16. JACE

1541 Words
Tyler was smiling at him but the tone of his voice made it clear that he wanted Jace gone, yesterday. “I think we’ll need to warm up with a few more drinks first,” Jace said. “You want a top up, Isabelle?” She smiled so brightly, he was almost blinded. “Oh yes please, I would love one.” This time it was she that towed Jace along. “Nice meeting you,” she called back to Tyler. She let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you so much,” she whispered, releasing his hand. “I was in definite need of rescuing. I feel like I need a shower with sand paper after the way he stared at me.” “So, what’s it like being the hit of the party?” he asked, as he grabbed another drink. “I hate having all this attention on me,” she admitted. “But everyone has been really nice and welcoming.” Jace snuck a look at her with that hot little body and gorgeous face. Yeah, he’d bet they were being super welcoming. “We haven’t scared you off already?” he asked. “It takes a lot to scare me,” she scoffed. “I can tell.” A flush crept onto her cheeks, but she didn’t look away this time. Instead she took his hand and led him back over to where Maia and Matt were stripping down to their swimmers. “Sick of being told how hot you are yet?” Maia quipped at Isabelle, who actually rolled her eyes at her. “You’re obviously drunk,” she told Maia firmly. Maia grinned. “Yeah, yeah, come on, we’re going for a dip in the spa. Strip into your swimmers and then we’ll see.” Isabelle pulled at her dress. “Oh, I don’t know…” “She doesn’t have to,” Jace said defensively. He didn’t want Isabelle to feel uncomfortable but he was having a hard enough time with the guys when she had her clothes on. Maia tsked at him. “Shut up and let the girl make up her own mind. Now Isabelle, are you going to come and have fun, or chicken out?” Isabelle’s eyes flashed, and Jace was worried she might try and lunge at Maia. Instead, she pulled the dress swiftly over her head, tossing it at her feet as she stared at Maia defiantly. Jace had never been more turned on in his life. Unlike Maia who was very model like with her long legs and willowy body, Isabelle was all curves and softness. “Damn,” Maia whistled. “You should wear less more often.” Isabelle chuckled, and shook her head but Maia wasn’t so easily appeased. “No,” she insisted. “Jace, tell her how hot she is.” Isabelle looked to Jace expectantly, who couldn’t find the right words to describe her beauty. “You look… I mean…your body…no! I…” Maia smirked, and took Isabelle’s hand. “Rendered him speechless, you go girl. Come on, let’s go claim the good spa, before the couples defile it.” “Aren’t you one of those couples?” Isabelle asked, as they moved away, scoring a chuckle of delight from Maia. “Jace.” He looked over to Maia’s best friend, Giselle. “Hey Gigi, what’s up?” he asked casually, one eye still on Isabelle. Giselle smirked. “New girlfriend? My heart bleeds.” Jace laughed. It was an old joke between the two of them, that since Matt was her cousin and Maia his sister, they should get together and keep it in the family. They’d tried once, but it was awkward, and they couldn’t even get past a first kiss without laughing and feeling grossed out. Which had a lot of the guys puzzled because Giselle was actually really pretty, with brown hair, grey eyes, a slender body and killer sense of humour. “You’ll always hold my heart,” he told her dramatically. “Liar.” Jace shrugged and wrapped a friendly arm around her. “How have you been?” “Oh, you know me, changing lives, saving the world…same old, same old.” He smiled and looked over at Isabelle, who was watching him with an odd look on her face. Giselle eased out of Jace’s grasp and gave Isabelle a bright smile. “I like her,” she admitted softly. Jace raised an eyebrow. “Did Maia introduce her already?” “No, but I like how you act now that she’s around.” “Act?” “You’re not on anything tonight, are you?” she asked. He stepped back like she’d slapped him. “What has that got to do with anything?” “You’re not even drinking,” she pressed on. “I think this is the first party I’ve gone to, that you have not been either passed out in the corner, or completely buzzed that you don’t recognise anyone but your dealer.” Jace definitely felt like she’d slapped him. “I’m not always high.” “Liar.” He wanted to cry, he actually felt his eyes prickle. He hated that she knew what a screw up he was, that he relied on feeling nothing to get through every day. He was weak, and he was a coward. Her soft hand landed on his shoulder. “Stop punishing yourself,” she whispered. “If that girl over there is the reason that you’re allowing yourself to feel, then I love her already, even though it seems totally unfair that she is that hot and steals the love of my life away.” He smiled at her, grateful that she was letting the serious mood drift away. “Thanks,” he told her, and meant it. “Don’t over think it,” she told him firmly, and then trotted away. “Where are you going?” he called after her. She spun around, her smile mischievous. “Oh you know, introducing myself to my replacement, same old, same old.” Jace laughed softly to himself, and waved her away. “So, who is she?” Jace spun around to face his worst nightmare. “Well?” Kimberley asked, as she took the coke from his hand and wrapped her mouth around it. “Go home Kimberley,” he said, feeling tired all of a sudden. “I asked you a question,” she pressed, rubbing her body, covered only by a tiny string bikini, against him. “She is none of your business.” “Is that the reason you’ve been such a d**k to me?” she demanded. “That new slut?” Jace spun around, knocking the drink out of her hands. “She is not a slut, and that is rich coming from you.” Kimberley surged closer, his rage drawing her in instead of pushing her out. “Do you want to hurt me?” she purred. “I could take it rough.” He wrenched away from her in disgust. “Is she your new girlfriend?” Kimberley asked again, chasing after him. “She’s a friend,” he said, in a warning tone. “Then why have you been undressing her with your eyes all night?” The shock showed on Jace’s face before he could stop it, which only spurred Kimberley on further. “I’ve been here all night you know, and I’ve watched you with her… with each other. It’s sickening the way she fawns over you while luring every other guy. Got to give her credit for being smart though… always good to have a backup plan.” Jace grabbed her arms and yanked her close, pulling her eyes open to check the pupils. They were glassy, huge and bloodshot. “Damn it Kimberley, what did you take?” he asked, letting her go roughly. “Are you screwing her?” she asked, her voice rising. “Kimberley, I’m not in the mood for your games.” In fact, he’d just about had enough drama for a life time, and that girl was ripe for an Oscar, she was so melodramatic. “You’re the one doing the playing, Jace!” she screeched, drawing some attention their way. “We broke up,” he said firmly. “More specifically, you broke up with me, so to be honest, my life isn’t any of your concern anymore.” “You told me you loved me once. That doesn’t just change over-night, unless you find someone new to love.” “Go home,” he said firmly, pushing her in the direction of the back gate. “No,” she said, with a slight slur. “Not unless you’re coming with me.” Jace barked out a laugh. “You really have lost your mind.” “And you’re avoiding the question. Do you have a thing for the new girl?” Jace froze and then moved away from Kimberley, totally done with this conversation. “Fine!” Jace froze at her tone, and felt immediately uneasy. “Maybe I’ll go find out for myself,” she told him, as she tottered away.
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