"Yeah, I bet you know all about that. Is that why you don't get along with your brothers? Too overprotective?"

I grimace. "Hardly."

"Really?"

"Jace, they ignored me all the time. Used me as a stick carrier. They didn't care one bit about me. Still don't. I've been here over a month. I've spoken to Matty twice maybe, and Laurence and Seth not even once."

His face scrunches up. "Really?"

I laugh. "Yes, not everyone has Brady-family relationships like you do with your siblings."

His smile is full of apology. "Sorry."

I wave him off. "Please don't be. I love that you love your family and talk to them daily. I'm jealous, but I'm happy for you."

He nods as I move my fingers in and out of his. Silence falls between us, but it's comfortable as he drives, the music playing softly. Soon, my thoughts float to my s.h.i.tty family. I wish I had the relationship with my brothers like he does with his brothers and his sister. I wish I had a niece to spoil and love. But I don't. I have me.

And Jace.

I have Jace.

"You were good with Angie. I didn't know you liked kids."

I smile wistfully. "I love kids. I wanted a baby sister when I was younger."

"Angie is the best," he says happily, and then he shoots me a grin. "So I guess you want kids?"

"One day." Grinning over at him, I ask, "Making sure I'm long-term worthy?"

He scoffs. "I knew that the moment I met you."

He sends me a wink, and I let out a long breath as I shake my head. He is so confident about everything in his life. I wish I had half the confidence he does. h.e.l.l, a quarter of it. "Well, then."

"Just sayin'."

Leaning my head onto his shoulder, I remember the conversation between him and his sister, and suddenly, I want to know all about it. I want to know everything. Especially things that bother him. I could tell he was troubled.

Threading my fingers through his, I ask, "What were you and Lucy talking about?"

Glancing at me, he shrugs before looking back at the road. "I told her my dad is coming to my game Friday, and she wasn't too happy about it. I knew it wasn't good, so she told my mom and is gonna tell my brothers."

"Oh."

He looks at me expectantly. "Just, oh?"

I shrug. "Well, why don't you tell them?"

He shrugs sheepishly. "'Cause I'm embarra.s.sed and guilty. She offered, and I took it."

Rolling my eyes, I tsk at him. "It would be better if you did."

"Yeah, but Jude and Jayden are gonna rip me a new one."

"Do you deserve it?"

"Maybe. I think I really do want a relationship with my dad, but then I don't. I don't know. I'm confused about the whole thing."

"I can understand that, but I think they'd appreciate it a bit more if you called and told them."

He nods. "You're right."

Biting into his lip, he looks thoughtful, maybe a little annoyed, as he comes off the interstate. s.h.i.t, did I say too much? It's just it's different for the two of us. While he has been spoiled and treated as the baby, I never was. I always had to own up to every mistake I made, even when it wasn't entirely my fault. He doesn't like conflict, though. I can see that. He would rather everything be easy and funny. Always a smile on his face. But I learned very early you can't laugh through life. Sometimes things suck and you have to face up to them. But who am I to tell him that? He didn't f.u.c.k up like I did when I was younger, he didn't live the life I did, so maybe I should keep my opinions to myself.

Squeezing his hand, I bring it up, kissing the back. "Sorry if I overstepped."

He shakes his head quickly. "No, don't be. I respect your opinion. But did you notice how I'm communicating?"

"Really, Jace?" I glare and he grins.

"Just sayin', throwing it out there."

"Well, take it back. I heard you the first time."

"Fine, but I appreciate what you said because you're right."

"I just want you to grow, I guess."

"And I want the same for you, which is why I'm trying to pry you open and find out what's inside."

I roll my eyes. "Nothing but a damaged girl."

He doesn't say anything, and when I look over at him, his lips are pressed together. "Sorry, that came out all kinds of wrong."

He shakes his head, though. "No, it's the truth and I was waiting for more."

"There is nothing else."

"Liar," he accuses and I smile. "But it's cool. I'll pry you open and then put you back together right."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," he promises. "Because when you talk, you feel better. Believe me. Like right now, I feel good. Usually, it's Jayden pushing me to be a good guy, but with Baylor coming into his life and Claire coming into Jude's, I don't talk to them like I used to. Now it's just us bulls.h.i.tting about stuff or them b.i.t.c.hing at me about trusting my dad. But it's all good 'cause I have you."

My heart hurts a little, as the pain and longing for his brothers is apparent on his face. But I'd be lying if I didn't admit that his statement just tickles me to death. It's something special when someone says they can depend on you. At least, for me, it is. Clearing my throat free of emotion, I look over at him. "You miss them."

His jaw clenches as he nods. "More than I like to admit."

Flashing me a grin, he squeezes my hand, bringing it into his lap. "Maybe you should tell them that," I suggest.

He nods. "Maybe I will." Grinning as he pulls into a parking spot in front of the Bullies' house, he looks over at me. "Can you come in?"

"Yeah, I'm free for the rest of the night."

"Awesome." He leans over and kisses me hard against the lips. "Get ready for some intense Bullies karaoke of death."

I scrunch my face up in confusion. "Why does that freak me out a bit?"

"Because adding death to the end of things usually does," he says with a shrug. "Like wild s.e.x of death. Or hockey rink of death, or-"

"Please stop. I got it," I laugh and he smiles. "So I have nothing to worry about?"

