Page 75 of Wanna Bet?

"I meant what I said last night," Jace said softly.

The words hurt even before she heard them.

She nodded anyway. "I know."

"What you did wasn't okay."

"I know."

He squeezed her hand. "Myah—"

"No." She swallowed before forcing herself to meet his eyes. "I need to say it."

Because she'd spent too much of her life running from uncomfortable truths. Too much of her life hiding behind jokes and distractions and chaos. Not this time.

"What I did was awful."

Jace remained silent. Listening.

"I told myself it wasn't a big deal." She laughed bitterly. "Then I told myself it was funny." Another shake of her head. "Then I told myself I'd tell you eventually." Her throat tightened. "But every day it got harder."

His expression softened. "Myah—"

"I never meant for it to become this. It started as a bet, but I fell for you.” Her eyes blurred. "And by then, I didn't know what to do."

"You could've told me." Jace frowned, his dark brows drawing together.

"I know." More tears escaped. “I’m sorry.”

He brushed one away with his thumb. The gesture nearly destroyed her. Because he still cared even after everything.

"I was scared." The confession emerged broken. "Scared you'd leave."

His expression twisted.

"I know that's stupid." Myah pulled her hand away from Jace.

"It isn't," he rebutted.

She blinked, confused.

Jace sighed. "I get it."

The words surprised her. His gaze dropped to her hand as he grabbed it once again. "I was scared too."

"What?" Myah looked at him confused.

He laughed quietly. "Do you really think I wasn't?"

She only stared. What’d he done wrong? What could he have been scared of?

Jace shook his head. "You walked into my life and suddenly everything changed." His voice remained calm. "I liked seeing you every day." A smile tugged at his mouth. "I liked your ridiculous texts."

"Rude."

"I liked hearing you laugh and drinking your coffee." He smiled and she squeezed his hand. He squeezed back.

His eyes found hers again. "When you told me the truth, it felt like the floor disappeared."