Chapter 152

Eleanor's POV

"Be careful," Jace said softly, his hands falling away from my elbows as soon as he was sure I was steady.

Wait. Jace? Wasn't a driver supposed to pick us up? My alcohol-fogged brain struggled to process this unexpected development. I clenched my fists, willing myself to maintain composure despite the sudden thundering of my heart.

"Can you walk by yourself?" The concern in his voice was evident as he addressed my brother. I noticed how his eyes quickly assessed Lucas's condition, cataloging every detail with characteristic thoroughness.

That was so typically Jace - always attentive, always caring, but never in the way I wanted him to be. Maybe that's what had drawn me to him in the first place. His quiet competence, his understated kindness, the way he carried responsibility so naturally.

"Eleanor," he said, turning back to me, "this is Serena's car. I can drop you off when I return it." His tone was matter-of-fact, leaving no room for argument or awkwardness.

The walk to the parking lot felt endless. The night air was cool against my flushed skin, and I concentrated on placing one foot carefully in front of the other.

My mind wandered treacherously to all the seemingly perfect men in Jace's social circle - more handsome, more successful, more wealthy. Yet here I was, eight years later, still caught in his orbit.

In the parking lot, the sleek black car waited. Lucas took the passenger seat without hesitation, leaving me to slide into the back.

Jace drove with the same precise care he applied to everything, taking the curves gently in deference to our inebriated state. As we stopped at a red light, Jace suddenly frowned. "Lucas, what happened to your hand?"

I leaned forward, noticing for the first time the angry red marks across my brother's knuckles. Had he hit something? When had that happened?

"It's nothing," Lucas dismissed, but Jace was already signaling to pull over.

"There's a pharmacy ahead," he said, his tone brooking no argument. "I'll get something for that."

Lucas leaned over and whispered a few words to Jace. Jace then exited the car and walked off in the direction of the pharmacy.

A yawn escaped me, and I settled back against the seat. The gentle hum of the car's engine combined with the alcohol in my system was making it increasingly difficult to keep my eyes open.

Through half-closed eyes, I watched the city lights blur past the window. Eight years of loving someone who barely saw me as more than a niece. The universe's cosmic joke at my expense.

The rest of the drive passed in a blur of streetlights and quiet conversation between the two men in front. I drifted in and out of consciousness, lulled by the smooth motion of the car and the low murmur of their voices.

As we approached the apartments where Lucas lived, I roused myself enough to sit up straighter. I saw Jace helping Lucas walk home, my eyes heavy with sleep. Jace then came back to the car and drove off.

Jace's POV

After dropping Lucas off, I checked the rearview mirror one more time. Eleanor was still fast asleep in the back seat, her head tilted at an awkward angle that would surely leave her with a stiff neck come morning.

I deliberately slowed the car, taking extra care over speed bumps and around corners. The streets were nearly empty at this hour, allowing me to focus on maintaining the smoothest possible ride. Through the mirror, I watched as she shifted slightly, mumbling something incomprehensible - exactly the way she used to do during those long-ago afternoon naps.

The sight transported me back to simpler times, when she was just Lucas's little sister who would inevitably fall asleep on my shoulder during movie nights. Back then, everything had been uncomplicated. I'd been the reliable uncle figure, the one who'd check on her during thunderstorms because I knew she was afraid but too proud to admit it.

Now, watching her sleep with her guard completely down, I couldn't help but notice how vulnerable she looked. Her carefully maintained professional image had slipped away, replaced by something that made my chest tighten with an uncomfortable mix of nostalgia and guilt.

Pulling into the underground parking garage of Serena's building, I turned off the engine and sat for a moment in the silence. Eleanor hadn't stirred once during the entire drive. Her head had slipped even further to the side.

There was no avoiding it - I'd have to carry her up. The thought made me hesitate, aware of how many boundaries this would cross, but leaving her to sleep in the car wasn't an option. With a resigned sigh, I got out and carefully opened the back door.

She barely stirred as I gathered her in my arms, automatically curling toward my chest the way she had as a child. The familiar gesture hit me with unexpected force. How many times had I carried her from the car to her bed after family gatherings? How many times had I been the one she trusted to keep her safe?

When Serena opened the door, her expression shifted from surprise to understanding as she took in the scene.

"I apologize for the late disturbance," I said quietly. "Eleanor fell asleep."

Serena hesitated, something unspoken flickering across her face. "Oh, it's fine. Actually..." She trailed off, then seemed to think better of whatever she'd been about to say. "Please bring her in."

I followed her to Eleanor's room, careful not to bump Eleanor's head or feet against any doorframes. Laying her down gently, I stepped back, trying to ignore how natural the whole thing had felt. Some habits, it seemed, were too deeply ingrained to forget, no matter how many years passed.

"The medicine is for your neck," I said to Serena as we returned to the living room, pulling the pharmacy bag from my pocket. I noticed she was still fully dressed despite the late hour, and there was a tension in her shoulders.

She paused, a slight look of surprise crossing her features.

"Lucas asked me to give this to you," I explained.

Serena pressed her lips together, remaining silent.

Earlier that evening, when James Chapman had grabbed her, he'd left a large bruise on her neck. I knew she thought Lucas hadn't noticed, but he had.

"Thank you," she said, accepting the medicine.

I could tell she was only taking it to spare me any awkwardness. She didn't want to dwell on small gestures like this anymore. I understood what her composure meant - the more casually she handled it, the less she cared. Honestly, I wasn't sure if Lucas could win her back at this point.

"Oh, and one more thing," I added. "There's hangover medication in there. If Eleanor wakes up with any aftereffects tomorrow morning, please give her one pill."

"Alright," Serena agreed, then continued softly, "If you can't give Eleanor a future, please keep your distance from her."

I felt a twinge in my chest.

"Having no hope is better than having false hope," she said directly.

"I understand," I nodded.