Two Yards from Heartbreak

Chapter eleven

I avoided Jace the next morning.

Or at least I tried to.

Noah was already in a better mood when he picked me up. He talked about practice, about a new play my dad wanted to try, about maybe going to the lake this weekend just the two of us. I smiled and nodded and answered in the right places, but my mind kept drifting back to the car ride the day before.

I’m not gonna stop. I already tried. It didn’t work.

At school I stayed close to Noah. It felt safer that way. During lunch Jace sat with us again, acting completely normal. He joked with Noah, stole fries off his tray, talked about the upcoming game like nothing was wrong.

At one point Noah got up to throw something away. The second he was out of earshot, Jace leaned forward slightly.

“You gonna keep ignoring me?” he asked under his breath.

I kept my eyes on the table. “You shouldn’t talk to me like that here.”

“Then talk to me somewhere else.”

Before I could answer, Noah came back. Jace leaned back in his chair like nothing had happened and launched back into the conversation about the game. Noah didn’t notice anything. Or maybe he just didn’t want to.

After school Noah had to stay for a captains’ meeting, so I told him I’d walk home. He kissed me quickly and made me promise to text him when I got there.

I was halfway down the path behind the field house when I heard footsteps behind me.

“Ellie.”

I turned. Jace was walking toward me, hands in his pockets, no smile this time.

“I can’t keep doing this,” I said before he could speak.

“Doing what?”

“Lying to him. Hiding things.”

Jace stopped a few feet away. “Then stop lying. Tell him.”

I stared at him. “You know I can’t just do that.”

“Why not?” His voice was quiet but intense. “Because you’re scared of hurting him? Or because you’re scared of what happens if you’re honest about what you feel when you’re around me?”

The words hit too close.

I shook my head and started walking again. He caught up and stepped in front of me, blocking the path.

“I’m not trying to ruin everything,” he said. “I just… I can’t pretend I don’t want you. Not anymore.”

“You’re his best friend.”

“I know.” Something raw flashed across his face. “You think I don’t hate that part?”

We stood there in silence for a few seconds. The air between us felt charged.

Then Jace did something he hadn’t done before. He reached out and carefully brushed his fingers against the side of my hand. Just a light touch. Testing.

I should have pulled away immediately.

I didn’t.

For one dangerous second I let the contact stay. My pulse was racing. Jace’s eyes dropped to my mouth, then back up.

Footsteps and voices came from around the corner of the field house. We both stepped back at the same time. A second later two players from the team walked past, nodding at Jace.

The moment was gone.

Jace looked at me one last time. “This isn’t finished,” he said quietly.

Then he turned and walked toward the locker rooms without waiting for an answer.

I stood there alone on the path, my hand still tingling where he had touched me, guilt already settling heavy in my chest.

When I finally got home, Noah had texted twice asking if I’d made it okay.

I stared at the messages for a long time before replying.

Me:

Yeah, I’m home. Everything’s fine.

Another lie.

And they were getting easier.