Wicked Princess - Ashley Jade Page 0,52
I close the door to his bedroom.
However, my relief is short-lived when I spot Dylan. “On a scale of one to ten how bad is his mood today?”
“About an eight.” She gives my shoulder a squeeze. “I keep reminding him that he’s being a stubborn ass though, so I’m sure he’ll come around…sooner or later.”
Yeah, but when? Jace hasn’t said a single word to me since the driveway incident.
“Right.”
“Just give him time.” Her nose crinkles. “Eventually he’ll thaw and talk to you.”
Unfortunately, I’m running out of time. Christmas is in two days.
Taking my chances, I knock on his bedroom door.
“What?” Jace barks from the other side.
“Can I come in?”
Silence.
“You can’t ignore me forever, you know.”
Nothing.
Chapter 31
“Stop being a dick to her, Jace,” I hear Dylan hiss from the hallway. “It’s Christmas for fuck’s sake and you just made her cry.”
“It’s not my fault,” Jace argues. “All I did was ask if she was lying when she complimented you on the ham you made. Given her stellar track record, it was a legitimate question.”
I wipe my tears away with a tissue. I’m not sure how much longer he’s planning on staying mad at me or making jabs at my expense, but I can’t take much more of this.
Dylan growls. “I swear to God, if you don’t man up and apologize right now, I’ll—”
“You’ll what?” Jace sneers.
“You know that thing I let you try last week—the thing you really liked? Well, it will be a cold day in hell before I ever let you try it again.”
Yeah, I definitely don’t want to know what thing she’s referring to.
Jace sighs. “Fine, I’ll apologize but it won’t change anything. I’m still pissed that she lied.”
“Jesus,” Dylan exclaims. “Get a grip. With everything she’s been through the last thing she needs is for you to turn your back on her because she made a mistake. Plus, you and I both know she only lied because regardless of her amnesia, she still adores the hell out of her big brother and didn’t want you to be upset with her.”
“Whatever,” he grumbles.
“Stop being so pigheaded and fix this,” Dylan urges. “Because the Jace I know and love would do anything for his family and admits when he fucked up.”
A moment later I hear footsteps trek down the stairs followed by a sharp knock on my door.
I hug my pillow to my chest. “What?”
“Can I come in?” Jace questions.
“I guess.”
Truth be told, I should ignore him like he ignored me, but unlike him, I know how much it hurts.
I do, however, turn my head and stick my nose in the air when he walks in. Take that, asshole.
He makes an irritated noise in his throat. “Seriously?”
I don’t warrant him with a response.
His sigh is weary and resigned as he walks around my room, picking up and putting down various objects on my dresser. “I never wanted a sister.”
Jesus. That’s just mean.
I glare at him, and he has the audacity to laugh. “Let me finish.”
“Fine. Unlike you, I’m willing to listen.”
“When Mom told me she was having a girl, I had a full-blown temper tantrum and cried for two days.”
“Why?”
“Because I wanted brothers. I didn’t want to deal with a sibling I could never identify with.” He pins me with a look. “But the day Mom placed you in my arms, this intense sense of obligation came over me and I vowed right there and then that I would always protect you.” Scoffing, he shakes his head. “I didn’t know it back then, but God is a comedian because my baby sister turned out to be exactly like me—insanely stubborn and guarded, yet fiercely loyal to those she loves.” He meets my gaze. “Hell, it probably should have been us who were twins instead of Cole and Liam.”
My heart feels like it’s going to burst out of my chest.
I hate fighting with him, but even more than that, I hate knowing I broke his trust and destroyed our bond.
“I never meant to hurt you,” I whisper. “It kills me that I did.”
Hands in his pockets, he nods. “I know.”
I peer up at him. “Are you ever going to forgive me?”
He smirks. “Eventually.”
I throw my pillow at him. “Stubborn ass.”
He throws it back at me. “But just because I’m upset doesn’t mean I love you any less.”
“I love you too, shithead.”
Humor lights his face. “Glad we got that squared away.”
He heads for the door, but I halt him.
As happy as I am that we talked, our conversation still leaves me