The Hopeless Romantic ✔️

Chapter thirteen.

Jace stayed for the whole afternoon and all we did was talk. He never left my side and it felt weird that Jace O'Connors, the popular guy, would be sitting on my couch. It felt nice because I've been dealing with it on my own for a long time. Jace being here, squeezing me tight, I felt at home.

My dizziness had subsided but my legs were still very weak and I was trying not to burst with excitement because Jace O'Connors was sitting on my couch. "What were you doing before you raced over here?" I asked as I remembered the bucket of water that was still lying on Jace's driveway.

He laughed. "I was going to wash my car. But, then I saw you and let it spill all over my driveway. My parents will not be happy."

I laughed with him. His arm was still around me and my head did not feel like an earthquake anymore. "You don't have to stay, Jace. I feel a lot better now."

He shook his head. "I don't mind staying in your cute little house."

I was surprised with myself. I wasn't stuttering like a freak and I wasn't shaking because of Jace's touch. It was like I've known him forever and I was used to him. "It's probably a lot smaller than yours."

"Probably," he said, "my parents bought it and remodelled it. It was similar to this house, actually."

"Is it just you and your parents?" I asked, wanting to know a lot more than just his name and his status at school.

Jace nodded. "I also have a younger sister."

I closed my eyes to collect my thoughts. "That's nice."

"Do you have siblings?" He asked after a moment of silence.

"Nope, I'm an only child," I told him, "my parents divorced when I was about one." And just as I said the last word, my mom opened the door and the wind rushed through the house. My reflexes kicked in and I automatically jumped away from Jace, trying not to fall over. His arm also quickly dropped from my shoulder as he must've got a fright like I did in that moment.

Mom looked at both of us in disbelief. "Oh, hello there."

I knew she would ask me about it when Jace left. "Mom, hi." I stood up, my legs feeling stronger than they were a minute ago, which made me happy because falling on my face would not be a pretty sight.

"Jace, right?" Mom looked towards Jace as she closed the front door, letting the cool air disappear. "I'm Caroline."

"Nice to meet you." He shook my mom's hand and I wanted to slap myself.

Mom smiled at me and I returned it but it was an uneasy smile. "Jace, do you want to join us for dinner? It's pizza night."

My face instantly went red and my nerves were beginning to set in. "I'm sure Jace has to get back home, right?"

Jace shrugged. "Dinner sounds great."

My eyes widened. If Gwen could see us now, she would scream and tell me to kiss him. "Great!" My mom went into the kitchen to get the pizza menu. "I'll order one. Is ham and pineapple okay?"

"Any flavour is fine." Jace said nicely.

"That's fine, mom." I said, my stomach still feeling uneasy that Jace was still standing in my living room. I slowly walked up to Jace and I wasn't sure how to speak to him anymore. "Are you sure your parents won't need you back?"

He shook his head with a grin. "No, they're out of town and Juliet is staying with a friend."

"You sister?" I asked to confirm.

He nodded. "Yeah, she's fifteen. Acting like she's twenty one already."

I chuckled just as mom placed the order for the pizza. Once she ordered, my cat came into the kitchen and began meowing and moaning for food. I rolled my eyes and checked the time. "Right on time." I said, forgetting Jace was in the room.