Mila Wilson is quiet, anxious and a little bit of a mess. Panic attacks have ruled her life for as long as she can remember - but starting college is her chance to take control. Love? Not something she believes she's built for.
Then she meets Jace E...
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Jeremy Zucker. Live in Concert. Seattle. February 11th. The words swim before my eyes, and for a moment, I can't trust that I'm reading them right. My mouth falls open in pure disbelief.
"You're kidding," I whisper, blinking hard. "These... these are fake." Jace just laughs at the stunned expression frozen on my face. His chuckle is warm, familiar—teasing. "You remembered I've been trying to get tickets?" I murmur, barely able to get the words out as emotion wells up inside of me, rising too fast for me to catch. My eyes sting, betray me. I can't stop the tears. I don't even want to.
"Why the fuck are you crying?" Jace says through another soft laugh, clearly pleased that I'm so overwhelmed. There's no judgment in his voice—just affection, pure and unfiltered. He watches me, amused, but also tender. I don't answer. I can't. I know I'll cry harder if I try to speak.
"Two tickets?" I ask instead, my fingers trembling as they hold the precious slips of paper.
"Yeah," Jace says, his voice losing its teasing edge. "Figured I'd give that whole concert thing a try. For you." That's all it takes. I can't hold it in anymore. A squeal bubbles up and I launch myself into his arms, wrapping myself around his neck with all the gratitude and love bursting out of me. He catches me with ease, pulling me against him as if he's been waiting for this reaction.
"Thank you," I whisper into his ear, my voice barely audible. "Thank you so much. That's the best gift you could've given me, honestly." When I pull back, I cup his face in both hands, feeling the scruff of his jaw beneath my fingertips, the warmth of him. Then I kiss him, long and soft, trying to pour everything I feel into that single moment.
Just as we break apart, Jace reaches behind him and places a box in my hands. "What's this?" I blink, confused.
"That's part two," he says, softer now. There's a kind of boyish shyness in his voice.
My eyes widen. "You got me two gifts?"
He shrugs, but he can't hide the faint grin tugging at his mouth. "Open it."
Still reeling, I obey. My hands move slowly, reverently, lifting the lid to reveal something that makes me stop again. Nestled inside, glinting beneath the soft tissue paper, is a delicate gold necklace. The pendant is shaped into a single, smooth letter: J.
"So everyone knows you're mine," Jace murmurs, his voice rougher now, more serious. I don't even realize I haven't said anything until he steps behind me, brushing my hair aside gently to clasp it around my neck. His fingers graze my skin, feather-light and lingering.
"It's beautiful," I whisper, running my fingertips over the letter. I lift it gently, marveling at how perfect it is.
"You like it?" he asks, his voice close to my ear, his fingers still trailing over the line of my neck.
Turning back to face him, I nod slowly. "Thank you," I whisper again. "I love the gifts. Both of them. But... you didn't have to get me anything."
"I wanted to," he replies simply, leaning back onto his arms on my bed like he's completely at ease. Like giving me joy is the easiest thing in the world. A surge of affection rushes over me.
