Chapter 498

I held the phone, hesitating for a few seconds, wondering what Jace wanted.

Lena raised an eyebrow, silently urging me to answer.

"Rea," came Jace's voice.

"What's up?" My tone stayed cold, guarded.

Even though things were over with Hayden, there was zero chance I'd go back to Jace. Every time he reached out, my walls shot up on instinct.

"I'm back," he said, like he'd just returned from some epic quest.

"Yeah, I know." Wayne had already told me.

Jace paused. "Can we meet? If you don't want to meet alone, we can do it at my parents' house. They really miss you."

I pictured Matthew and Lindey, the way they'd always been there for me, the airport pick-ups, the family dinners. Of course, they'd be worried.

"I have some things I need to tell you," Jace added when I stayed quiet. "It's about Steve... and it involves Hayden, too."

My breath hitched. Hayden and I were done; anything related to him shouldn't even matter anymore.

But that thought didn't last. Against my better judgme