Wicked Princess - Ashley Jade Page 0,38

his thumb, “Well, fortunately for you, I’m really good at it.” In one fell swoop, he pulls me into his arms. “I just need you to trust me.”

“I do trust you.”

I have no reason not to.

He tips my chin. “Then tell me you’re mine.”

My mind says we’re moving too fast, but my heart wants everything he’s offering.

“I’m yours,” I utter.

The edges of his lips curl. “Damn right you are.”

He closes the distance between us, sealing the confirmation with a kiss.

Chapter 22

I glare at Dylan from across the dinner table. “Pass the peas.”

I’m not sure if she notices the tension in my voice, but Jace definitely does.

“Everything okay?”

“Everything is fine,” I grit through my teeth as Dylan hands me the bowl.

Everything is not fine.

My mind keeps going back to what Stone said last week about Dylan going to the dance with Liam.

She led him on.

She had to know how Liam felt about her, and still, she went to the dance with him.

And even if it wasn’t her intention to hurt him, there’s no getting around the fact that she definitely went with Liam to hurt Jace.

Either way you slice it…she was out to hurt one—or both—of my brothers.

It’s something that will never sit well with me. Ever.

Wiping his mouth with his napkin, Dad looks around the table. He’s been eating dinner a lot with us lately. It’s kind of nice having him around.

“How are you enjoying your new school?”

“I like it.”

Especially now that Stone and I are together.

Cole shoves a forkful of meatloaf into his mouth. “Sawyer said you made a new friend.”

I aim my glare toward her. She promised she’d keep me and Stone’s relationship a secret a little while longer.

“Mercedes,” Sawyer says tightly, nudging me under the table.

Damn. I really need to get better at this whole lying thing. “Oh, right.”

Jace takes a sip of his drink. “Well, I’m glad you’re making some friends.”

“You should bring her by some time,” Dylan chimes in. “I’d love to meet her.”

I can’t tell if she’s on to me or not, but I don’t like it.

And I definitely don’t like her. Not anymore.

I stab my meatloaf with my fork. “Yeah, and hey, you know what else might be fun? If you went to the upcoming school dance with her and then made out with her brother behind her back.”

Dad starts choking on his food.

Sawyer spits out her drink.

And Dylan turns white as a sheet.

“What the hell is your problem?” Jace barks.

I stand up so fast I almost knock my chair over. “Her. She deliberately used Liam and we’re all just sitting here like one big, happy family acting like she’s not partially responsible for what happened to him.”

I’m not sure where all this anger is coming from, but I’m shaking with the force of it.

Dylan drops her napkin on to her plate. “I think I’m gonna head upstairs for the night.”

I wish she’d leave permanently.

“I’ll go with,” Sawyer quickly offers.

My thumb hits my chest. “I’m leaving too.”

I start to walk away, but Dad and Cole stand up.

“Don’t,” I tell them. “I want to be by myself.”

With that, I slam the patio door closed behind me and head into the backyard.

I know Jace loves her, but I hate that he doesn’t see the part she played in all this.

It’s like he’s blinded by love.

With an audible groan, I yank my cell phone out of my pocket and shoot Stone a text because he’s the only person who will understand my outrage over Dylan.

Bianca: Hey.

Stone: Can’t talk right now, Bourne. Busy at work.

Well, that ends that.

Stuffing my phone in my back pocket, I wander over to the large in-ground pool.

I’ve been dying to go swimming, but I’m not allowed to until my doctor clears me for it.

The pretty pink sunset bounces off the reflection of the water and I can’t help but admire how beautiful it is.

Too bad Liam isn’t here to see it.

Even though there’s a mountain of grief in my heart, the main emotion gripping me right now is confusion.

Why didn’t he talk to me that night?

Why didn’t he tell me what happened?

We told each other everything.

Why—on the night he needed me the most—didn’t he reach out?

I start crying so hard the pool becomes nothing but a blur.

Not wanting anyone to hear or see me fall apart, I hobble over the cobblestones, heading toward the guesthouse.

Despite the empty space and bare walls, a sense of calm washes over me the minute I close the door.

I have no memories of this place. No emotional