Chapter 26

Jace's van's already at the rink when we get there, and I'm not sure why the idea of seeing him makes me as nervous as it does. When Jonah and I enter the rink, Jace is at his usual spot behind the counter, tapping at the keyboard as we pass him. He does his usual head nod in greeting—nothing more. And honestly, I expect nothing less.

Jonah and I make our way to the office, where we clock in for the shift, Jonah first and then me. Just as I'm about to leave, I notice the collection of framed photographs on Lana's desk. After peering at the doorway to make sure I'm alone, I pick up the first one that catches my attention.

My lips curl, my heart softening as I inspect it closely. Three little kids, barely school age, stand in front of the counter of the rink. I recognize Jace and Jonah right away, standing on either side of a little blond girl with big blue eyes and a side ponytail who I assume is Reyna. I focus on Jace, at his innocent eyes and carefree smile, and my chest aches with an emotion similar to longing—though I don't really know why.

I set the frame back carefully and pick up the next one. It's an almost identical picture, but approximately ten years apart. The versions of the boys in the picture are the ones I know now: tall, handsome, athletic. I turn my attention to Jace—to his empty eyes, void of emotion. Reyna stands between them, wearing a sash across her torso that reads Graduate. She was beautiful as a little girl, but grown—she's breathtaking. Images of her and Jace together, in that way, ricochet through my mind, and I'm quick to push them aside. Just as quick to put down the frame and pick up the next one.

This one is of a younger Lana in her wedding dress, two other women standing beside her. I recognize the one on the left as Jonah's mom, and though I'd never seen the other one before, I know for a fact that she's Jace's mother. She has lighter hair and eyes, but it's her smile I'm drawn to the most… a smile that only days ago I claimed as mine.

"Hey," Jace says, and I look up at him standing in the doorway, hands in his pockets as he leans his shoulder against the frame.

Still holding the picture, I reply, "Hey."

"Jonah said you were sick today?"

I sigh. "You guys have got to get me into a group chat or something, because you seem to have a lot of conversations about me when you could have them with me."

Jace doesn't respond to that. Instead, he asks, "So, are you sick?"

"No."

He nods slowly, chewing the corner of his lip as he does.

I square my shoulders, face him head on. "Where have you been, Jace?"

"I had shit to do today."

"And yesterday?"

"Yesterday's shit filtered to today's shit."

"And the day before that?"

"I go to a different school on Mondays."

My eyes widen, just a tad. "What different school?"

He pushes off the door frame, then shrugs. "Just a different school."

I may not know Jace well, but I know that's about as much as I'll get out of him on that topic. So, instead of pushing him, I lift the picture, turn it toward him. "Is this your mom?"

He doesn't look at the photograph. Nor does he look at me. "There's a list of stuff you need to get done."

I let my frustration settle in the pit of stomach and place the frame back on the desk. "On it, boss."