I hope you all like this next chapter. Sorry it took a while for me to get it posted, my mom has been extremely sick. I appreciate all of your comments, please keep reviewing. As usual, all I own is the plot.
When I got back to New York after Christmas, I threw myself into work to distract me from my ridiculous and unnecessary desire to see Jace. We got a new shipment of antique books shortly after my return, and I was trying to figure out how to display them in a way that would attract customers. Unlike most used bookstores, we don't cater to the "selling my textbooks for beer money" crowd. We cater to those that are avid, sophisticated readers looking for eclectic, rare, or special books. Izzy still argues that we should expand to attract a wider clientele, but I think we do more than alright by staying true to our mission – as inspired by my first edition of Wuthering Heights that sits in a glass case near the cash register. Why rock the boat? Thank goodness Izzy has the café to keep her busy or else she'd bother me obnoxiously about it.
One night in January, I was organizing some of the books. I leaned down to get another book and when I straightened, I saw a figure hovering outside of our door. The door was locked, but it was still creepy as hell, given that it was raining and like ten at night. Thank god I took that bad ass self defense class. I walked to the door, trying to get a glance at strange lurker/ potential rapist man to determine whether to call 911 or not. And I was shocked to find a wet Jace standing there. I quickly unlocked the door and ushered him inside.
"What are you doing here?" Damn, I sounded breathless. That was not good.
"I, uh, was in the neighborhood," he responded as he took of his coat and shook out his hair. The glare I shot him was met with a smirk. "I know I'm good looking Red, you don't have to stare."
"Fuck off if you're here to be a dick," I argued halfheartedly. Honestly, I was just happy to see him. Not that I would ever tell him that. I'd rather burn in hell.
"Sorry, sorry… so this is a nice place you got here." He wasn't making eye contact and I was getting more and more concerned.
"Jace, why are you here? Seriously? It's like ten at night and it's miserable out…" I sat down on a sofa in the café area. He followed me and sat next to me.
"Okay, okay." He smiled, but it looked forced and not Jace like. "I missed you." I jumped a little at that, shocked he would admit it. "Hey, don't look so surprised. You're not that bad. And we're friends, right?" Just go ahead and jab a pencil through my heart while you're at it, Jace, I thought.
"Yeah… friends." I hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to go ahead and be an idiot. "So, I was gonna grab some Chinese and Netflix the rest of my Friday night away. You wanna join? That is, if you don't have some blonde hottie waiting for you at a club somewhere?" He laughed loudly. I found myself liking the laugh, despite myself.
"Sure, why not?" he said, still chuckling.
When Izzy arrived home the next morning, she found Jace sleeping on one side of the sectional with my head on his chest. And the fucking smile she flashed me as I opened my eyes was distressing. She cocked her head, beckoning me to her bedroom. I slowly slipped off of Jace and followed her.
"Yes Izzy?" I asked with an irritated glare in her direction.
"You and Jace were snuggling, Clare." I felt my cheeks redden – whether it was from embarrassment or anger I wasn't sure. A little huff escaped my mouth. "Seriously, Clary, you two are so in love."
"No, Izzy. We're not. Just last night he reaffirmed that we are friends." I spat the word with more venom than I intended. "Plus, he's not exactly the monogamy type. So even if I did, hypothetically, have feelings, they wouldn't matter. He's got girls all over him all the time. Remember, I've seen him in his element."
Izzy rolled her eyes at me. "Clary, Alec says he hasn't brought a girl home since that night at Pandemonium." I tried to hold in my surprise, but I'm pretty sure she noticed. "He's been home every night. Since the engagement party, he hasn't even mentioned another girl."
"So you and Alec have been discussing this then? Are you two living my love life now, Iz? Because as far as I knew, I was making those decisions. I guess I was wrong." I didn't mean it to come out so snarky, but it did. Hell, I was pissed. I didn't want or need Izzy and Alec meddling in my non-existent love life.
There was a quiet knock. "Sorry to interrupt," came a mumbled voice as Izzy's bedroom door opened. Jace, in all of his sleep – induced, disheveled glory, was standing there, wiping his eyes, clearly trying to wake up. "But do you have any coffee? I have to head into work in a bit, and I'd love to have a little bit of energy first." I nodded, leaving Izzy in her room to lead Jace to the kitchen. Luckily, he seemed to pick up on the fact that I didn't want to talk about whatever happened between me and Izzy – he silently searched for cups as I started the coffee machine.
"You have to work on a Saturday morning?" He nodded, smiling slightly.
"Yeah, we have a big case coming up for trial soon, and the partners have asked me to organize some of the depos to impeach some trial witnesses and maybe answer some interrogatories."
"You realize I have zero idea what you just said, right?"
"Yeah, I figured. It's boring anyway, trust me." I bit my lip, debating whether to ruin our comfortable exchange by mentioning important news. I decided to bite the bullet and do it. I poured him a cup of coffee and then pulled the trigger.
"So, I uh, might as well tell you while you're here. Camille and her entire bridal party, along with her mom and my mom, is coming up here in a week to go dress shopping at Kleinfield's."
Jace's brows furrowed. "Kleinfeld's?" I let loose a giggle. I forget he didn't speak girl like Iz and Magnus, or even Simon and Alec (although that was forced due to their lovers' interests in such things).
