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."

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and alone," Jace explained, hist gloomy eyes falling

I reminded him, "Even if you're looking after her for Desmond's sake, there

like the one earlier. It made

"Yeah, I understand..."

we heard the

head and saw a group of people rushing toward us with an

as I was about to step aside, I heard Jace's voice, "Watch out!" and he pulled me out of the way. The stretcher

myself pressed against his chest, his heartbeat loud and fast in my

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 to the infirmary. That

his heartbeat was still fast, still because of

closed my eyes, pushing away all other thoughts, and

know, Jace said, kissing

waited at the door instead of going

but as he came out,

Jewell, were still awake, sitting on

years of marriage, seeing each other every day, what was there to talk about? Jace had told me that their love had been passionate when they were young, but it eventually settled into

love would look like

"Dad, Mom, I'm home."

2/4

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"Hi, Lindey, Matthew."

and I greeted

not, there's some food left for

me. "Are

dinner, but I wasn't hungry at all now.

Isabel bring you some milk later," Lindey

smile.

the

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

mention, earlier, we need to get Jace's room ready

Why bother preparing

when it gets late, you'll still need a place to stay," Lindey replied, giving him a playful glare. She pulled him to my door. "You two are getting married soon. There's no issue with you

to Steve echoed in my mind, leaving

Jace

he had his arm around my shoulder, guiding

the room.

out as he closed the

and the atmosphere was awkward,

bed made up in wedding-themed linens,