Chapter Thirty-Five: Jace & Ella

Jace

Jace stared at the log-on screen to his laptop for the third time. Outside, the clouds hummed past the streamlined jet, but inside, he was stuck. He'd opened and shut his computer at least three times. Each time he tried to get work done, Ella's face would pop into his head and he'd lose his concentration.

His phone burned as if on fire. He'd already read the messages four times, in between each open and closing of his laptop. Something about it bothered him. It wasn't right. The words sounded enough like Ella, but she would have told him in person. She never would have missed saying goodbye.

This wasn't how things were supposed to happen. This wasn't how the story was supposed to play out and Jace knew it.

He was wrong to have left without looking for her further. He should know better than to follow in his father's bitter footsteps.

Jace needed to see her. He needed a real goodbye, and if she really did want to push him away, then... well, he could deal with it. But he needed t