Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 48

CHAPTER 29-2

You know. If people keep feeling me, I’m going to become completely spoiled.” I said and Jace

smiled.

“I think you’ve got a long way to go.” He said.

“I appreciate the optimism.” I said and he looked around the workshop.

“You’ve built something impressive here.” He said and I followed his gaze.

Fresh paint covered the walls, tools hung neatly in place and the office finally looked organized

thanks to Mia.

“It doesn’t feel like I’m surviving anymore. It feels like a real business.” I aid.

“It is a real business.” He said.

For a moment I simply looked around the garage.

He was right. Somewhere along the way I’d stopped trying to save the garage and I’d started building its future instead.

For a white we ate in comfortable silence and the workshop felt different after hours.

Without customers, ringing phones or air tools, the garage seemed almost peaceful.

The only sounds came from the old wall clock and the occasional car passing outside. And Jace rested his drink on the workbench.

“You’ve been quieter since that dinner. It got me thinking about your family and what they actually did to you?” He asked and nodded.

“I don’t actually remember when Charlotte started lying. It feels like she always did. When we were kids, she’d break something, cry before anyone asked what happened and somehow I’d be the one getting blamed. If she forgot to do something, it became my fault for distracting her. If she got caught sneaking out, apparently I’d convinced her to do it. And every single time, my parents believed her. After a while I stopped trying to defend myself because it never changed anything. You get tired of proving you’re innocent when nobody wants to hear the truth.” I explained.

The silence stretched between if for a moment.

“I’m sorry.” Jace said quietly.

“It wasn’t your mess.” I shrugged.

“No. But someone should’ve protected you.” He said.

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CHAPTER 29 2

Those simple words landed harder than I expected. Nobody had ever said them before and Jace shook his head slightly.

be honest. I’d like to punch your father.” He said and I burst into laughter.

“You know, that’s probably the sweetest thing anyone’s ever said to me.” I said and his mouth

curved into a smile.

“I wasn’t aiming for sweet.” He said.

“You accidentally got there anyway.” I said and our laughter slowly faded.

Without realizing it, we’d stepped closer to each other. Close enough that I could see the tiny scar

near his jaw and the faint flecks of amber hidden inside his eyes.

The workshop suddenly felt very quiet and his gaze dropped briefly to my lips before returning to

my eyes.

Neither of us moved or looked away. Just as the distance between us began to disappear the

roller door rattled loudly.

“Paige. I left my…phone.” He said freezing halfway through the door as he took in the sight befor

him.

The three of us stared at each other and Ben looked at me and then Jace and then back at me.

“I can come back.” He added.

“No. It’s fine.” I said far too quickly.

Ben picked up his from the counter with the kind of awkward efficiency that only made the

moment worse.

“I didn’t see anything.” Ben said.

“You literally walked in.” I said.

“I’ll forget it immediately. I’ll se you both tomorrow.” Ben said as he hurried back toward the door

and he quickly closed the roller door behind him, leaving the workshop silent again.

Jace rubbed the back of his neck while I unsuccessfully tried to hide another laugh.

“I don’t think he’s going to forget.” Jace said.

“Not a chance.” I said.

A few minutes later Jace climbed onto his motorcycle and rode away into the evening.

I locked the garage, climbed the stairs to my apartment and got ready for bed. But every time I

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