pleasant.
“No, that’s okay,” says Avery. She actually seems afraid of me.
I rest my hand on my hip and tilt my head at her. “Are you sure? It’s no problem at all. I’m here to accommodate you, girl.”