BK 4 - Chapter 2 - Internal Debate
Jayce stared at Lisa as the tingling ran over his body. What was that? He wondered if she felt it too. When he saw the surprise in her eyes, he knew it wasn't just him.
"Mate," Lisa said softly. Jayce wasn't sure he heard her correctly.
"What?" He asked while still holding onto her hand. He didn't want to let it go.
"I'm sorry," Lisa pulled her hand out of his and grabbed her phone. Jayce continued to stare at her but didn't say anything as Breanne rejoined them. She noticed the other two were acting strange.
"Is everything okay?" She asked, looking at Lisa.
"Yeah, fine." They ate the rest of their meal in silence. Jayce wanted to touch Lisa again but was afraid he would freak her out. He paid for all of their meals despite Breanne and Lisa's protests. When they walked outside, he didn't want to leave.
"Are you going to your apartment?" Lisa asked, looking up at him through her long lashes.
"Yeah," He answered.
"You can walk with us if you'd like. We're going home too." She tried to hide her smile when she saw how excited he got. Lisa was scared it might spook him when he felt the sparks from the mate bond. However, he looked like he was fine. Maybe everything would work out. She wanted to tell him about being mates, werelions, and everything else, but she needed to go slow. Breanne looked between the two.
"Do you live near us?" She asked Jayce.
"In the same building, actually." He replied, glancing at her and then back at Lisa. As they started walking, Jayce stayed next to Lisa. He wanted to hold her hand but didn't want to push her.
Lisa didn't know what to do. How do you tell a human that you're something they don't know exists? She had seen others in her family mate with humans but never thought about having the talk with them. Maybe she should call someone for advice.
"Lisa?" She jumped when Jayce said her name. When she looked up, she saw Breanne walking way ahead. She knew her friend was trying to give her time with Jayce alone. When did she turn into such a little matchmaker?
"Yeah?" Lisa said, looking at Jayce.
"Um, I don't know how to ask this, but did you feel anything funny when you touched my hand?" He asked. She wasn't sure what to say. If she admitted she did feel the sparks, would she need to provide an explanation? She didn't want to deny it, either.
"Yeah, I felt something. What did you feel?" Lisa asked, slowing down slightly to put a little more space between them and Breanne.
"I don't know how to describe it. I felt like I touched a live current that woke up my whole system leaving me tingly and excited. Does that sound crazy?" Jayce asked, afraid he sounded ridiculous. Lisa tilted her head and smiled up at him as they came to a stop.
"I felt the same thing. Did it scare you?" She asked softly. Jayce had a feeling she knew what had caused it, but he didn't want to ask. He couldn't control himself anymore; he had to touch her. Slowly reaching out, he took Lisa's hand in his. Once again, he felt the sparks run through his body.
"No, it didn't scare me," Jayce said, looking into her blue eyes. She hadn't taken her hand out of his as they stared at each other.
Lisa felt her pulse quicken when he touched her. Maybe it would be okay, and he would accept everything she had to tell him.
"Good. Do you want to come up to our apartment for a little while?" Lisa asked hopefully. Jayce nodded.
"That sounds great. Can I ask you something?" He said as they started walking again while still holding hands.
"Sure," Lisa answered.
"How do you not have a boyfriend? Every man here has to be throwing themselves at your feet," Jayce questioned her. He'd only known her for about two hours and already could tell she was beautiful inside and out. Lisa shrugged.
"I guess I've been waiting for the right person. Breanne, Alex, and I have been so busy with school that dating wasn't a priority." Lisa answered. She figured at least it was a partial truth when it came to her and Alex. He hadn't met his mate yet, either.
When they got to their building, Breanne was there holding the door open. She noticed Lisa was holding Jayce's hand and raised her eyebrows. Lisa gave her a slight grin and kept walking. Jayce followed them to their apartment on the fourth floor. His was on the second. When they reached apartment 416, he started chuckling.
"What's so funny?" Lisa asked.
"Your apartment number is my birthday. April sixteenth. I just thought that's a funny coincidence." He answered. When they walked into the three-bedroom apartment, the first thing Jayce saw was the huge man sitting on the brown leather sofa. When the man looked at him and then down at his and Lisa's hands, he glared.
"Lisa, who's this?" Alex asked, still staring at Jayce.
