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

Jace explained, hist gloomy eyes falling on my

I say? Still, I reminded him, "Even if you're looking after her for Desmond's

didn't want to see another scene like the

"Yeah, I understand..."

the urgent

turned my head and saw a group of people rushing toward us with

heard Jace's voice, "Watch out!" and he pulled me out of the way. The stretcher sped past

his

during a school event, and Jace had caught me. He reassured me and carried me to the infirmary. That was the first

was still

eyes, pushing away all other thoughts, and snuggled closer to Jace's

Jace said, kissing my forehead as he

waited at the door instead of going

Jace said to Tanya, but

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

of marriage, seeing each other every day, what was there to talk about? Jace

this was what love would look like in

"Dad, Mom, I'm home."

2/4

+15 BONUS

"Hi, Lindey, Matthew."

I

eaten? If not, there's some food left for

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

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

rest. I'll have Isabel bring you some milk later,"

smile.

the family

upstairs. When I opened the door, I was taken aback and turned to look at

up. "Rea, I forgot to mention, earlier, we need to get

married, we're moving out. Why bother preparing

a playful glare. She pulled

to Steve echoed in my mind, leaving

problem," Jace answered for

at him, and the next second, he had his arm

the room.

Mom!" Jace called out as he

the atmosphere was awkward, with

linens, it felt like tonight was our wedding