Fading Boundaries Again

Chapter Twenty-Five

"It's a dare, Liv," Zeke says, unapologetically shrugging. I shake my head as I say, "Well, my sailor is going to be ruining his outfit. That's not fair."

"It'll dry," Thomas says with a grin.

Jace gasps, "Wait, so I have to stay in the wet clothes?"

The guys all nod in sync, and he scoffs at them. "So of course you guys don't know how people catch a cold."

Zeke stands up with the bucket, grinning as he says, "We will get you a towel; now meet us outside."

Jace groans but follows the rest of the boys out of the room and toward the back door. I trail behind to stay with Jace, and we walk for a while before he glances down at me. I can't help but keep the smirk off my face, and he rolls his eyes at me. "Of course you are laughing already!"

I start to laugh but immediately recover. "Sorry, but it's just funny."

"Mmhm," he says, not agreeing with me. I nudge his arm with my elbow. "Hey! At least it's better than my dare." I puff out my chest, gesturing to it as I say, with no sympathy, "You saw all of this."

Jace sucks in a breath, looking scandalized as he averts his gaze. "Oh my God."

I laugh out loud, feeling no remorse for him as I say, "What? You didn't like it?"

"Oh my God!," Jace shouts again this time, trying to cover his ear. I only shrug as I say, "Then what's the problem?"

He looks down at me now, looking at me with a blank stare. "Are you serious right now?"

I can only look at him flirtatiously, putting my hands behind my back. "About what, Jacey?"

He looks down at my face and then curses before looking away. Straightening his shoulder out, he steps outside and yells, "Never mind, guys, it seems I do need that cold water."

"Jace!," I shout, completely taken aback by the meaning of his words, but he only smirks at me. He starts to empty out his pockets, handing his wallet and phone to me with a shrug. "You started this, so I feel no remorse."

I gasp, smirking as I say, "Hey! Don't make me flash you again."

"Don't worry, honey," he starts, his eyes on me despite him feeling annoyed more than anything else. "I don't need another glance when I already have the picture memorized in my head."

Now it's my turn to be scandalized. The guys all look around at each other, confused as Graham asks, "The hell are they talking about?"

"You shit!" I yell at Jace, stepping on his white shoes with my heels. He only laughs at me as I step back. I give Zeke the affirmative, "Okay, guys. Make sure all the water falls on him because he deserves it."

Jace only grins at me, his eyes full of mischief even though he still wears the flush on his cheek. I cross my hands across my chest, purposefully diverting attention to my chest as I look at him in a challenge. He only grins at me, winking right before Zeke dumps the water over his head. He stands there without a word for a few seconds, his head sopping wet. Then, he shivers, his hands brushing his hair up as he looks at his friends.

"Guys, that was genuinely so cold!" he shouts at them, but they are too busy laughing. I follow suit, laughing as I say, "Yeah, no shit."

"Okay!" Jace shouts at me offensively. Before I can even see it happening, he makes a beeline toward me. "Jace!" I shout out loud, "I worked hard on this outfit, please don't let—"

He hugs me, wrapping his large arms around my shoulders as he presses me against his chest. I gasp at the cold water on his chest, and he makes it worse when he grazes his face on my neck. His cold face makes my skin crawl, goosebumps forming on my arms. "Jace!," I shout, completely shocked as I push him off me. But he grabs me by the waist, and before I can stop him, he presses a kiss against my cheek. His mouth is cold, but when the water droplets land on my forehead and trail down, I shriek.