Pinkie Promises (A Promises Novella #1) (6 page)

SIMONE- Age 16

Jace was the first to get a car. It was a red Mustang convertible. I know. How cliché. But I was envious because I only had my learner’s permit.

He dangled the keys in front of my face. “Do you want to go for a ride?”

“Of course I do.” I skipped off the porch and headed to the convertible. I was already in when Jace jogged toward the driver’s side.

He turned to me. “Top up or down?”

“Down.” It was an automatic answer. I was no priss, worried about my hair like most girls would be.

He flashed a devilish grin and pressed the button for the top to go down.

“Did you give Tonya a ride yet?” I asked about his current flavor of the week.

“No. We broke up last night. Besides, you will always be my number one.”

“Pinkie Promise?”

“I pinkie promise.”

I smiled wide, and didn’t ask for more details on the breakup because the car roared as we headed down the road. I didn’t care that my long hair tangled in the wind, because in that moment, I felt free.

Raising my arms up above my head, the wind whipped through my hair and it was the best feeling. Something changed that day between Jace and me. It was like I was seeing him in a different light. My stomach did funny flip flops whenever I was near him. Maybe it was the hormones kicking in I couldn’t pinpoint what it was exactly. Or maybe I was noticing the man Jace was becoming. And I wondered if our friendship would last forever.

PRESENT: SIMONE

“I’ll go change in the bathroom, and you can change in here,” I tell Jace after he brings in the luggage and gives me a quick tour of the house.

Luckily we got one of the three rooms that has its own bathroom in the suite. Grabbing my two-piece, I head to the bathroom to change. My bikini is black with cut-outs strategically placed. When I come out of the bathroom, it looks like Jace’s jaw hits the floor.

“You call that a bathing suit?”

I look down then back up. “What? You don’t like it?”

“No. I mean, you look great. I’m sure all the guys will be checking you out,” he mutters.

As we start to walk, I link my arm with his. “But, I’m your woman, remember? You have nothing to worry about. Oh, and nice trunks,” I smirk.

“What’s wrong with my trunks?”

I laugh. “Nothing. They are just so Hawaiian.”

Jace shakes his head at me as he grabs a few beach towels from the hall closet. He takes my hand as we meet the others out back. Umbrellas are already set up, along with loungers. I grab one by Jane, and Jace is on the other side of me. But Jane’s husband comes over and takes Jace to play volleyball. I can’t help but watch in a trance as his muscles constrict when he moves to hit the ball over the net.

“I think
someone
is starting to like Jace for real,” Jane says, interjecting my thoughts.

“What? I have no idea what you are talking about. I was simply admiring the male specimen.”

Jane pulls her sunglasses on. “And I’m the queen of England. Who do you think you are kidding?”

Her comment makes me smile. “Okay. I do feel something more than I normally feel. And I’m trying to figure it out.”

Jane sits up straighter while I look over to Jace again. “You’re in love with Jace. I don’t even know why you two are pretending, because he’s crazy about you. And we both know Jace is a catch. He rarely drinks, doesn’t go out to party, he loves his family, and his favorite sport is fucking with James.”

I giggle. “I think his favorite sport is fucking, period.”

We both break out in a fit of giggles. The sun feels amazing on my skin, and I start to lather lotion on my arms and legs.

“I’m surprised he let you out of the house in that bikini,” Jane tells me.

“I’d say by his reaction, he thought about locking me in the room. But I had to sweetly remind him he had nothing to worry about since we are a ‘couple’.”

Jace rushes into the house, and comes back out with a bottle of water. He’s dripping with sweat, and I’ve never seen anything sexier. “Did ya win?” I ask about the volleyball match.

He grins his devilish grin. “Don’t I always?” I shake my head at his cockiness. Jane takes the kids toward the water, leaving Jace and I alone, and Jace sits in the lounge chair next to me. “This is nice, huh? All of us like this, just a day at the beach.”

“Yeah. It’s nice. I’m already enjoying it. I may never want to leave,” I joke.

The rest of the day proves to be uneventful. Janice, Jace’s mom calls us in for dinner, and we play a round of games with margaritas in hand.

***

Saturday comes, and I start to smell breakfast cooking when Jace gently shakes my shoulder. “Hey. I think Mom is making breakfast.”

I don’t respond, except to sit up and swing my legs over the bed, my head hanging down as I try to wake up.

“Too many margaritas with Jane last night,” Jace teases. I rub my temples. “Come on. Mom has a cure for that,” he says, helping me up.

“There they are,” Jace’s dad, Jacob, bellows. He got in late last night and he said it was about time that Jace and I got together.

“Here.” Jace’s mom hands me a drink. “I already made Jane one earlier.” I take it, and it looks like a Bloody Mary. But trusting Janice’s judgement, I drink it. It’s not bad, and it’s definitely not a Bloody Mary.

Jace has been attentive since I woke up, and I offer him a weak smile to assure him I’m okay. He runs his hand up and down my back, and I find it comforting. After eating my stomach finally settles.

“Why don’t you go up and shower? You might feel better,” Jace suggests.

“I think I will.”

