He Fumbled Both Timelines

Future Jace was dragged out by security.

The classroom finally fell silent.

But after that, eighteen-year-old Jace never brought up early college applications again.

He stuck close to me, trying to cheer me up. He even booked one of the fanciest private karaoke rooms in the city and dragged the whole class there.

After we finished and headed home, we passed another room and saw Faye inside.

She was holding a wine glass while a group of men harassed her.

"She's this young and already working somewhere like this? What a fake innocent act she's putting on."

"Come on. One drink, a hundred bucks. Keep us happy and you can have whatever you want."

Their laughter was loud and gross.

Faye's shoulders shook. She struggled to pull away, and through blurry eyes, she looked straight at Jace.

He froze.

I let go of his hand first. "Go help her."

He tipped his chin up, pretending not to care.

"I don't even know her. Why would I help?"

He pulled me away, stiff all over. But the whole ride home, he stayed distracted, spinning the ring on his finger over and over.

Right before we reached the Blackwell estate, he finally cracked.

"Nadia, y-you... go in first." He wouldn't look at me. "I just remembered I forgot the cake I got you. I'll... I'll be right back."

Eighteen-year-old Jace still stuttered when he lied.

I looked at his reddening face and nodded.

***

While waiting to sign the agreement with Jace's dad, Robert, I got a video from twenty-eight-year-old Jace.

Stacks of cash covered the floor outside the room. Jace grabbed handfuls of hundred-dollar bills and threw them at the men like he'd gone insane.

"Picking on a girl? You call yourselves men? Drink! One cup, a hundred bucks! I'll pay all of it!"

The men shook at the sight of the bodyguards.

But Faye tugged on Jace's sleeve.

"That's enough... please let them go. I still have to work here..."

Jace stared at her. "You're still coming back here? Haven't they done enough?"

Concern slipped into his voice.

Faye bit her lip as tears streamed down her face. "But... if I stop working, I won't have money for school..."

Something inside him cracked.

Jace sucked in a breath and looked away, his face turning red.

"Th-Then I'll just take care of you."

Faye stared at him.

The pen in my hand loosened, then tightened again.

He'd said that to me too.

Back when creditors drove my dad to jump to his death, Jace knelt in the rain all night, begging Robert to help us pay off the debt.

"Don't be scared. You still have me. I'll take care of you."

Burning up with fever, he smiled and said it in my arms.

Back then, I really thought we'd last forever.

Turns out I was the only one who believed that.

"Once the visas are approved, take the million dollars and leave the country with your mom. Don't come back. Don't see Jace again. Thank you for everything you've done, but you two aren't right for each other."

Robert nodded at his secretary, who slid the papers toward me.

I signed without saying a word.

Then I picked up the thin, weightless check and almost laughed.

Look at that, Jace.

Even your calculating father thought you'd love me forever.

And what happened?

In my last life, I went as far as threatening to kill myself and threw away all my pride, just so I could choose you.

This time, I won't be that stupid again.