29. JACE

Jace pulled his chair slightly closer to Isabelle’s before easing in, feeling the burn from Tate’s eyes on him.

“So, what’s good here?” Isabelle asked, breaking the silence as she opened a menu in front of Jace.

“The cocktails,” Maia replied, leaning close to the pair.

Isabelle eyed Maia warily. “None of us are eighteen yet, Maia.”

Maia grinned. “But some of us have the body that defies all laws.”

“I know you’re not referring to me,” Isabelle told her firmly.

Maia rolled her eyes and shared a look with Tate that clearly said they both knew she was crazy.

“How you survived this long completely oblivious to simple truths I will never know,” Maia muttered.

“We’re going out tonight anyway,” Isabelle continued. “Why don’t we just take it easy until then?”

“I’ll go get a jug of coke for everyone,” Jace stated loudly. “Do you want to help me out, Isabelle?”

Isabelle smiled gratefully up at Jace, already half way out of her seat. “I’d love to.”

“Isabelle, please just ask for a jug of Female Viagra OK? I don’t want to get drunk, I just really want to show you what heaven tastes like. Please? I will never ask you to do this again, and if they ask for ID you can just say you left it at home and we won’t ever bring it up again.”

Jace groaned inwardly, knowing that Maia didn’t even need to pull out her puppy eyes for this one; Isabelle was sold already.

“This is the last I’ll hear of it?” Isabelle asked, trying to keep her face expressionless.

“I promise on Jace’s life,” Maia replied with a grin.

“Why not yours?” Isabelle asked.

Maia smirked brightly. “Well, despite popular belief, I am only human and sometimes humans make mistakes. In the event that should happen, I figured you’d be more inclined to be lenient if it was Jace’s life on the line.”

Everyone around them chuckled except Isabelle who blushed deeply, Jace who glared at his sister, and Tate who glared at Jace.

This was going to be a long five days.

Without a word, Isabelle tugged Jace along towards the bar, her face still crimson.

“Your sister is out of control,” she hissed.

“No, she’s just in a good mood. Believe me when I say you do not want to see her when she’s out of control,” he replied.

Isabelle flinched. “It’s a miracle you survived this long.”

Jace blanched. Yeah, no kidding.

“Can I help you?” a young bartender asked, speaking only to Isabelle. It looked like Maia will be in luck, Jace thought.

“I’ll have a jug of coke, thanks mate,” Jace said loudly, trying to divert the attention.

“Eight fifty,” the bartender replied not even glancing his way. “And you, pretty girl, what will it be for you?”

Isabelle blushed again, her whole body trembling slightly from nerves.

“Oh um… a jug of…of…Female Viagra please,” she answered in a whisper.

The dude leant in closer, like they were sharing a secret. “You don’t look like you’d need it, but your wish is my command.”

Isabelle smiled at him shyly. “Thank you so much.”

As the barman turned away to make the drinks, Isabelle faced Jace, her eyes alight and alive.

Oh my god, I did it! she mouthed.

He grinned back.

Never doubted it.

The jug of coke slammed down next to Jace. “Eight fifty.”

The guy repeated again, his eyes cold.

Jace handed him a ten dollar note, forcing himself to turn away from Isabelle.

“Keep the change,” he told the guy tightly.

He received a brisk nod and then clearly he’d maxed out his time. As soon as he handed over the cash, the pretty boy bartender then turned back to Isabelle.

“I’ll bring your jugs over in a minute, beautiful,” he told her with the most charming smile.

“I only asked for one,” she said looked confused. “And don’t you want me to pay first?”

Bartender douche winked at her. “Pretty girls should never have to pay for anything.”

Isabelle gave him a huge smile. “Thank you so much.”

A coaster was pressed into her hand with a name and number clearly written on it.

“Don’t be a stranger,” bartender boy, whose name was apparently Jared, told her.

Isabelle tucked the coaster into her bra and gave him a shy smile.

“Thank you.”

Jace took Isabelle by her elbow, leading her back towards the table.

“Well, he was friendly,” Isabelle told Jace with a huge grin.

“Oh, you think so?” he asked. “Because I got charged eight fifty for a seven dollar jug.”

Isabelle’s eyebrows drew in. “What? Should I go say something? That doesn’t seem fair.”

Jace’s eyes widened as she actually turned away, her face indignant.

“Isabelle, stop!” he hushed, pulling her back. “It’s not a big deal, OK? Let’s go sit down.”

“I’ll get you a drink tonight to make up for it,” she replied as she walked passed him, not giving him a chance to reply.

“A coke jug?” Maia whined, as she Jace and Isabelle took their seats. “Isabelle, did the bartender not even notice how hot you are, or was he gay?”

“The jugs are coming Maia,” Jace told his sister calmly. “Isabelle’s new boyfriend is going to bring them over personally.”

“He’s not my new boyfriend,” Isabelle protested.

Tate eyed Isabelle speculatively for a moment and then swiped the coaster that had fallen out against her collar bone.

“I didn’t know it was in their job description to hand numbers out. Perhaps it’s a new law, in case you require further assistance on how to consume beverages?”

Isabelle smacked him in the chest. “Nobody likes a smart arse, Tate.”

Giselle raised an empty glass at Tate. “I do.”

Maia leant over and pulled the card from Tate. “Beautiful girl, call me. Jared, kiss hug, Damn Isabelle, how do you manage to lure every hot guy around you without even trying? What’s your secret?”

Isabelle blushed deeply. “How did you score the kind of relationship they write novels about?”

Maia pecked Matt on the lips and then winked at Isabelle. “s*x, in every way you can imagine. Why else do you think I took gymnastics?”

Jace turned his nose up in disgust as everyone else chuckled.

“That’s all it takes, huh?” Isabelle grinned. “Naked and flexible?”

Matt pulled Maia close to him. “Not just that, but it definitely helps.”

Isabelle smacked her head lightly. “So that’s where I’ve been going wrong!”

Jace smiled at Isabelle, her hazel eyes so warm they were like honey. Hard to imagine a girl like her would have any issues getting a guy to dote on her every need.

“Are we ready to order?” Ben asked from the end of the table. “All this talk of gymnastics has made me weirdly hungry.”

“Figured out what you want yet?” Jace asked, as everyone else busied themselves with their menus.

Isabelle shut her menu and just smiled at Jace. “You order for me.”

“What if I pick something you hate?” Jace asked, feeling kind of awesome that she had put any measure of trust in him.

“I like chicken, salad, pretty much anything with carbs… and I hate ham, bacon or anything from a pig. Just go with that, I trust you.”

Jace beamed. “OK, I’m sure I’ll find something for you.”

“Want to order for me too, Romeo?” Tate drawled.

“He’ll have whatever you pick for me,” Isabelle said firmly, shooting Tate a look. “And he’s normally not this rude.”

“I’m not being rude,” Tate said mildly, filling up her glass with coke.

“You are,” Isabelle countered. “But I’m done with arguing for the moment, so I’m going to let it slide and hope you take your grandma pants off before you wear out your welcome.”