Spring Unleashed (The Summer Unplugged Series) by Amy Sparling Read Free Book Online Page A

Did you want things to be like this?”
    Jace pulls the keys out of the ignition. He swallows. And then he looks me straight in the eyes. “No.”

Chapter 8
    The heavy metal door of Jace’s truck makes a loud clink as I slam it closed. With fists clenched at my side, I sling my purse over my shoulder and power walk up the stairs to his front door. Of course I would have left my keys on the key rack inside his apartment. Of course I couldn’t have been smart enough to keep them in my purse in case I needed to make a quick escape!
    Of freaking course!
    The front door isn’t locked and I throw myself inside while the sound of Jace’s footsteps slowly ascend the stairs behind me. I grab my keys and swoop around, ready to make a break for my car and hoping that he won’t stop me on the stairway.
    My hope is in vain because of course he does stop me. Jace’s muscular frame stands in the middle of the metal staircase. His hands grasp onto either side of the railing; a silent way of telling me that I won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. I glance over the edge and briefly consider taking a leap of faith over the railing. But we’re about ten feet in the air and I’m not sure I can drive home if my ankles are shattered.
    I turn back to Jace. “Let me leave.”
    “Is that what you really want?”
    I can’t look into his eyes so I glance away. “Yes.”
    Jace takes one step forward, one step closer to me. He’s a few stairs below me so I’m the taller one. I use this opportunity to peer down at him, trying to strengthen my confidence. I will not break in front of Jace. I will not let him see me be weak. “This was obviously a mistake. I’m not staying here with you if you don’t feel the same way that I do. Please let me leave.”
    “Maybe I misunderstood,” Jace says, taking one more step closer to me. “But I thought we were a couple who could talk about things. I listened to your thoughts in my truck back there. Now it’s time for you to listen to mine.”
    I tighten my jaw and he takes another step forward, making us eye to eye on the staircase now. “ I think you owe me that.”
    With no other option but to retreat, I turn and walk back into the apartment, dropping my purse on the couch and sitting next to it. I place my hands in my lap and give him my undivided attention. “I’m ready to listen.”
    Jace ignores me and slips inside his bedroom for a few seconds that seem to last an awkwardly long time. When he returns, he walks right in front of me and sits on the coffee table, facing me. He holds out a red envelope that has my name written on it. The handwriting is Jace’s, but by the looks of the elegant cursive lettering and the smiley face at the bottom, he put some thought into it making it not look like his usual chicken scratch.
    I take the envelope and slide my finger under the seal. “Are you breaking up with me in a greeting card?”
    “No, this is the card I planned to give you on our anniversary next Saturday.”
    “Why are you giving it to me early?”
    He shrugs. “Because it’s the only way I can think of that will make you believe me when I tell you what I have to say.”
    Intrigued, and still a bit heartbroken at his earlier confession, I slide out the card and skim the words on the front. It’s a poem about love and spending a year together and other sappy things. When I open the card, something shiny catches my attention. Taped to the inside of the card is a silver house key. Chills prickle up my arms.
    Under the key is a handwritten note from Jace:
     
    The second key I gave you was to your car.
    The third key I’m giving you is to my apartment, which I hope will become our home.
    In case you’re wondering about the first key, it’s the key to my heart and you’ve had it since day one. Happy first anniversary Bay.
    I love you always,
    Jace
     
    I blink back tears as I pull at the tape that holds the key to the card. “Why did you say no in the truck just now?”
    Jace