the words, VIP on it. “Need a poncho?”
“No.”
I just need Dylan.
He lifts up the rope. “Have fun.”
After walking through a tunnel that goes on for too fucking long, I enter the outdoor amphitheater.
Despite the rain trickling down and the thunder rolling in the distance, it’s still packed.
Flipping my hood up, I trek down the pathway leading to the entrance of the pit…but pause when I spot her.
Eyes closed and one hand thrust in the air, Dylan’s singing every lyric to “The Middle” by Jimmy Eat World into the sunset while swaying her body to the music.
She looks so gorgeous and carefree it makes my breath catch.
The people in the pit are getting frustrated due to the impending storm, but Dylan doesn’t give a single fuck.
It’s one of the things I love most about her.
The sky opens up and the rain starts coming down in buckets, soaking her hair and clothes…but my girl keeps singing and dancing, never missing a beat.
Determination fuels my steps, but it’s quickly replaced by rage when some guy comes up behind her and places his hands on her hips.
A haze of red mist clouds my vision and I clench my hands into fists as I push through the crowd.
He’s a dead man. I’m going to crush every bone in this motherfucker’s body and…
Dylan sails her fist into his jaw two seconds before I reach her.
The asshole staggers back before running away like a little bitch.
Well, shit.
“You just ruined my big romantic gesture.”
Her eyes widen with shock when she peers up at me. “What are you doing here?”
At least I think that’s what she says. It’s hard to hear her above the music.
“I’m an asshole.”
It’s not the best opening line, but hell if it’s not the truth.
Scrunching her pretty face, she gestures to her ear. “What?”
Evidently, she can’t hear me either.
Closing the distance between us, I place her hand on my chest, right over the organ that belongs to her.
Then I repeat the same words I told her in the closet that day, picking up right where I dropped the ball.
“The Mariana Trench isn’t deep enough for what I feel for you.”
And I’ll gladly bleed my heart out to prove that shit to her if that’s what it takes.
She points to her ear with her free hand, signaling she still can’t hear me.
Oh, hell.
I know a better way we can communicate.
Cupping her face in my hands, I crash my mouth against hers.
Chapter 47
Dylan
Jace is kissing me like I’m the oxygen he needs to survive, in the middle of a rock concert…in the pouring rain.
I want to pinch myself to make sure it’s real, because I’m positive this is exactly what sweet dreams are made of.
My head spins and my heart pounds against my ribs as he teases me with little flicks of his tongue, coaxing me to give in.
The moment I do, whatever tether we had between us snaps and the kiss becomes desperate and all-consuming. His fingers dig into my hips and he lets out a low, rough grunt that has me throbbing with need.
I never want to come down from this high.
Unfortunately, this magical moment is bittersweet, and it comes at a hefty price.
Because I know the second Jace pulls away, his guilt will consume him, and he’ll look at me like I’m a mistake. Again.
I don’t want that for him...or me.
Being this close to me rips him to pieces, and I love him too much to let him keep hurting himself.
I love myself too much to keep spinning on his merry-go-round.
It’s not healthy for either of us.
Pressing my hand to his chest, I push him away.
I would do anything in the world for Jace Covington.
Including giving up my happiness to spare him from his sorrow and guilt.
“I can’t do this.”
He looks so bewildered it slashes right through my heart.
He tries to reach for me again, but I pull away from his touch.
We can’t be together…so it’s best we stay far apart.
Before he can stop me, I push through the crowd and start running, putting as much distance between us as I can.
When I reach the parking lot, I make a beeline for the small row of taxis and Ubers.
“Where you headed, Miss?” the driver asks after I get in.
I quickly rattle off the address for Sawyer’s job and he steps on the gas.
If anyone can reassure me I’m doing the right thing by walking away from Jace, it’s her.
I pull out my phone so I can text her, but the driver snaps, “Stop riding