Intimate

Part 11

My arms were swung over Jace’s neck and I realized he was leaning in. Oh my god. I closed my eyes and searched for his lips. Just millimeters from each other my phone screamed, interrupting the moment I’ve been waiting for a very long time, ever since he asked me my name. “I’m sorry.” I giggled, pulling out my phone. “What.”

“Riley, the police are here; they have a lead on mom and need to see you.” Sam’s voice trembled on the other line.

“Shit.” I muttered realizing I was an hour away from Lacey’s, “Can they wait?”

“Yes but you have to come right away, I’m sorry to ruin your big night Riles…”

“No, don’t worry about it, it was perfect.” I said, glimpsing over to Jace, who was staring over at me, “I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I hung up the phone and turned to Jace, I felt my face go white, “Can you drive me home?”

“Yeah sure, why?” he asked as we already started to walk back to the car. I shot Kat a quick text telling her I was leaving early. I couldn’t tell if I was nervous or excited, having a lead was a good thing correct? “Riley?”

“What?”

“Are you alright? Why do you need to go home?” Jace questioned, opening the passenger door for me.

“Yes, no, I don’t know. When police have a lead that’s good right?” My voice shook.

“Possibly, wait, they have a lead!?”

“That’s what Sam said.” I said softly, glancing out the window.

“Maybe it’s good.” He suggested, focusing his eyes on the road. I looked over to Jace; he slowly tapped his fingers on the steering wheel to the beat of the music in the background.

“I admire you.” I softly said, not taking my eyes off of the most beautiful boy.

“Pardon?” Jace asked, shocked.

“That night I stayed at your place, I noticed your mother.” I muttered, Jace’s face winced at the word mother. “Why didn’t you tell me?” I asked referring to his mother blacked out on her floor, bottles surrounding her body. I’d mistaken her bedroom for a bathroom, but had no guts to tell him, worried he’d get angry.

“It never came up.”

“Jace, no one should have to live like that.” I wondered what ever happened to his dad and brother, still remembering his reaction when I asked about a picture.

“Doesn’t matter, in a couple weeks I’ll be eighteen and get my own apartment.” I had totally forgotten Jace was a year older than me, which was another reason why I was terrified of him.

“I just don’t understand why you didn’t tell me.”

“Why I didn’t tell you..? Have you ever come to think I’ve never told anyone? Maybe it was too hard for me to talk about? I lived with a mother who can’t even remember my name because she’s too drunk? Maybe because she drove my brother to his hockey practice swearing she was sober and killed him in an accident because she couldn’t stay sober long enough to make a smart decision? Maybe because she drove my father away, not letting him take me. The reason why I didn’t tell you is because she is the worst person in my life, and she doesn’t deserve to have her story told.” Jace had tears rolling down his cheeks, and I was on the verge. No wonder he was such a troubled child, he had no one to tell him what was right and wrong.

“I’m so sorry.” I choked. “I’m so sorry Jace, I don’t know what to say, you deserve so much better, and if I could change the world I’d take that life over you.”