The Crush by Ward Penelope (best book recommendations txt) 📕

“I can’t believe this. What the fuck, Farrah?”

“Nothing happened beyond what you saw. We were talking, and things got a bit intense. I hadn’t expected him to come here. Jace had nothing to do with why I stayed home tonight. I didn’t lie to you.”

Niles made no effort to lower his voice. “I don’t get it. This guy tore your heart out. Why are you even talking to him, let alone allowing him to manipulate you?”

“My history with Jace isn’t something I expect you to comprehend. But it’s a part of me I can’t erase. He lives here in Palm Creek now. He’s Nathan’s best friend, and that means he’ll always be in my life.”

He slammed his hand on my bureau. “There’s no way I’m going to live in the shadow of some guy you used to fuck.”

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying it’s him or me. I won’t accept him coming around and brainwashing you under my nose, pretending he’s trying to protect you when he’s just trying to get in your pants again.”

I cocked my head. Maybe this was the catalyst I needed to take a break from Niles. Things hadn’t been perfect between us for a long time, even before Jace returned.

Forcing the words out, I said, “I think we need to take a break.”

Niles rubbed his temples. “I can’t believe this.” He shook his head, looking down at the ground. After a long silence, he looked up at me. “I was going to propose to you on Christmas. I hope you’re happy. Now you can stay in this shithole with your loser brother forever. I would’ve given you a good life. You never would’ve had to worry about another damn thing for as long as you lived.”

My head was spinning. Forget the proposal bombshell, but the nerve of him to call my brother a loser. He’d always patronized Nathan, and that should have been reason enough to leave him months ago. But now? I wouldn’t stand for him being so blatantly disrespectful. Not when my brother had worked so hard to turn his life around.

I smiled coldly. “Well, now you’ve just made my decision a hell of a lot easier.”

He opened the door and stormed out. “Call me when you come to your senses, but don’t ever speak to me again if you let him touch you.”

I followed him to the front door and watched him slam it as he left.

His tires screeched as he sped down the road.

Like a protective statue, Jace stood in the same spot where I’d left him. “He didn’t lay a hand on you, did he?”

Shaking my head, I rubbed my arms. “No, but he wasn’t happy.”

He came closer. “That’s my fault. But I’m not fucking sorry, Farrah. He’s not right for you. Not to mention, he’s a dick. I heard every word he said, and it took everything in me not to go in there and pop him one. Do you know how many times I’ve had to stop myself from punching that guy since the moment I met him?”

I nodded. “I needed a break from Niles.”

“Are you okay?”

“I’ve been unsure of things with him for some time. I don’t think I should continue to be in a relationship if I’m so confused. Him calling Nathan a loser was the last straw. I need to be on my own—not in a relationship—for a while.”

Jace let out a relieved breath. “Follow your gut.”

“I don’t know if you heard…but he said he was going to ask me to marry him over Christmas. I’m not ready for that. So I’m glad this happened because I would’ve had to tell him no. That would have been a disaster, especially if he proposed to me in front of his family.”

“Yeah.” Jace gritted his teeth. “I knew about his plan to propose to you.”

“You knew? How?”

“He took Nathan aside over Thanksgiving, trying to convince him to go to North Carolina so you would go.”

That made me feel a tad sorry for him. “I know Niles can be an asshole, but I’m sure he’s very hurt right now.”

Jace’s stare burned into me. “Never mind how he’s feeling. Think about yourself, Farrah. You don’t owe anyone anything—not me, not Niles. When you decide to be with someone, it should be because that’s what you want. All I want is for you to be happy. I mean that with all of my heart. If he made you happy, I would support you being with him a hundred percent, even if I did want to kill him half the time.”

My exchange with Niles had depleted any energy I had left tonight. When I rubbed my temples, Jace took it as a cue.

“I should go.”

“No.” I put my hand on his arm. “Nathan will want to see you when he gets back.”

He placed his hand over mine and squeezed it. “Can I ask you a favor?”

“Okay...”

“Will you let me be your friend? I promise I won’t cross any lines—unless you beg me to.” He winked. “But seriously, I just want to be able to see you.”

I smiled. “I would like that.”

“I miss our conversations at night by the old pool. I miss everything about those days.”

Nathan interrupted our moment when he walked in holding a pizza box.

“Everything still kosher in here?” he asked.

“It is now,” I said. “You missed some major drama, though.”

He put the box down on the coffee table. “What?”

“Niles came by and threw a fit when he found me with Jace. He gave me an ultimatum, and we basically broke up.”

“Are you kidding?” Nathan’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “This is, like, the best news ever.” His smile faded. “Uh, I’m sorry, though. Are you okay?”

“I think it’s for the best.” I sighed. “I’ve been needing space from him for a while.” Tilting my head, I said, “You knew he was going to propose to me, huh?”

“Yeah. I’m not gonna lie. I’ve been freaking out about that.”

“I don’t like how he