Poison & Wine - Melissa Toppen Page 0,3
want anyone to know and I have to respect his choice to keep this quiet.
People suspect, I’m sure. There’s no way they can’t. There are only so many times a kid can show up at school with a black eye or busted lip before someone realizes that there’s more going on than a teenage boy getting into neighborhood squabbles. And yet, no one says a word.
It’s like an unspoken rule in this town. Everyone minds their own business and believes what they’re told to believe. Other than Tommy, I’m the only one that knows what takes place in the Matthews’ home. I tried telling my mom once, but she told me to stay out of it and refused to discuss it further. If I had any hope that she was going to help, she squashed it instantly.
So it’s just me and Jace. Me and Jace against the world. I wish I could do more. I wish I could protect him. But really, what can I do other than be here for him the only way I know how?
“You wanna talk about it?” I finally offer, my hand settling on top of his. He flinches at the contact and my heart sinks in my chest.
“Not really.” He turns his face toward mine, his blue eyes impossibly dark. “I just want to lay here with you if that’s okay.” He forces a small smile.
“Of course.” I nod, holding his gaze for as long as he’ll let me.
Jace is very good looking. And while I’ve always thought he was cute, now he’s something much more than that. My heart beats faster every time he’s around. My palms sweat and my stomach does this weird fluttering thing that makes me feel like I’m about to take flight.
I don’t have to wonder what it all means. I know what it means.
Eventually, he turns his eyes back up to the sky, but I keep mine locked on the side of his face. Taking in the defined cut of his jaw and the profile of his nose, which has a small lump on the bridge from where his dad broke it last year.
“Jace.” My voice breaks the long silence that has settled between us.
“Yeah?” His head falls back in my direction.
“Tell me it won’t always be like this.”
Even though he’s the one hurting, it’s me who needs the reassurance.
“It won’t always be like this,” he promises, wrapping his hand around mine.
My stomach twists with excitement. It shouldn’t feel this good, doing something as simple as holding hands, but god it does. It feels right in a world where nothing else does.
“One day we’re going to get out of this town. You and me,” he continues. “We’re going to leave all this behind.”
“I can’t wait for that day.”
“Neither can I.” He rolls onto his side and I do the same, our fingers still tangled together.
“I don’t know what I would do without you, Oakley.” His voice is soft, barely above a whisper.
“I don’t know what I would do without you.” And I mean it with everything that I am. My eyes slide to the bruise on his face before going back to his. “Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do?”
He reaches out with his free hand, pushing my wild auburn hair away from my face. His fingers linger on my cheek just long enough for me to realize it’s intentional.
“Actually, there is one thing.” He inches in closer.
I swallow past the thick knot that settles in my throat.
“Anything,” I whisper.
“Kiss me.”
I can hardly believe my ears. Did he just… Did he just ask me to kiss him?
“Jace, I…” I have to stop myself from rambling the way I always do when I get nervous.
I want to tell him that I don’t know how. That I’ve dreamt of kissing him a million times, but I’ve never actually kissed someone before.
A low chuckle escapes his lips.
“Relax.” His hand slides down the side of my face before his thumb darts out across my bottom lip.
“I don’t know how,” I admit.
“I’ll show you.”
Before I have time to react, his lips press against mine. Warmth spreads through my entire body and I squeeze my eyes shut, relishing in the feeling. It’s hands down the best moment of my life and I never want it to end. Only it does, and way too quickly.
Jace pulls back, his gaze locked on mine.
“I’ve wanted to do that for a very long time.” He smiles in a way that reaches his eyes.
“Me too,” I shyly