The Replacement Boyfriend

Chapter 25

Tace

I woke up to darkness and the sound of someone snoring next to me. My body felt heavy, as if something was pulling me down but my skin felt cool instead of sticky as sweat and it didn't feel like I was wearing my jeans anymore. I started freaking out that someone had changed my clothes but then I felt my t-shirt and it was the same. But part of me was still freaking out that they had seen my scars. I hadn't told Jax and Cassidy about them and I didn't want them to find out like that.

I turned around slowly and sighed in relief when I managed to make out the face of who was sleeping next to me. It was Cassidy. I reached for my phone from the bed side table and it lit up. It was almost one in the morning and I had a few messages from Zayne, asking me to contact him when I woke up and asking what had happened. I decided to text him that I had woken up even though he was probably asleep already.

I sat up in bed, my throat drier than the Sahara desert. I slowly slipped out of bed so I could go downstairs to get myself a glass of water. It was dark but there was nothing between the bed and the door so I didn't bother putting on the torch on my phone until I left the room. Except that I didn't make it out of the room because as soon as I took a step forward, I tripped on something soft and fell forward.

"Oof," I fell on top of something which felt like-

"Tace," Jax's voice filled my ear. "Are you okay?"

"Why are you sleeping on the floor?" I asked him, trying to get off of him but I couldn't manage the strength.

"You passed out and we freaked out," he chuckled. "Cass said she wasn't leaving you alone and you didn't wake up the whole day so we decided to sleep here. I didn't want to – you know? – make anyone uncomfortable so I slept on the floor."

"Oh," I whispered. "I'm sorry but can you – sort of – well, I can't get up." I finished lamely.

I swear I heard him chuckle softly as he held me before sitting up so I wouldn't roll off him. I tried to get off but he held me firm. I looked at him expectantly since he looked like he wanted to say something. His face was too close though. I could feel his breath and I didn't want to explain what it was doing to my body because it was too embarrassing. If I didn't have any energy before, I surely had some now.

"You really freaked us out, you know?" he whispered and I tried not to lean into him even though he felt so warm. "You should have told me what was going on."

"You were busy with Amelia and-" his pointed look was enough to shut me up. "I didn't want you to see me like that."

"Tace," he shook his head as if he couldn't comprehend what I was saying. "That's stupid, okay? I would have rather calmed you down while you were panicking than find you losing your senses on the floor, okay?"

I felt him shift underneath me and I felt his skin against my bare legs since the shorts I was wearing were really short. Then I remembered my scars so I had to ask.

"Did Cass change me out of my jeans?" I asked him and he nodded and I tried not to look panicked.

"I told her I wasn't going to leave the room," he started and I guess the horrified look on my face was enough to let him know what I was thinking. "My point is that I told her to cover you with the sheets and then change your jeans," he laughed and I felt my cheeks heat up. Luckily it was dark and he couldn't see me. "It was hard but she did it. I – uh – also told her not to change your top. She didn't question me."

"Thanks," I said quickly and looked away. I started to get up again but he held me still. "I was going to get some water-"

"Why didn't you tell us about your father?" he asked and I felt my heart stop in my chest. I squirmed but he wouldn't let go. He had heard the whole conversation? Had Cassidy heard it, too?