"It's this fancy bridal store. Ever heard of the TV show Say Yes to the Dress? It's the store on the show. Anyhow, I just wanted to tell you that… she will be here." His face immediately changed, losing the tired innocence it had before.
"Oh." He was biting his lip, eyebrows furrowed as he stared at his coffee cup. "Okay."
"I just wanted to let you know. It will be fine, though – I'll be fine. Anyhow, it's getting late. You should probably get to the office." He gave me a tight hug (and my heart rate did not speed up) before leaving. Careful to avoid Izzy, I made my way into my bedroom to go back to sleep.
The following Saturday, I was sitting on a white sofa inside Kleinfeld's trying not to kill my future sister-in-law and her friends as they fawned over wedding gown after wedding gown. Seriously, it was a dress she was going to wear once. Pick one and move on. What was so hard about that? Cami arrived with her mom, my mom, and her friends Aline, Seelie, and Jessie and immediately wedding hysteria began. It was exhausting trying to smile through the frustration. Add to that the facts that I actually had to tolerate Aline, things with Izzy were still tense, and I hadn't seen Jace since our movie night because of his case and I was seriously on edge. Texting was not a substitute for his presence apparently.
Finally, after hours, Cami decided to take a break from looking at dresses for a few minutes. I was sitting there, minding my own business, when Aline sat down next to me, trying to act all innocent. Bitch.
"Hey, Clary." I nodded, acknowledging her existence, which was success in my book, considering I wanted to throw up and beat her ass at the same time. "Sooo, you and Jace, huh? He's a hot piece of ass, too bad that didn't last. You're welcome for my leftovers." I noticed my hands balled into tight fists, the knuckles turning white.
"Yeah, well, I guess he's moved on from slut." Breathe, Clary. Breathe. You can't punch her at your almost sister-in-law's bridal gown hunt. I just kept reciting it to myself over and over.
"I guess he's not nearly as exciting now. Having a sister kill herself will do that to a guy, right?" My breath hitched. How dare she? I jumped up, trying with everything I had to not kill her.
"You have a lot of nerve, Aline. I mean, who the fuck do you think you are? I know what happened! You're a psychotic bitch." She smirked at me as she stood and moved closer to me. I wanted to murder her. I barely noticed my mom, Camille, and the rest of the group watching us, politely trying not to stare or get involved.
"Sweetie, Jace is a liar with severe emotional problems. Maybe you shouldn't trust him so much just because he's a good fuck." That was it. I reeled back and released a punch, hitting her with a right hook to her jaw. My knuckles hissed as my hand recoiled, protesting the abnormal pain throbbing down to my bones. Before Aline could even react, my mom and Camille were standing in between us, pushing me towards the exit.
"I can't fucking believe this? Why aren't you kicking her out? She's a fucking murderer!" I stared at Cami, disgusted that she could ever consider that bitch her friend. I was still fighting in my mom's arms to get back in there and beat Aline's ass.
"Clary, please, calm down!" My mom was yelling. So unladylike. So not Jocelyn. "Call Jace, please Camille," my mom directed, handing Cami the phone she'd taken from my hand. "He needs to come get her." Cami nodded and walked away.
"Did you know?" I asked my mom.
"Know what?"
"What Aline did? I know you're friends with her family. Did you know?" I hissed, suddenly fearing above all else that my mom was defending that monster.
"That she dated Jace? Of course, she told us after your startling exit from the engagement party. Is there something else?" I shook my head. My mom can't lie to save her soul… if she denied knowing anything else, there was nothing else she knew. Cami made her way back over to us.
"Jocelyn, would you mind giving Clary and I a minute? Jace is on his way to pick her up." She handed me back my phone. My mom nodded, hugging me briefly before going to join the others. I sat down on the bench outside of the store, my heartbeat slowing at the thought of Jace coming. Cami sat down next to me, sighing slightly.
"She's a bitch, but she's my cousin." Huh?
"What?"
"Aline – she's my cousin. My mom's sister's daughter. That's the only reason I've put up with her all these years."
"Oh… I didn't know that. Do you know what happened… with Cecily Herondale, I mean?" I asked.
"Um, yeah. I do."
Suddenly I was flooded with questions that maybe Camille could answer. Why wasn't Aline in jail? Why had her family, especially sweetheart Camille, not disowned her? How did I not know that the two of them were related?
"I can't answer your questions, Clary." I guess she saw the confusion in my expression, because she continued. "That's really up to Jace. But I just wanted to say he's a good guy. I didn't have the chance to tell you that before, at the shower. He's been through horrible things but still managed to be great. I needed you to know my opinion – that I am totally 'Team Jace.' And I'll talk to Aline about at least not being a total bitch to you."
"I appreciate that, Camille." Jace's voice rang clearly behind us and I won't deny it, my pulse sped up a bit. Cami and I got up to greet him, before Cami said she'd see me later for dinner with our moms and went back in to greet the party and explain that I was leaving. I turned to Jace.
"Hi," he said, running his hands through his golden hair. He seemed upset about something. Was it me? Aline? Work? I found myself wanting to smooth the frown line formed in between his eyes, but was able to restrain myself.
"Hi," I mirrored, sounding super awkward. Friends can be super awkward, right? "So, uh, I almost beat the shit out of Aline. Got one good punch in." And he smiled.
"I heard. I guess we have a lot to talk about… Dinner?" I nodded, following Jace to the Mexican restaurant down the street. We did have a lot to talk about.