“Something’s going to fly into your mouth if you don’t close it, princess,” Jace said without looking up, his hands buried in the dismantled radiator on the floor.

My jaw snapped shut, but my head was still spinning. I turned to Maya, silently asking if she was seeing the same thing I was or if I had finally lost it.

“What are you doing in my apartment and how did you get in?” I asked again, my voice sharper now, trying to make sense of his casualness while I stood there in shock.

“Jace, did you break in? Are you planning on stealing that?” Maya’s eyes darted between him and the rusty radiator.

He chuckled, that low, grating sound that somehow managed to crawl under my skin.

“Just fixing this, princess. I’ll be out of your hair real soon,” he said, not sparing me so much as a glance.

I suddenly became painfully aware of the state of my room. Shoes scattered everywhere, clothes draped over furniture, my bed a crime scene of unfolded laundry. My cheeks heated with embarrassment. What must he think of me?

I scrambled to pick up a couple of shoes from the bed, setting them on the floor like that would erase the mess. “How did you even get in? I don’t remember giving you a key or is magic one of your many talents?”

“The landlord gave me a key. If I were a magician, though…” He finally looked at me, a crooked smirk tugging at his lips. “…I’d probably make you disappear.”

I froze. “Me? You’d make me disappear?” My eyes narrowed. “How about you make your grumpy self disappear?”

His brows lifted, the smirk deepening.

Perfect. Exactly what he wanted, to rile me up. And it worked.

“Aria, I need to go. I’ll see you tomorrow in class,” Maya said, still hovering awkwardly in the doorway.

“Oh…” I turned to her, guilt washing over me. I’d completely forgotten she was there. “I’m sorry, Maya. I would’ve invited you in, but as you can see, my place is still under construction.” I gestured helplessly at the chaos.

She nodded slowly, her eyes lingering on the scene: Jace on my floor, tools scattered, me flustered and red-faced. Great. My very first friend in Willow Creek now thought I was a lunatic.

I sighed, crouched, and after a useless search flung the single shoe I’d been holding back onto the bed. “I’ll walk you out,” I said quickly, grabbing her hand and pulling her downstairs.

Outside, she stopped and pulled a few books from her bag. “Here, the notes I promised. You can start tonight if you’re not too tired from…” Her eyes flicked toward Jace’s apartment. “…all that.”

I laughed nervously, clutching the books like a shield.

“One more thing.” Her voice dropped as she leaned closer. “You need to be careful. His girlfriend, Lila? She doesn’t play about her man. If she hears even a whisper of anything… she’ll have your head. Probably mine too.”

I blinked. “Well, nothing is ever going to happen between me and her man. I already can’t stand him as it is.”

Maya searched my face like she didn’t quite believe me, then finally nodded.

“Thank you, Maya. Really. You’ve been so helpful. I wish I could come see your place, but I can’t exactly leave him alone in there.”

She smiled softly. “No pressure. Come by anytime. And if you need anything, anything at all, just let me know.” She hugged me quickly before walking away.

On the steps, my phone buzzed. Liam. Again. Five missed calls glared at me from the screen.

I sighed, stepping outside so the neighbors wouldn’t overhear my love life unravel.

“Hey, doll,” Liam’s voice oozed through the speaker. It used to calm me. Now it just made my stomach knot.

“Hi, Liam.”

“I’ve been calling nonstop. I even went by the house, but your dad said you’d left.”

“More like he kicked me out,” I muttered. “I’ve just been busy. I enrolled in community college. In Willow Creek.”

“Willow Creek?” His voice shot up an octave, panic laced with disbelief. “That tiny outdated town? Doll, you could go to any of the top colleges in the world. Why there?”

“Because Dad cut me off, and I didn’t exactly have the funds for a ‘top college.’” My voice was flat.

“Doll, I’ve told you, if you ever have a problem, just tell me. I’ll send the money. Or better yet, I’ll come pick you up. That place sounds dangerous.”

The shallowness, the entitlement, grated on me. I’d had enough. “Let’s talk later, Liam. I’ve got cleaning to do.” Without waiting for a reply, I ended the call.

Back upstairs, Jace was still crouched by the radiator, muscles taut, sweat glistening down his back.

I lingered in the doorway, watching him. His face was all focus, jaw sharp, hands steady. Too steady. Too distracting.

“If you keep staring at me, princess, I might decide not to leave,” he said without turning.

I rolled my eyes. How did he always know? “Maybe you really are some kind of sick magician,” I muttered, storming into the kitchen.

The sink worked. The stove sparked to life. At least I had the basics. The cupboards, however, were graveyards of cobwebs. Groaning, I pulled out my phone to jot down a shopping list, new cookware, cleaning supplies, and most importantly, a bed that didn’t make me want to fling myself out the window.

I’d probably have to ask Liam for money this once. But after that? I’d get a job. No more handouts.

When I came back out, Jace was finishing up. The radiator looked whole again, like it hadn’t been on its last legs minutes ago.

From the corner of my eye, I spotted the missing shoe under the bed. I bent to grab it only to find him standing in front of me when I straightened, smugness radiating off him.

“People like you don’t belong in a dump like this,” he said casually, hands tucked behind his back. “What are you really doing here, princess? Daddy cut you off?”

My nostrils flared.

I closed my eyes, inhaled, tried to calm myself. When I opened them, his chest was inches away. His scent, sweat and lemon aftershave invaded my senses, dizzying me. I stepped back, bumping the doorframe.

He stepped forward, one arm braced on the wall behind me, caging me in. “Tell me,” he murmured, eyes drilling into mine.

I swallowed hard, my gaze betraying me, slipping to his lips. They were infuriatingly perfect.

“None of your business, grumpy. If you’re done, you can leave.” My voice cracked like cheap glass.

His mouth curved, leaning down to whisper, “Didn’t peg you as a double A cup.”

My eyes widened. “What?”

He pulled one hand from behind his back. Dangling from his finger, my lilac bra.

“I said, these cups are too small for you, princess.” His voice was smug, his grin insufferable.

Heat scorched my cheeks. I snatched the bra from him and tossed it onto the bed.

“Get. Out.” I yanked the door open, my humiliation burning brighter than my anger.

He chuckled, grabbed his toolbox, slung his shirt over his shoulder, and sauntered into the hallway.

“You owe me one, princess,” he called over his shoulder.