Hollows In Time (✔️) | 'Hollows' Book Ⅱ

Chapter Ninety-Six

________________________________

H o l l o w s I n
T I M E
________________________________

I exhaled, bringing the list close to my chest. I twisted the door handle, bracing myself for the team that awaited me on the other side.

As before, no one really noticed me as I sneaked into the room, seeking out one person only.

He was talking to Jack—much to Jameson's obvious dismay as he stood in a corner of my room, both hidden and on show. He watched as I approached the person.

"I need you." I murmured to him so that only he could hear. I offered Jack a smile as Jace apologised and left the conversation.

"What do you need?" He asked, glancing from the list I was holding to my face.

I joined his side, holding out the list in front of us. "I need you to somehow get these people here—I've marked the people I can't contact with a different coloured pen. Oh and could you also just read this note I wrote here?" I pointed to it. "Can you do that for me, please?" I asked, shifting so that I could see his face.

He smiled. "Of course." He said, taking the list from me. Then his eyes met my face one more, and his face held an expression I knew. He was analysing me.

"How are you?" He asked.

I smiled, avoiding eye contact. "Fine." I said, trying to brush past him. He caught my arm, and when he had my attention, he gave me a wary glance, his eyes conveying concern.

I sighed. "Why can I never lie to you?" I asked, humoured for a second. When he didn't respond, I knew he just wanted the truth.

My eyes meeting his, I said, "I'm better than I was before, but there's just so much to deal with." I told him honestly.

His grip on my arm tightened for a second. "You're overwhelmed." He acknowledged. I nodded. He smiled, his thumb running across the sleeve of my top. "You'll be fine, I'll be around if you need me."

I smiled, my eyes melting into his. I caught his hand, removing it from my arm and holding it. "Thank you, Jace, everything you've done for me, from the very start–"

"–until the end." He brought my hand to his lips, kissing the back of it. I smiled up at him, completely entranced. He gave me a parting smile before letting go of my hand and leaving the room.

I stood there for a few seconds, just standing.

"Smitten, are we?"

I jumped, turning to see Alexi looking down at me. I started to smile, but then found myself frowning, both at what she had said and the expression on her face.

"Wait, what?" I asked, referring to her earlier question. Her grin turned into a sly smile, and she tapped her nose knowingly. I nudged her in the arm, hearing her laugh in response.

"How did you get Jace to cooperate, anyway? Do you have some dangerous secret that you can hold over his head or something?" I asked her, looking at the people who had already arrived.

"No," Lexi said, batting her eyelashes, "I just asked nicely."

I scoffed. "I'm sure."

She threw me a wink before disappearing. And then, out of absolutely nowhere, Jameson appeared.