Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right

Chapter 124

Chapter 124

As far as the conversation had gone, Lindey couldn’t push any further, no matter what she was thinking. She nodded, saying, “Rea, you’re like a daughter to me.”

But if she really saw me that way, there was no way she’d be okay with setting me up with Wayne. Then again, maybe it was Wayne’s idea–he did confess his feelings to me, after all.

“Alright, maybe we could have a small ceremony when Wayne and Jace have some free time. I could officially become your and Matthew’s goddaughter,” I suggested, watching Lindey’s expression falter for just a split second.

It was clear she wasn’t thrilled about making me her goddaughter.

In Kehlmark, godfamilies were basically like extended family, with all the same social rules. If I became Lindey and Matthew’s goddaughter, dating one of their sons would be straight–up incest. All text © NôvelD(r)a'ma.Org.

But I couldn’t just ignore how kind she’d been to me for the past decade, and I wasn’t about to let doubt mess that up.

“Okay,” Lindey finally agreed.

I drove her back to the Johnston residence, and as we pulled up, we ran right into Jace. He was rocking a baseball cap and a matching jersey–so different from his usual CEO vibe. Seeing him like this, I couldn’t help but remember the guy I used to crush on.

Back in high school, Jace would sneak out all the time to ride his motorbike, racing around like he had nothing to lose. He was a total thrill and a complete terror all at once.

I’d watch him tear down the streets in his biker gear, helmet on, looking like the exact kind of rebellious bad boy I’d always fantasized about.

I still remember the first time he took me for a ride. I was terrified, clutching onto him like depended on it–it was the closest I’d ever been to him back then.

my

life

Afterward, he teased me with that smirk of his, saying, Holding on so tight–were you trying to take advantage of me?”

Eventually, he ditched the motorcycle, traded in his casual clothes for sharp suits, and became the powerful CEO everyone either feared or respected.

But seeing him now, back in those old, familiar clothes, stirred something deep inside me. Yet, deep down, I knew he wasn’t the same person anymore, no matter what he wore. That baseball cap? It was just covering up the injury from yesterday.

Jace’s first words to me were full of sass. “What? Didn’t get enough hits yesterday? Here to finish me off today?”

Before I could fire back, Lindey smacked him on the arm. “You’ve got some nerve talking like that. Rea went easy on you, and that’s the only reason you’re still standing.”

“Mom, come on, I’m not your only son, but you can’t be that ruthless. Are you saying you’d rather she beat me to death? Am I even your son, or is she your real child?” Jace, the big, scary CEO at work, could still act like a total goof at home.

+25 BONUS

Chapter 124

“I wish I had given birth to Rea. Maybe then I wouldn’t have had to deal with you,” Lindey shot back, her usual humor shining through.

“Fine, in the next life, let her be your daughter, and I’ll stay far away,” Jace said, wrapping his arm around Lindey to dodge another smack.

Watching their playful banter made a pang of envy hit me. If my parents were still around, I’d still be that kid who could throw a fit and run to them for comfort, no matter how old I got.

But life doesn’t work like that.

Seeing them together made it hard to breathe. I turned to Lindey and said, “I should get going.”

“Wait,” Jace called after me. “I need to talk to you.”

“We’ve got nothing to talk about,” I shot back, not in the mood to deal with him. I was scared that if he said the wrong thing, I might lose it again.

Once you start hitting someone, it’s scarily easy to do it again.

“But I do,” Jace insisted, his voice serious.

Lindey pinched his arm. “Don’t you dare get all macho, or you’ll have to deal with me.”

“Mom, relax. My girl’s my everything. I’d never hurt her,” Jace said, completely shameless.

After spending so much time with him at work these past couple of years, I’d almost forgotten this side of him.

“Go inside, Mom. We need to talk alone,” Jace coaxed, gently nudging her toward the house.

But Lindey wasn’t totally convinced. She kept glancing back at us, clearly not thrilled about leaving.

Chapter 125