Upstairs, I grab my yellow two-piece bikini, a tank, and a pair of shorts and hit the shower. Once I’m done in the shower, I put in some leave-in conditioner in my hair and pull my clothes on. Opening the door so I can enter the bedroom, I am greeted by Jace’s bare, white as hell, ass.

“Oh my god,” I stutter and shut the door.

What a perfect ass that was.

“Okay. I’m decent,” Jace calls out, and obviously notices me blushing when I open the door. “Did you see something you like?”

I don’t answer him. Instead, I ask, “What are we doing today?”

Jace adjusts his shirt. “First of all, how are you feeling?”

“I feel better than I did,” I tell him while I twist my hair up in a bun.

“Good. We are just going to lie on the beach, enjoy the weather, until James comes to pull me away for the bachelor party. So it’s just you and me, kid.”

“That sounds like the most perfect day to me. Well, besides the bachelor parties. I think I’ll just skip the bachelorette since I don’t know the bride, and I don’t care to know her right now.”

Downstairs, we head out the back door, and my toes dig into the sand as we make it over to the lounge chairs. With my sunglasses on, I watch as people frolic in the water. The salty breeze of the ocean washes over me as I lie on my stomach. Then I realize Jace grabs the lotion and starts smoothing it over my back.

I look over my shoulder. “Where’s Jane?” I try to focus on anything other than the fact that Jace’s hands are on my bare skin.

“She and Roger took the kids to the aquarium.”

“Oh.”

He finishes my back, and holds the bottle to me. “Can you do mine?” Of course he has a devilish grin on his face.

Smiling back, I take the bottle while he, too, lies face down. I gently rub the lotion on his back, making sure to rub it in from the side so I’m not straddling his back.

After twenty minutes lying in the sun, Jace pulls on my hand and I can hardly keep up as we splash into the water. He quickly grabs hold of my waist and brings me close to him while I try to see through the droplets of water in my eyes. Jace’s face is inches from mine, and his face is serious, but I pull out of his grip and playfully splash him with water.

The day gets away from us when he declares he has to go get ready.

“Just don’t bring any hookers home,” I tell him.

“Very funny. What are you going to do while I’m gone?”

I shrug. “I dunno. Maybe I’ll read a book and check my messages.”

“Okay. Call me if you need me.” He kisses the top of my head like it’s a regular thing.

Minutes later, Jane meets me out on the beach. “Hey. You sure you don’t want to come and be my wing-man or shall I say wing-woman?”

I smile sweetly at her. “I really don’t think that is a good idea. I think it’s best that I stay here and not get into any trouble.”

“Okay then. Mom is watching the kids for us. I’ll see you later,” she says with a wave.

I wave, and continue watching people frolic in the ocean.

PRESENT: SIMONE

Jace comes home around two a.m. When he flips the bathroom light on, I pry my eyes open from sleep to look over at him. He’s leaning forward, looking into the mirror. Whipping the blanket off me, I rush over to him. “My god, Jace. What the hell happened?” 

“It’s nothing,” he says digging around in the drawer.

“What happened? That eye is not nothing It’s going to be black by morning. So you better tell me before I find out from someone else. Get ready for bed while I grab some ice first.”

I grab a wash cloth and pour some ice cubes in it and close it while I carry it upstairs. I find Jace shirtless and in a pair of basketball shorts and hand him the ice. “Here. Put this on your eye. It should lessen the swelling. Tell me what happened.”

“James was acting like an idiot. He asked me how I liked his leftovers. So I punched him, and he punched me back.” Jace looks to me. “I was defending you. He was drunk and didn’t know what he was saying.”

“You know how he can be. You two like egging each other on until someone gets hurt,” I scold him.

“You should see the other guy,” he says, teasing.

I swat his arm. “I can’t even deal with you right now.” I can’t help but smile at him. And I can’t even be mad at him for defending me, because boys will be boys.

“James eventually apologized, and everything is all good.”

“Yeah. Well, I hope you two can at least be presentable for the wedding.”

***

Jane’s kids’ rumbustiousness wakes me up. I don’t even try to know how she manages them. Jace is still sound asleep next to me, so I gently get out of bed and go change into a pair of shorts and a short sleeve tee.

After m my way downstairs, I walk into the kitchen and see Jane sipping on coffee while Roger is outside with the kids. I sit next to her at the bar once I pour coffee for myself. “So how was last night?”

“I’m sure you have some idea.” Her eyebrow arches up as she takes a drink of her coffee.

“Yeah. Jace has a nice shiner for the wedding pictures. But it’s not my wedding. Boys will be boys, I guess.”

“That’s for sure,” Jane agrees. “I guess they made up right after, though. James is really jealous of Jace and you. I think, at some point, he knew there was a possibility of you two hooking up.”

“He’s getting married, so that should no longer be an issue. I get it would be weird. But it’s been a while. It’s not like we were hooking up right after we broke up.”

Jane shrugs. “I don’t know. All I do is: Jace feels something more than he’s telling you. Something has to give. Either you feel the same or not. Whatever, you two have to figure it out, and it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.”

“I know.”

