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

Chapter 161

Chapter 161

Ever since I stopped being forced to practice hand lettering under Matthew's watch, I never bothered to do it on my own.

I mean, I wasn't exactly a kid anymore, but I was still just as lazy as one, dodging anything that felt like work whenever I could.

"Relax, just write. However it turns out, it turns out," Matthew said, holding the quill pen out to me again. How was I supposed to say no?

I'd held this pen before when I bought it, but now, taking it from him, it felt so much heavier.

Maybe it was all the ink-or maybe it was the way Matthew was staring at me, like he was expecting something big.

He wanted me to be that girl again. The one who used to write with a heart full of Jace, back when I was that kid always hanging out at their home.

I pressed the pen to the paper, but my hand shook. No matter how hard I tried, the strokes came out all wobbly.

I knew Matthew didn't actually care about my handwriting. What he really wanted was something deeper- he was trying to figure out where my heart was at.

"Embrace the present," he read aloud, his eyes scanning what I'd written.

shared his thoughts, and I was just trying to keep

nodded, giving me this serious, almost intense look. "I wish you the best." Then, out of nowhere, he

I pulled him into

"I'm sorry, I've put you through a lot. It's my fault

he stayed quiet-didn't admit a thing. But now, here he was, apologizing to

felt tears sting my

stepping back and looking at my red, watery eyes. "I know all the dumb stuff Jace has pulled. I've already handled it. "If he tries

should know better by

ask him to get

ten years of this bond-hot by blood, but in every

+25 BONUS

Chapter 161

"Thank you, Matthew."

thanking him for standing up for me-I was thanking him for the love and

over all these years.

up straight. "Don't say stuff like that.

head. "You and Lindey will always

go downstairs, I'll make it clear to Hayden-if he ever crosses the line

ever heard Matthew sound so tough, almost like a