The days following that brief, charged moment between Lena and Jace felt different. Every time their paths crossed, the air between them seemed thicker, filled with unspoken words. Lena tried to act normal, but it was impossible to ignore the tension that had developed. She was torn between curiosity and guilt, wanting to explore her feelings for him but feeling like it was wrong.
The weekend arrived, and Clara's excitement about the planned family outing was almost infectious. She insisted that everyone take part in a trip to a local amusement park, a way to "bond" as a new family. Lena knew that she couldn't escape it. She reluctantly agreed, trying to focus on the distraction of the day ahead.
When they all piled into the car that Saturday morning, the atmosphere felt awkward. Clara was chatting away in the back seat, excitedly listing out all the rides they should go on, while Lena sat quietly next to her stepbrother, Jace. The space between them felt charged, as if the earlier conversation lingered between them, unanswered.
Jace was staring out the window, but Lena could feel his presence beside her, close enough that she was conscious of every movement he made. She wanted to break the silence, to ask him what they were doing, but the words felt stuck in her throat.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Jace spoke.
"Do you... regret it?" he asked, his voice low, almost a whisper against the hum of the car.
Lena glanced over at him, surprised. "Regret what?"
"Being here. Living with us. With me," he clarified, his gaze flicking to her for a brief moment before returning to the window.
Lena swallowed. She hadn't really thought about it that way. The idea that he might feel like a burden, or that she might regret her new life, hadn't crossed her mind until now.
"No," she said softly. "It's... it's complicated, but I don't regret it. I'm just trying to figure everything out. This whole 'family' thing. It's new for me too."
Jace's lips twisted in a faint, almost bitter smile. "I get it," he said quietly. "It's not exactly the smoothest transition."
For a few moments, neither of them said anything. The silence was comfortable in its own way, and it allowed Lena to finally calm her racing heart. But she couldn't ignore the feelings that had been bubbling under the surface. The longing, the uncertainty.
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