Chapter 2

Thanks so much for the support- myloveisbeingBLONDE, Book reader, Guest, In love, ORIGINALSHADOWHUNTER, and Feloria.

The first chapter was just kind of background, they'll be more in this chapter.

R&R?

Jace took the booth by the window every single morning. Sometimes, he'd have his eggs and bacon or he'd have pancakes, or sometimes, he'd let me decide for him. But he always ordered coffee every morning, black, with no creams, no sugar. It became a habit of his, kind of a morning ritual. He never missed a day.

Another habit of his started as well. Every morning after I'd set his breakfast down in front of him, I'd ask, "Anything else, Jace?" To which he'd promptly reply, "You could go to dinner with me tonight." I'd always say no but I realized I never stopped asking the same question and he'd never stop asking me out. I think I secretly liked it. Here he was, a Greek god of a man- like Apollo or Adonis- paying so close attention to me. Yes, I liked it. Yes, I was flattered. It was almost like a game after a while, one that I enjoyed.

He never seemed like he was in a hurry to go to work, but he must be pretty well-off because I saw him get into a black Mercedes after his meal. He'd always sit and talk to me when I wasn't working. It was pretty slow in the mornings anyways since there was a Starbucks and a McDonald's across the street. I'd take care of the other customers before he'd make me sit down and talk to him.

We talked about anything and everything.

"Where do you want to go most in the world?" he asked one day. I'm pretty sure it was a Monday and I went to dinner and a movie with a man named Louis that day and got a coach purse.

"Paris," I decided after a while before Larry called me away.

Wednesday of last week was his 25th birthday. It didn't seem like any different of a day than any other. He came in, sat at his regular table but ordered a birthday cake instead of breakfast.

"You want Pam to bake you a what?" I asked incredulously. In my defense, I didn't know it was his birthday. I thought it was weird that he was asking for a birthday cake in a restaurant instead of a bakery. Did he like Pam's cooking that much?

"A birthday cake," he replied matter-of-factly, shrugging, "And I want you to sing Happy Birthday for me too."

"I don't think Pam makes birthday cakes," I frowned, also not wanting to sing in public.

"Then you can at least sing for me," he insisted. When I shook my head, trying to refuse him politely, he said, "Come on, it's my birthday."

Then he gave me the most pathetically pleading look I've ever seen in his eyes, "Come on, it's my birthday."

I tried closing my eyes to block out that look from getting to me but he pulled his lips into a frown with his lower lip curling over a little, a small crease forming between his eyebrows. I sighed, relenting.

"Fine," I growled and sang the softest happy birthday I've ever sung but he gave me a standing ovation anyways, earning us strange looks.

Larry came up to me after that, telling me how cute Jace and I were together in the most girly voice ever. I slapped his arm and walked away, rolling my eyes. Maia said the same thing when Larry told her even though she's never even seen Jace before.

Besides, nothing will ever become of me and Jace. He's just a flirt and I'm admittedly a tease but he doesn't seem like the kind of guy that pays for girlfriends and I'm not the kind of girl who would ever succumb to his charms. It's just a game. It'll always just be a game. Nothing will ever come of it.

But, as I tell myself this, I catch myself watching him from the corner of my eyes as I take other people's orders down. I catch myself thinking about him on my dates. I catch myself just thinking "what if". What if I wasn't who I am? What if I could ever believe that there could be an us?

He's funny. His jokes make me randomly laugh at points through the day when his voice pops up in my head. People think I'm crazy and then I have to pull out my phone and pretend I'm laughing about something on the screen.

Jace is also undeniably attractive and one of the other waitresses, Kaelie- whose shift sometimes overlaps mine- flirts with him even though his table is in my area. And even Larry admits if he wasn't straight he'd probably go for him too.

And sometimes thinking about this frustrates me to the point that I scream into my pillow causing Maia to consider the state of my mental stability. And that frustrates me too.

I always tell myself it's a game. And then Jace tells me too.

The day was December 19th, the coldest day of the year so far and the heat in the dining area had broken so we had to move the space heater from storage there and it stuck out like a sore thumb. I was tired that day and hadn't bothered to put on make-up because of a long night at the Pandemonium club with a guy named Richard. Or was it Richmond? I don't remember. Anyways, I was freezing my toes off and was wearing mittens and winter boots.

I didn't really expect Jace to be there even though he'd been there consecutively for about a month or two because it was snowing so hard but he was sitting at his table right on time. He got eggs and bacon that day and of course, his coffee. How can he drink that much coffee and still have immaculate teeth? Does he bleach it? White strips? If I was smart, I would've asked for his secret but I never did. I always keep forgetting.

But I digress.

Anyways, I set down his food like usual and said, "Anything else, Jace?"

"Go on a date with me," he asked. Well he didn't ask. He requested.

"Sorry, we're out of dates," I grinned and he smiled back.

"I'm going to make you fall in love with me," he stated, sipping his coffee casually. How does he drink black coffee? It's so bitter! Again with the side comments, Clary.

I raised my eyebrows, "Yeah?"

"Yeah," he murmured, putting down his cup.

"What if you don't?" I countered.

He thought about it for a second before replying, "I'll buy you plane tickets to Paris."

I think I visibly perked up before I smoothed my composure. Plane tickets to Paris? That's my life's dream. And it was incredibly expensive too so I've never been able to go before and I've always been too busy. But I guess if I asked for some vacation days from the boss it should be okay.

My mind was racing at the possibilities. I was fantasizing about everything I was going to do there before Jace's voice brought me down to earth. "But if you do fall in love with me, I get free food for a year."

Free food? I almost snorted. There was no way he was going to win.

"Deal," I said quickly and his eyes shifted to mine in surprise as if he didn't really expect me to say yes.

"Shake on it?" he put a hand out.

"We're not kids," I rolled my eyes but I took his hand and shook it.

He didn't let go immediately. Instead, he brought my hand up to his mouth and lightly grazed over my knuckles with my lips, maintaining eye contact.

"Smooth," I smirked before withdrawing my hand and he smiled.

"That's my middle name, Clary," Jace drawled, "I expect to get free food soon."