Mila Wilson is quiet, anxious and a little bit of a mess. Panic attacks have ruled her life for as long as she can remember - but starting college is her chance to take control. Love? Not something she believes she's built for.
Then she meets Jace E...
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"This is why you were worried I'd run?" Jace asks, his eyes locked on mine. I can't find the words, so I just shrug slowly. He's so close, I feel my body gravitating toward his, drawn by something magnetic and warm. "You're so wrong, Mila," he says, voice low and rough, shaking his head. "You think this is going to scare me off?"
The weight lifts from me like he flicked it away with his words. I don't know what to say. I just told him everything—the most fragile parts of me—and somehow, he's still here. Still steady. I almost scared myself off.
"Look at me," he says. I do as told. "You're not getting rid of me that easily," he murmurs, leaning in until our faces nearly touch. "Understood?"
I nod slowly, heart racing, butterflies fluttering in my stomach so hard it almost hurts. And when I glance up, needing to see if he means it, Jace gently places his hand on my cheek and presses his lips onto mine. Warmth spreads through me like fire licking at the edges of my skin. I've been craving this moment. Needing it. I wonder if he feels it too—that charge, that something.
"Besides," he says, his tone shifting as he pulls back just slightly, a smirk tugging at his lips, "I told you, you can't stay away from me."
"Maybe I can't," I reply, teasing, but the truth is, I know I can't. Not before. Not now. Especially not now. I feel my worries fading away.
"There's one thing I want from you," Jace says, more serious now. "Talk to me, okay? It'll take time for me to figure it all out, but I need you to talk to me."
"I will," I promise, squeezing his hand gently. It still doesn't feel real—him wanting to understand me. My emotions whirl, and a single tear escapes again.
"Stop crying, Mila. I'm here," he says softly, his hand resting on my thigh.
"Sorry... I just—" I pause, taking everything in. "Thank you. For understanding. That's rare." I wipe away the rest of my smudged mascara.
He smiles. "No need to thank me."
Everything's changed between us. It's like a new chapter started the second I let him in. I don't feel small anymore, even though I made myself so vulnerable. I always had a feeling Jace might get me—really get me—and now, it's like the universe confirmed it.
"So," I start with a smirk, "you're like the bad boy gone soft, huh?"
He chuckles. "I'm always going to be bad. You know that." And he's right. I know deep down he'll never stop selling drugs, not for me or anyone. Maybe I'll just have to accept him the way he's accepting me.
"You know," I say with a mischievous grin, "I lied a little."
He raises an eyebrow. "How so?"
"I always knew what tattoo I wanted. I was just too scared to get it... afraid of situations like these."
