He nods, a smile on his face that doesn’t reach his eyes, before he reaches for me, kissing me on the side of my mouth. “I don’t want you to leave, though.”

“I know, but if I stay, I’ll fall asleep and I don’t want you to get in trouble.”

“And fuck the dude who ran his mouth. I’ll find them for you, Avery. Then maybe you’ll like me,” Markus calls back to me, a huge smile on his face, and I roll my eyes.

“Doubt it, but thanks.”

Jace smiles, holding me close. “Be nice to my friend.” I give him a look and he grins. “Try to be nice.”

“I said thanks,” I remind him and he rolls his eyes. “Fine, whatever. I’m gonna go, okay?”

“No, not okay, but yeah. I’ll see you in the morning?”

“Yup. I’ll meet ya at the shop.”

“Cool, I love you,” he says, hugging me tightly before kissing my nose.

“I love you too.” I kiss his lips while my fingers tangle in his shirt. I put everything into the kiss. I can still hear his outburst from earlier, his fears and concerns rattling my soul. I never want him to feel like that. I never want him to worry about that again. It’s in the past. We have future so bright, he shouldn’t even be thinking about it. I know I don’t. I can’t.

When we part, I kiss his chin before reaching for my bag and putting it on my shoulder. “Go to sleep early? Please?”

“Yeah, I hear you.”

“Thank you. Love you.” He smiles as I wave and open the door.

“Love you,” he calls as I shut it behind me and climb up the stairs. When I get into the frigid air, I suck in a deep breath. Well, tonight was a clusterfuck. Shaking my head, I walk toward my car, hopeful my plan will work because I can’t let Jace hold this in, not when his brother can help. I may be stepping out of line, but he’s my husband. So I’m allowed to, I think? Getting into my car, I lock the doors and start the engine before searching for my phone.

When I find it, it’s blinking with a text.

Jace: I miss you, don’t leave.

I smile.

Me: Dork. I can’t stay and you know it.

Jace: Then I’ll come stay with you.

Me: And sleep in my mini bed? No, we both need sleep.

Jace: God, this fucking blows. Maybe we should just get an apartment?

Me: Just relax, we can talk more tomorrow.

Jace: Okay, be careful going home.

Me: I’ll text you in a bit.

Scrolling up, I find where I sent Jude’s number and tap it to call. As I wait for him to answer, I check the time. It’s late. He shouldn’t be at a game, but then, what do I know? I pull out of the parking spot just as he answers.

“Hello?”

“Hey, Jude. It’s Avery.”

He pauses. “Avery, is everything okay?”

“Well, yeah…but no.”

“Okay?”

“Are you busy?”

“Not for you. What’s up?

“It’s Jace.”

“What’s wrong?”

Biting into my lip, I turn to go toward my building. “Well, as you know, we are married and pregnant.”

“Yeah, I know,” he says with a laugh and I smile.

“Sorry, I’m nervous.”

“Nervous? Avery, we’re family.”

I pause, chewing on my lip. I should have called Jayden. Swallowing hard, I say, “Yeah, but I don’t think you like me much.”

“What? Why would you think that? I think you’re awesome.”

That makes me smile, but I can’t help but feel he doesn’t like me. I know why; it’s because of what Seth told him. Clearing my throat, I say, “Well, thanks, but I can’t shake the feeling you don’t approve of me because of what my brother told you.”

“Ah,” he says slowly.

“But for what it’s worth, I don’t have a relationship with my family the way you guys do. While some of what Seth said was true, the stuff about my dad interfering with Caleb’s career is not true. He didn’t do that. He wouldn’t, couldn’t, and I just want you to know that I will do everything I can to make sure Jace is happy.”

I’m met with silence and then he clears his throat. “If I didn’t think you were good for my brother, you wouldn’t be here, Avery. I like you, I’m excited to get to know you, and I love that you make my brother happy.”

“He makes me happy,” I say, pulling into my parking spot and putting the car in park.

“He’s a good dude. But I have a question.”

“Yeah?”

“You said most of what Seth said was true. So you tried to commit suicide?”

I swallow hard as I pick at the hole in my jeans. “I did.”

“Wow, I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, bad, bad time in my life, but I’m not that person anymore.”

“Yeah, you made it. I’m proud, and I think I like you even more.”

I smile. “Thanks.”

“Anytime. But what’s going on with my brother?”

Sucking in a breath, I let it out and then unload. He listens, doesn’t interrupt me or even comment. He just listens, and when I’m finished, he releases a long breath. “I told him not to trust that fucker. Damn it, so he doesn’t have a car?”

“No, I told him he could use mine, and Markus said he can use his too.”

“Okay, well, I’ll have my mom bring out Jayden’s old car tomorrow so at least he has a ride. And why doesn’t he use his scholarship money for an apartment? He can do that. As long as he can prove it’s an apartment within a—” He pauses and then calls Claire’s name. “Babe, how many miles does the apartment have to be within for the scholarship money to apply?”

“Fifteen, I think,” I hear her say. “Riverbend is where all my friends stayed.”

“Ah, yeah, Riverbend. He can do that and have the rent and utilities covered under his scholarship money. I know he has housing money since staying at the Bullies’ house is free. So I don’t know what the problem is.”

“They didn’t tell us that.” I say and he sighs.

“They won’t ’cause when we don’t spend all our scholarship money, they can give it to someone else.”

“Oh,” I say and then I shake my head. “Can you please call him? Talk to him?”