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Tantalizingly close to…

I sturabbed my elbow to steady me, but I quickly pulled free of him My body felt like it was on fire “I’ll… I’ll re-bait your hook,” I stuttered I avoided Jace’s gaze as I worked “Do you want to try casting again?” I asked when I was finished Jace’s eyes were still on

“No, not sure my ass can take a second hit”

His atte I took the rod fro him as I did so, then quickly re-baited the hook and cast the line into the water I returned to rew, causing my anxiety to build

“So, um, you can’t ski, cook, or fish,” I blurted “What can you do? Besides save ht smile

“I can juggle,” he said with a grin

I chuckled at that

Jace sobered and said, “There was never one thing I was particularly good at when I was a kid I got , I did okay in sports but I wasn’t any kind of standout I eventually just accepted I was average”

“I find that hard to believe,” I admitted

“It’s true,” he said “At first it was hard for– they always encouraged s, but never pressured s that I enjoyed The skiing wasI was really good at – that thing that would make me me”

“And did you?” I asked

“Yeah, it’s just not so I can say I’m particularly proud of I ht it was really cool that I could do what only a handful of people could I ”

“You were good with a gun,” I said softly, as it dawned on ested it wasn’t a topic he enjoyed talking about