Bye-Bye Jerk, Hello Mr. Right
Hello 398

Chapter 398

The familiar scent of him hit me, and so did that suffocating feeling.

I stood frozen for a moment, until his low voice cut through the tension. "Do you really care about him that much now?"

My fingers curled at my sides. There was a time when I cared this much about Jace, too. I used to text him just to let him know I was having dinner with Lena, even though he never really appreciated it.

And now, when my care was for someone else, he had the audacity to get upset and ask me this?

"Yeah, I do. Of course I care about him. He's my man. Why wouldn't I?" I locked eyes with him as I said it, letting it sting.

A direct hit, a trick I'd learned from him.

Even though Jace and I had been over for a while, it didn't erase the pain he'd left behind.

There were moments when those scars still burn.

So if I can throw a verbal punch and make him feel even a sliver of what I went through, why not?

Of course, that only would work if he still cared. Otherwise, my hit wouldn't land at all.

Jace's eyes narrowed, a coldness creeping in. A sure sign his anger was building.

That reaction told me everything I needed to know-he still cared.

Interesting.

I never would've guessed that, even after publicly moving on with someone else, he'd still be hung up on

1. me. His ex.

Good. That meant whenever I wanted to, I could dig in, a small way to ease the sting from the wounds he had left behind.

But right now, I didn't have the energy for that. I needed to replace a phone and explain everything to Hayden.

He had dropped everything-left his recovering sister-to travel miles with me for that pool game because of me. And now, without a word, I'd run off... worse, with my ex. No matter how much Hayden loved me or trusted me, I knew this would hit hard. It was the same way Jace used to ditch me for Tanya, over and over.

I knew that pain too well. It's not something you just forget.

There's no way I'd ever make Hayden feel the way I once did.

I turned to leave, but Jace grabbed my waist, pulling me back against his chest.

"Jace!" I pushed against him, instinctively, but he only tightened his grip.

"I know you're punishing me," he said. "I deserve it. I brought this on myself, and I accept it."

Wait, what?

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Chapter 398

Punishing him?

He actually believed I was with Hayden to punish him? To get back at him?

I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

I thought Jace had come to terms with the fact that we were over-that he'd accepted I was with Hayd and we'd both moved on. Never did I imagine he still thought I was using Hayden to get revenge on hin

I let out a mocking laugh. "Is something wrong with your brain?"

"Rea, I know I messed up. I know I deserve the pain. But once I've paid for my mistakes... let me come back, okay?" His voice cracked with emotion.

I blinked, genuinely stunned. I shoved him harder this time. "Are you out of your mind? We're done. There's no future for us. What kind of fantasy are you living in?"

But his grip tightened. "You love me. We've been together for ten years. Don't tell me Hayden can replac that in such a short time."

Wow. His confidence was next level.

Maybe I had loved him too much back then-enough to make him believe I'd never move on.

The memories of those days, how much I bent over backward for him, made me feel sick. I was disgusted, even ashamed, at how pathetic I'd been.

"Is that so? Then go ahead and try," I snapped, lifting my foot and stomping down hard on his.

He winced, but instead of letting go, he chuckled. "See? You're still the same. Whenever I piss you off, th is how you punish me."

I was speechless.

Back then, whenever I got mad, I'd stomp on his foot. And just now, I did it again-purely out of habit.