"Alex, this is Jayce; he's a transfer student. Jayce, this is my twin brother, Alex," Lisa said, trying to hide her giggle. She loved telling people they were twins to get their reactions. Jayce didn't disappoint. He looked between them and started stuttering.
"Tw...twins? H...How?" Jayce looked between Lisa and Alex. They were complete opposites. Where she was pale, with blonde hair and blue eyes. He was tan, with dark brown hair and brown eyes. They shared none of the same features. Breanne, Alex, and Lisa all started laughing while he continued to stare in shock.
"Well, we're not technically twins. We were born on the same day but have different birth parents. Our mom and dad adopted us both when we were five." Jayce saw a look pass between Lisa and Alex. He had a feeling that where they were before being adopted wasn't good. He finally found his voice and held his hand out to Alex.
"It's nice to meet you." Alex shook his hand while eyeing Jayce up and down. He then turned to his sister.
"Lisa, can I talk to you for a minute?" Alex asked while standing up. Jayce realized Alex was even bigger than he thought. He had to be a football player. Lisa reluctantly let go of Jayce's hand and followed her brother to his bedroom. Once the door was shut, he turned around with his arms crossed.
"What's going on? I thought you weren't getting involved with anyone other than your mate?" Alex asked.
"He is my mate," Lisa answered quietly. Alex's face lit up.
"He's your mate? You finally found him?" Lisa nodded while trying to hide her smile. "Did you tell him?"
"I can't, not yet. He's human. How do I even start that conversation? I know I need to tell him. The longer I wait, the more it feels like I'm lying to him. What should I do?" Lisa asked, sitting on her brother's bed. He walked over and sat beside her, putting his arm around her shoulders.
"I think you should be honest with him. Don't wait too long. You could always talk to someone in the family. Grandpa Trey, Grandpa Thatcher, and Uncle Aiden all mated to humans. Ask them how they did it." Lisa nodded and hugged her brother. He wasn't just her brother; he was her best friend. They had been through everything together from the time they were born.
"Now we need you to find your mate," Lisa said, making his face turn red. Women were always throwing themselves at him, but he ignored all of them. He wanted his mate but wasn't as anxious about it as Lisa.
"I'll find her when it's time." Alex and Lisa returned to the living room, where Breanne and Jayce were talking. Lisa couldn't help the ping of jealousy that came over her when he laughed at something her friend said.
"I was just telling Jayce that when we first met, I thought you were a snobby cheerleader, and you threatened to throw any cheerleader that came into our room out the window." Lisa relaxed as she and Alex joined them in the living room. Jayce came over and took her hand again, making her smile.
"What can I say. I don't care too much for girls, or guys, for that matter, who think they're better than everyone else. No matter where we come from, we're all the same. Everyone's trying to do the best they can to survive." Jayce beamed down at Lisa. She was a woman after his own heart.
"Spoken like a true civil rights attorney." Lisa's face turned slightly red. Everyone else usually rolled their eyes when she went off on one of her tangents.
"I'm going to study," Breanne said, going to her room and shutting the door.
"Me too. I'll see you later," Alex grabbed his bag and headed out the door to go to the library, leaving Lisa and Jayce alone. Lisa didn't know what to say. They were standing in the middle of the living room holding hands, but she couldn't move. There had never been a time in her life that she was speechless, but she was now.
"Do you want me to leave?" Jayce asked, noticing Lisa seemed uncomfortable. He didn't want to go anywhere. While Lisa and Alex were talking, he had asked Breanne about her. She had told him Lisa was her best friend and had the biggest heart of anyone she knew. She also said Lisa wasn't scared to fight anyone she saw hurting another. The more he heard about her, the more he wondered how some man hadn't come along and swept her off her feet. Breanne also told him she'd kill him if he hurt Lisa or made her cry.
"No, I don't want you to leave. Do you have somewhere you need to go?" Lisa asked, looking up into his warm amber eyes that made her pulse quicken.
"Nowhere but with you. Would you like to go for a walk? Maybe near the water?" Jayce asked hopefully. He had never felt the way Lisa was making him feel. Were soulmates a real thing? He thought maybe he had found his when he looked at her. There was a connection between them that was undeniable.
"That sounds great." Lisa texted Breanne to let her know they were leaving. As they walked toward the beach, they both stayed quiet. Lisa decided once they were somewhere secluded, she would tell him about being a werelion. She hoped he didn't think she was crazy and run away.
