Frosted (Hate at First Flight #3)

14. Playing Delinquent

SONG: Going Crazy - EXO

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My heart was pounding against my ribcage and my feet felt like they had been run over repeatedly with a bicycle.

All I wanted to do was sink to the ground and try to catch my breath, but the firm grip that Jace had on my wrist and against my mouth prevented me from doing so. Not to mention the fact that I was pressed firmly against the wall with Jace's body flush against mine.

If I wasn't so exhausted or brimming with questions and confusion, I would flush red at the precarious situation we were currently in. I hadn't expected to be this close to Jace ever again, not that I had ever been this close before.

Jace towered over me easily, almost a head taller as he cast a wary glance to the boardwalk that was brimming with energy.

A little bit annoyed and embarrassed at having been caught trying to ditch him, I use my free hand to try to shove him away and at least put a good amount of distance between us.

It does nothing except earn me a reprimanding look from Jace as if I was a kid that had been caught with their hand in the jar of nutella in the middle of the night.

Instead of going along with him, I pushed his hand away, the one that was covering my mouth and manage out a, "What do y-" before he covers it up again.

Jace gave me a hard look, nodding towards where whoever it was that was following me was. Then he leaned in, his lips against my ear before he said, "Let's not do this right now, Phil. Just wait for a couple more minutes." The he pulled away and gave me a look that I could only describe as pleading.

I shook my head at him furtively as I pointed to where his hand covered my mouth.

Once again he leaned in and spoke. "I'll remove my hand. But promise me that you won't say anything or draw any attention to us. If you want us to get out of here safely, that is."

I wasn't one to listen to Jace, at least I didn't intend to do that after four years, but the look that he gave me once he pulled back and his words seemed to drive in the gravity of the situation. I nodded my head before I could even think twice.

Jace watched me as he pulled his hand away cautiously and when he saw that I wasn't going back on my word, his lips pulled up into a grateful smile before his attention was off me and back onto the boardwalk.

I followed his gaze, questions after questions on my mind as I tried to make sense of the events of the last hour.

First, there was the message from Jordan, someone I never had expected to hear from again. Then there was the person that had been following me. And then, there was Jace. I had actually thought that I had pulled a fast one on him and that I had managed to ditch him, only to have him appear out of nowhere.

Why did Jordan decide to contact me after we had ended things? Who had been following me? Was it the person that had been threatening my father? Was it a stalker? Or was it just some rando that thought I looked familiar? How had Jace even known I was here?

I rubbed my wrist gently, the one that Jace had gripped and pulled me into the alley with. I was pretty sure it was unintentional on his part but it hurt.

After a couple of minutes of tense silence, with Jace's eyes constantly on the boardwalk, his entire attention away from me and me just standing there waiting for him to give me an all clear, Jace turned to me and nodded.

"Follow me," he said, his voice curt and to the point, leaving no room for any argument. He pinned with a determined look. "Keep within a step of me and don't get lost. This isn't the time for you to play around."