Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right by Rosie Steppe

Chapter 6

Tanya had a close call; her baby was saved, and now she was back in her hospital room. Her face was pale and drawn, her eyes red and puffy, making her look fragile and pitiful. "Don't worry, the baby is fine," Jace reassured her.

"Jace, I was so scared," Tanya began to cry.

Jace handed her a tissue, and she took it, grabbing his hand and resting her tear-streaked face on it.

'She might be pitiful, but does being pitiful give her the right to treat my fiancé as her own?" I thought.

I walked over. 'Mrs. Blake, the doctor said that strong emotions are bad for the baby. You barely managed to save the child. If something happens again because you're crying like this, it would be terrible."

I reached out to support her, subtly pulling her away.

Seeing her tears on Jace's hand still made me uncomfortable, like something of mine had been tainted by someone else. I was a bit of a clean freak, both in life and in love.

T

Tanya seemed taken aback when I called her Mrs. Blake. Her face visibly stiffened but she quickly regained her composure.

"Jace, I'm sorry, I..." She reached for a tissue to wipe Jace's hand.

I stopped her. "You shouldn't move around too much right now."

Her face stiffened again, her tear-filled eyes looking at Jace with obvious affection.

Once Jace and I left the room, I asked him directly, "Does Tanya like you?"

"No!" he denied immediately.

"Do you like her?" I pressed, wanting to clear things up once and for all.

Jace's face tensed, and after a few seconds, he finally muttered, "We're just friends..."

'Just friends?"

"Desmond isn't here anymore. When he was dying, he held my hand and asked me to take care of her..." Jace's voice trembled, his hands shaking as well.

It was clear that bringing up Desmond's death always upset him. This wasn't the first time.

Seeing him like this made my heart ache. "I didn't mean anything, it's just that Tanya seems very dependent on you."

+15 BONUS

hist gloomy eyes falling on my face. "Rea, I'll

more could I say? Still, I reminded him, "Even

want to see another scene like the one earlier. It made

"Yeah, I understand..."

heard the urgent sound of wheels scraping against.

of people rushing toward us with an

about to step aside, I heard Jace's voice, "Watch out!" and he pulled me out of

chest, his heartbeat loud and

me of something that had happened soon after I arrived at the Johnston residence: I had fallen during a school event, and Jace had caught me. He reassured me and carried me

heartbeat was still fast,

eyes, pushing away all other thoughts, and snuggled closer to

said, kissing my forehead as he

instead of

didn't hear what Jace said to Tanya, but as he came out, I heard

his parents, Matthew Johnston and Lindey Jewell, were still awake, sitting on the couch watching TV. Neither of them spoke to

asked Lindey about it, and she said that after so many years of marriage, seeing each other every day, what was there to talk about? Jace had told me that their

was what love would

"Dad, Mom, I'm home."

2/4

+15 BONUS

"Hi, Lindey, Matthew."

and I

not, there's some food left

turned to me. "Are you still hungry? Do you

much for dinner, but I wasn't hungry at all now. "No, I'm

go upstairs and rest. I'll have Isabel bring you some

smile.

the

it, though, and headed upstairs. When I opened the door, I was taken aback and turned to look at Jace. He stood at the doorway, looking back at

had already come up. "Rea, I forgot to mention, earlier, we need to get Jace's room ready as your wedding

get married, we're moving out. Why

a playful glare. She pulled him to my door. "You two are getting married soon. There's no issue with you sharing

in my mind, leaving me

problem," Jace

the next second, he had his arm around my

the room.

out as

Jace nor I spoke, and the atmosphere was awkward, with a hint of something more

up in wedding-themed linens, it