He laughs. "Um, yes. You are competing against me, and I'm the best singer in the world." I don't think I believe him, but his sureness is smothering as he flashes me a grin. "So get ready to go down, Avery Rose."

Grinning back, I'm pretty sure I'm a little too excited about this, but who wouldn't be? "The only one who will be going down is you, Sinclair. It may be rumored that you are the best on the ice, but on the stage-it's all me."

He scoffs. "I am the best at everything. You'll see."

With a challenging gaze, I nod. "Yes, I will."

"So here is how this goes... We have three categories," Markus says before taking a pull of his beer. "Tonight, it's rap, love song, and duet."

"Duet?" I ask, my fingers tracing the rim of my Jack and c.o.ke. Apparently, the Bullies drink here with their fake IDs. I'm pretty d.a.m.n sure that's illegal, but I'm not complaining. The Gilroy is packed full of people-everyone and their mother are in this place, and it's exhilarating. This is the first bar I've been to since I came to BU. Usually, we drink back at the Bullies' house, so I'm excited to be out.

When I look over at Mekena, her eyes are wide as she looks around the room. I had texted her, inviting her out since I haven't been hanging with her lately for one reason and one reason only: Jace Sinclair. But she tells me she doesn't mind. She's busy too, but she was quick to jump at the opportunity to come out with us tonight.

Probably to see Markus.

"Yeah, like you get a partner and sing together."

"You're my partner," Jace says to me, and Markus yells out in protest.

"No way! That's not fair," he complains, but Jace just grins.

"Sorry for ya. She'd choose me anyway-we're Javerying," he says simply and Markus rolls his eyes.

"Dumbest s.h.i.t I've ever heard. You're either together or not; stop with that s.h.i.t. Commit to my boy, girl! He's a catch," he says, shaking Jace's shoulders, which makes him laugh as my cheeks redden a bit. But that's probably from the booze. We've already done two sets of shots and I've drunk two Jack and c.o.kes. I'm somewhere between Buzzville and Drunktown, and I'm enjoying my stay.

Holding up her drink, Mekena adds, "Exactly."

"You hush," I demand and she grins. For Markus and probably everyone else in the world, our relationship status is dumb to them. But it works for me; I feel comfortable in it. Though, when Jace's eyes meet mine, I know it isn't working for him. That has me on edge. Clearing my throat and tearing my gaze from his, I look back at Markus. "Anyway, are there points?"

"Yup, loudest cheers get a point."

I nod. "Cool. Who goes first?"

Markus looks at Mekena. "You wanna be my duet partner?"

I'm pretty sure Mekena just died. Her face turns bright red, her mouth parts as she looks at him with nothing but dreamy sunshine and roses in her eyes. "I'd love to."

"Cool, let's go pick a song," he says, standing up and taking her hand.

Looking back at me, she mouths, "Oh my G.o.d," and I can only laugh.

"So I take it she's still into him?"

I laugh as I nod. "G.o.d, yes. It's so sad. She won't ask him out."

"He doesn't date," Jace supplies with a shrug. "But then, at one point, I didn't date. Oh, and I knew a girl named Diane who didn't date either."

I roll my eyes. "Shut up."

Wrapping his arm around my shoulder, he surrounds my chair from behind, kissing the back of my head. "You better kick a.s.s up there. I'm not carrying this duet."

I press my lips together to keep from laughing. "Oh, I wouldn't expect you to."

"I mean, I will. Being as amazing as I am, I'm used to getting points for the team."

"Good Lord," I groan and he smiles against the back of my head as his fingers dance along my collarbone. "That ego is bursting at the seams, Jace Sinclair."

"Nah, it's good."

"Okay," I laugh as he kisses my jaw.

"You look hot tonight," he whispers against the spot below my ear. Before we came out tonight, I went back to my dorm to get Mekena and changed into a long maxi dress with long sleeves down to my wrists. It is comfortable and I am tired of wearing jeans. While Mekena is wearing a very short skirt, I gave those days up when I used my thighs as a cutting board. I never thought I would regret it one day when I was doing it, but then I didn't think I was going to live long either.

But I am.

And I'm happy.

"Thanks," I say, leaning into him.

"You smell good too," he says huskily, and heat burns between my thighs.

"Jace, are we gonna make it through this?"

Grinning, he brushes his hand against my breast before holding me under my arm. "Not sure yet. I'm considering taking you into the bathroom."

"Um, no. You challenged me to some karaoke of death. We are karaoke'ing."

"Fine," he complains against my temple. "But you are coming home with me tonight."

Moving his nose along my jaw, he bites softly into my neck, and I gasp, my body tingling with want. "Mm. I don't think you even need to ask."

"Good, I wasn't going to anyway."

Grinning, I turn my head, taking his lips with mine. Holding my face, he kisses me with so much feeling, I am overwhelmed in seconds. I can feel his kiss in my toes, my whole body on fire for him. He consumes me.

When we part, he's looking deep into my eyes, and soon I can't breathe. I'm gasping for breath as my eyes fall shut a bit, his lips moving ever so slowly against mine. It's always like this with him, so f.u.c.king intense. But so f.u.c.king perfect. He kisses my bottom lip, and I swear I'm a second from letting him take me right here, but then he's whispering something along my lip.