First

Chapter 20

           

It was awkward between Levi and I for the rest of the weekend. When Daddy finally came home late Sunday afternoon, I knew he could tell that something was off with the two of us. But luckily, Levi kept his promise and kept everything that had happened during the weekend a secret.

     Sooner or later I knew this would all have to come out and I was scared shitless to tell my dad. I knew that no matter how I went about it, Daddy was going to blow a gasket. It was my job to minimize the damage as best that I could. I needed to spare Jace as much as I could from the crossfire. Because despite everything, my dad was going to be pissed at Jace not me. 

     I went over and over how to tell Daddy and in the end I just settled for telling him outright after dinner in his office. I wanted to have someone there to act as a buffer but I needed to tell him one on one. And I didn't want to chance someone else screwing everything up; this needed to be done delicately. But in the end, Jace had been right, shit was going to hit the fan... and in the worst way possible.

*****

     A week later I watched from the kitchen window as all the hands drove away earlier than normal. Daddy must have let them off early today. A few minutes later, I still spied Jace's truck sitting by the barn and my heart ached to be with him. Tonight was the night I was finally telling my dad everything and my nerves were already shot. Every time I thought about it, I felt like throwing up.

     I needed to calm down and the only person who could ground me right now was Jace so I stole away to the barn under the pretense of taking him lunch. The entire walk there I kept glancing around me to make sure no one was watching. I wasn't ready for anyone—including Daddy—to find out sooner than they needed to.

     When I walked into the barn, I was momentarily disappointed; Jace wasn't there. But his truck was still sitting outside so where was he? "Jace?" I called, checking all the stalls.

     "Kadence," he said. His gentle laugh bounced off the walls as I spun around, trying to pinpoint where his voice had come from. "Look up, baby," he laughed.

     Finally I spotted him leaning out of the loft above me. "What are you doing up here?" I asked as I climbed up the ladder. "I thought you'd go home early like the rest of the guys." I dropped the bag of food I'd brought into his lap.

     "Looks like you didn't actually think that," he replied, digging into the bag. "You brought me lunch."

     I laughed. "It was my excuse to come see you. I'm glad you stayed," I whispered, sitting down across from him.

     "I was kind of hoping you'd come find me. I wanted to see you... well needed to see you." Jace ducked his head in embarrassment.

     My brows pulled down in concern; it wasn't like Jace to be embarrassed. He sounded so dejected; something was truly wrong. I pushed the bag out of the way and crawled into his lap. Burying my face in his neck as Jace crushed me to his chest, I asked, "What's wrong, Jason?"

     After a pause, he replied. "Dad's been on me really hard lately. It seems all I have to do is open my mouth and he'll pick a fight. I don't want to go home."

     My heart broke for him but hearing Jace talk like that only affirmed some of my suspicions. I was scared to admit it but I was starting to question the way his dad treated him.

     "Is there anything I can do?" I asked, pulling back and running my hands gently through his hair. When Jace went through things like this I always felt so helpless; I hated it. The light slanting through the window cast him in a younger light and it reminded me that he was still a kid. Jace seemed so invincible and strong but he was still human.