Moving on

24. Dog House and Couple Competition

"So why'd you want to know about that ex so much?" Jayce asks, though I wish he didn't. Last time this was brought up, I ended up almost having a break down about Spring Break...which I recently won second place in so I guess it wasn't all bad.

"No reason Jayce. Let's just cuddle, that's fun." I protest, snuggling deeper into him. The halfpipe was crowded, but everyone was busy doing their own thing and not paying us any attention, except for Zain, who wolf whistled at us a few times, preventing us from kissing.

"You know you can tell me anything, right?" He asks me. He sounded kind of serious all of a sudden. I've noticed that lately. Things have just felt more intense lately. Like my feelings were advancing to the next level or something. But I didn't love Jayce or anything. Not yet at least, at least that's what I told myself. I'm not sure what love is yet, but I think I'd know when I felt it.

"Yeah." I answer.

"Then tell me." He says, half asking.

"I talked to Charlie the other day, and he-

"Charlie? The same Charlie that I told you about?" he asks, frowning. I sigh and nod reluctantly. There was no point in lying to him. Not anymore. 

"Why? You don't even know him."

"Jayce...I may know Charlie more than I let on earlier. He's a childhood friend. Piper and I used to play with him a lot when we were younger and he babysat us a few times when our parents went out together." I tell him.

"What?! You didn't think to tell me?!" He asks, pulling away from out embrace. I frown at the coldness that comes from the sudden movement.

"I didn't see a reason to. It didn't matter and I was honestly kind of upset that Charlie did something like that." I say.

"I-just-okay, continue the story. Why did you go to him?" he asks, rubbing his forehead and calming down. 

"I just wanted to know why he threw your board in the lake is all."

"And? What'd he say?"

"Some chick paid him to do it. I think it was one of your exes. I mean, who else would do something so heartless?" I ask him. As I expected, Jayce's eyes widened at the revelation. My guess is he didn't think his ex was capable of doing it.

"Charlie said she had blackish hair and tannish skin. Ring a bell?" I ask hopefully.

"Skylar, can you do me a favor? Do me this favor and I promise you'll make me the happiest person ever?" He asks, locking his gaze on mine and grabbing my hands. And there it was again. The intense feeling.

"What is it?" I ask slowly.

"Please just forget about the board. If you really care about me and how I feel, you'll let it go. The whole enchilada. The fact that Charlie threw it, and the fact that my ex paid him to. Promise me?" He asks.

"I...I don't." I tell him, not wanting to lie. He looks kind of mad and shocked.

"I can't Jayce. That bitch had no right to do that and I thought you'd be on my side and want to figure out wh-

"I told you to leave it alone. Honestly, I shouldn't even have to ask you to leave my business alone." He barks.

"I'm doing this because I care about you Jayce."

"Well maybe you shouldn't care so much when I don't care that much about you." He says, but the regret on his face right after the words leave his mouth is obvious.

"Thanks." I say sarcastically, suddenly becoming very interested in my shoes.

"I didn't mean that. You know I didn't mean that. I'm sorry. I just don't like talking about my exes. I'm sure you don't like talking about yours either." He counters.