Congrats, He's Your Problem Now

Jace's POV

Ada Tyler was handing Owen Jensen a cup of hot water when she heard me.

She whipped around.

The cup tipped, and a few drops splashed onto the back of Owen's hand.

He yelped, his eyes instantly reddening.

Ada grabbed a tissue and carefully dabbed at his hand.

"Jace, don't be mad," she said without looking up. "Owen got really sick at the rest stop. I couldn't just leave him there."

I stood in the doorway, rain dripping from my hair and pooling at my feet.

Two bus transfers had left my legs feeling like bricks.

Mom came over, but instead of handing me a towel, she frowned.

"What's wrong with you? Why didn't you just call a cab? I just mopped, and now you've soaked the floor."

Dad didn't even look up from the couch.

"You're a grown man. Quit being so sensitive. Ada did the right thing taking your brother to the hospital. What are you sulking about?"

I said nothing.

I just looked at Ada.

Only then did she let go of Owen's hand, grab a dry towel, and walk over.

She reached up to dry my hair, gently, like I might break.

"I'm sorry. I didn't think it through. I should've called you a cab."

I turned away.

The towel froze midair.

Ada's face tightened. Then she sighed. "Do you seriously have to make a scene right now?"

I brushed past her and headed into the living room.

Owen was curled up in the corner of the couch, wrapped in a blanket.

His bag sat on the coffee table.

Something familiar dangled from the zipper.

A hand-carved wooden dog keychain.

My initials were carved into the bottom.

Back in junior year, Ada stayed up three nights straight carving it for me.

She'd said the little dog was her—that it'd always stay by my side.

I stared at the keychain.

My throat tightened.

"Why does he have something that belongs to me?"

Ada followed my gaze, unease flashing across her face.

She stepped in front of Owen.

"He had been in a bad mood through the whole IV at the hospital. He really liked it, so I let him borrow it for a few days."

She reached for my wrist.

"It's just a keychain. Don't make such a big deal out of it. I'll buy better wood and carve you another one."

Right on cue, Owen tugged on her sleeve.

"I'm sorry, Jace. I didn't know Ada made it for you. I'll give it back."

He reached for the keychain, but his hand shook so badly it almost looked intentional.

Mom grabbed Owen's hand.

"Give it back? Since when? Jace has always shared with you. It's just a dumb wooden keychain. He's not really going to fight you over it."

Ada covered Owen's hand with hers and looked at me.

"Jace, be reasonable. Owen's had a rough day. Don't make it worse."

I looked at their hands locked together.

My stomach turned.

I didn't argue.

I didn't cry.

I just nodded.

"Fine. He can keep it."

Then I walked back to my room, still soaked to the bone.

The second I shut the door, Ada let out a long, relieved sigh.

I stripped off my soaked clothes and headed for the shower.

Warm water hit my freezing skin, but it did nothing for the chill in my chest.

When I came out, Ada was in my room with a mug of hot honey tea.

She set it on the nightstand and smoothed down my messy hair like she'd done it a hundred times.

"Drink it while it's hot. You always get sick after being out in the rain. I don't want you coming down with something."

Her eyes looked worried. Her voice was soft as ever.

Like she wasn't the one who'd left me stranded in the rain for five hours.

I picked up the mug and drank it slowly, one sip at a time.

The heat burned down my throat, making my eyes sting.

Ada smiled and ruffled my hair.

"That's better. Tomorrow I'll go with you to sign your job offer, then I'll take you to your favorite restaurant. My way of making it up to you."

She leaned in to kiss my forehead.

I leaned back just enough to dodge it.

"I'm tired. I want to sleep."

Her hand hung there for a second before she slowly lowered it.

"Okay. Get some rest."

She slipped out quietly, the door clicking shut behind her.

I leaned against the headboard and picked up my phone.

The screen was empty.

Not one missed call.

I opened my chat with Ada and unpinned it.

Then I opened my email and tapped the unread message.

It was an offer from a top medical research institute in Nordica City.

I'd planned to turn it down.

Ada didn't want a long-distance relationship. She wanted me to stay.

Now I didn't have to.