“The rehearsal dinner is tonight, and we have to go. Mom is already gone to help organize it. I can’t wait until it’s all over, to be honest.”

Jace comes downstairs, and I rise from my stool to get him more ice for his eye. “The swelling has gone down some. Here.” He takes the cloth from me and holds it to his eye, and I pour him a mug of coffee.

“What are you guys talking about?”

“The rehearsal dinner is tonight. We all have to go. And try not to get in anymore fights,” Jane scolds him before going outside.

“Does it hurt?” I ask Jace.

“Like a bitch.” He tugs on my hand. “Come on. The next two days are going to be hectic. And I prefer to have you to myself beforehand.”

I giggle. “Where are we going?”

He holds the truck door open for me. “Just get in.”

My stomach growls, and Jace gives me a quick glance as he starts the truck. So my money is he’s taking me to eat. Enjoying the drive, Jace pulls into a place called Estia’s Little Kitchen listed on a large white sign. The place looks like a small brick house with a fire place. The entryway is a pretty blue color. Almost the color of Jace’s eyes.

“I got to keep you fed. Mom is gone for the day.”

Inside, it has a homey feel to it. And we are seated at a table for two with the classic red and white table cloth along a window. A bar area lines the wall and has dark wood stools.

“It’s so cute in here,” I say while looking around. We are given menus and the waitress comes by to get our drinks. “I’ll have an orange juice.” Jace orders the same.

Jace looks over to me. “Celebrities flock to this place during the summer. Alec Baldwin has a favorite that the restaurant named after him called Big Al’s Burrito with egg whites.”

“Nice.”

The menu is Mexican inspired, which is one of my favorite foods. I settle on the Western Omelet.

The waitress brings our drinks, and I order my omelet while Jace orders Robbie’s Gringo Hash breakfast bowl.

“I hope the rehearsal dinner is not awkward tonight,” I admit.

“I’m sure it will be fine once you meet Jennifer and everything. She’s not that bad of a person. I mean, the way it came about is shitty. But she’s okay, I guess.”

I nod. Our breakfast arrives, and the food looks and smells amazing. “Wow. This is so good.”

“Right. Here; try a bite of mine.” Jace holds a fork of food out to me, and I take it.

“That’s good, too.”

To onlookers, we probably look like young lovers and not best friends.

***

“Here. I brought this for you to wear,” Jane says, holding a dress to me while we get ready for dinner. It’s royal blue, and very rehearsal dinner appropriate.

“Thank you so much.”

I pair the dress with silver heels.

“Sit,” Jane orders.

I do as she says and sit in the chair at the vanity. She brushes my long hair and starts braiding it from one side and ending the braid as it hangs down in a fancy fishtail twist on one side. She loosens some of the hairs so it looks effortless.

“I wish my hair was this Snow White. It’s so pretty.”

“Thanks. I’ve thought about adding some crazy colors in it just to be funky. But I’m hesitant to mess up its naturalness.”

“Don’t do that. Seriously, it’s gorgeous as it is.”

She touches up my makeup, and then we meet the guys downstairs. I know she is trying to make James regret letting me go, and to maybe push Jace into making a move. My breath catches when I see him in a light gray suit, hands in his pockets, and black dress shoes.

“We match,” he says when I reach him. “You look good. I like the hair.”

“Thanks. You sure clean up well, too.”

Jace and I take the truck while Jane and her family follow behind. It’s been nice getting out of the house today, but I still can’t help the nerves that swirl in my belly.

“There’s no reason to be nervous. You only have to meet her and be done with it. I’ll be right next to you the whole time.”

He knows me without me even expressing my thoughts. It’s like he can read my mind sometimes.

“I know.”

It doesn’t take us long to get to the beachside restaurant. It’s exquisite from the outside, as it sprawls wide with big white pillars on the porch. Another restaurant that looks like a house, but much bigger than the one we were at earlier.

Everyone in this town oozes rich. But Jace and his family are far from that mentality, which is rare these days. Clutch in one hand and Jace holding onto my other hand, I stop, take a deep breath, and then enter with a smile plastered across my face. Jace winks at me right before we meet the clan. With Jace gripping my hand, he leads me to James and Jennifer straight away. Might as well get it over with. Jace gives my hand a light squeeze as we approach them.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” James says, bending down to hug me. I hug him back. “This is Jennifer,” he introduces.

She smiles brightly. “So nice to meet you. You and Jace, huh?”

“Yeah. It’s new,” I tell her as a matter of fact.

“Well, we’ll catch up later,” Jace tells them. He leans in to whisper in my ear, “There. Was that so bad? Just laugh like I said something funny.” His hot breath against my skin sends a shiver down my spine.

Getting acquainted with everyone, we finally sit for dinner and the conversation flows. But it seems Jace and I are the topic of conversation and we roll with it. His arm spreads out on the back of my chair. Once, he even leans in to kiss me on the cheek, but I wasn’t expecting it and it ended up being on the lips when I turned my head in surprise. I was in shock for the remainder of the dinner. The PDA was very much alive throughout dinner, and I played the part quite well, if I do say so myself. But part of me wonders: was I really acting?