Autumn Unlocked (Summer Unplugged) Read Free Page A

"How long have you been standing here?"
    "I'm here to get my confiscated cell phone," I say, pointing to it where it sits on a shelf next to a few other phones. "And don't worry, I didn't hear anything about your husband's weight gain."
    She gives me a pointed look, then grabs my phone and slams it on the counter a little harder than necessary. I grab it and practically dive out the office door and barrel down the hallway toward the parking lot.
    It feels so great to have my phone again. I turn it on as I start the short walk home and slide it into my pocket while I wait for it to boot up. I expect several missed texts to come through, but my phone only beeps once.
    I have one message and it's from Jace.
    Jace : You'll see . 
    Disappointment creeps over me at the realization that he went the whole day without missing me enough to text me more, or leave me a voicemail or anything. I hate that he's so busy and I'm so…needy.
    God, I need a life.
     
     
    Mom's car isn't in the driveway when I get home, and even though I have to cook dinner on the days she works overtime, I'm grateful for it today. Now she won't know I had detention. The last thing I need is any strain with my mom after we've been getting along so well lately.
    I'm staring at my phone screen wondering what to text back as I walk up to my front door. In my distraction, I almost miss the beautiful vase of flowers sitting on the welcome mat. I bend down and take the card attached to them, my heart filling with happiness when I see that they're addressed to me.
    With the world's goofiest smile on my face, I open the envelope and read the words written in beautiful calligraphy.
    Turn around.
    My eyebrows crinkle in confusion as I turn over the card in my hand only to find it blank. What the heck does that even mean? It can't actually mean for me to turn around, here on the porch?
    Feeling a bit silly, I spin on my heel, turning to face the street.
    And then I shriek with excitement as I see Jace standing at the end of my driveway, hands in his pockets, and that freaking smirk on his face.

Chapter 4
     
     
     
    "What are you doing here?" I manage to squeal as I throw my arms around his neck and hug him close to me. "It's not even Friday yet."
    Jace hugs me back then pulls away to look at me. "I guess I learned my lesson in trying to surprise you. I thought you would have been home a long time ago."
    "Sorry," I say as I pull him out of the driveway and walk up to the house. Jace grabs the flowers while I dig around my purse for my house key.
    "Why were you so late?" He nudges me with his elbow. "Did you have a date with your other boyfriend or something?"
    "Right, like I could keep up with two boyfriends," I say with a roll of my eyes. "I had detention."
    He stops short on the front porch. "Detention? Babe…how did you do that?"
    I poke him in the chest playfully and let us inside the house. "It's kind of your fault, you know. I was texting you and got caught with my phone."
    He plops down on the couch with a heavy sigh and rests his head in his hands. "Bayleigh…" he says with this exhausted tone in his voice as though he's my freaking mother.
    "What?" I snap. "You can't sit there and act all mad at me. I was just texting you. It's not like I streaked through the high school."
    He shakes his head. "I'm not mad. I'm just frustrated. You finally got on peaceful terms with your mom and I don’t want you pissing her off again. I have plans for us. Plans that involve you not being grounded."
    I snuggle in next to him on the couch and ignore the coldness that radiates off him when he's annoyed. "What kind of plans?"
    He slides his hand down my leg, giving my knee a squeeze. "You'll just have to wait and see."
    I groan. "I hate when you do this to me."
    "Hate it all you want, but surprising you is one of my favorite things in the world."
    I try to hold back my smile but it doesn't work. Everything he says and does is so freaking cute, I can't help but smile at him. I