Chapter 29

My heart was racing as I stood outside her door with my hand raised and my finger poised over the button for her apartment.

“Shit, please let this work out,” I whispered, rubbing a hand over my face, trying to calm my nerves. I glanced at my watch again. 19:54. I had been standing here for the last eight minutes trying to summon up the courage to press the buzzer and see her. I forced my finger down onto the button, fighting the sudden urge to run away and do this over the phone instead. That way I wouldn't have to see that look in her eyes when she found out I was a lying, good for nothing player, just like she’d first thought.

“Hello?”

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Damn it, Jace! I slapped my palm against my forehead and squeezed my eyes shut. “Hey, Ashley, it’s Jace,” I mumbled, my voice tight.

“Hey… er… Come on up.”

When the front door lock clicked, I pushed it open and stumbled my way up the stairs, shifting the flowers that I’d bought from one