Page 19 of Jasper

I close my eyes, inhaling deeply, trying to slow the thudding of my heart inside my chest. "I'm good."

"I'm not." He blows out a deep breath. "That just turned my life upside down."

I smirk, ready to give him a little bit of the sassiness he has to remember from me. "Good. You're caught up with me now."

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Jasper

Daisy and I haven't discussed the kiss at Monroe's. We've been tiptoeing around one another, and we haven't talked about it. I'm not sure what's going to make us actually speak on it, but I'm waiting. I made the move with the kiss, she's going to have to make the next one.

I'm sitting on the couch, trying to decompress from my workday, when my phone buzzes in my hand. A text message from my grandfather's assistant. I have him in my phone as a name that cracks me up every single time.

ASS: Hello, Jasper, your grandfather requests your presence, along with that of your wife at dinner tomorrow night. Be here at six pm sharp and dress accordingly.

My back teeth grind together, as I think of all the things I might say to him. Then I realize he's just doing his job, and if he weren't, then someone else would.

J: We'll be there, but don't expect me to be happy about it.

ASS: I'll let your grandfather know.

Sighing heavily, I look up at the door as it opens and Daisy comes through like a breath of fresh air.

"Hey." She smiles, walking over to the kitchen table and dropping her lunchbox on it. "How was your day?"

This is us, being polite to one another, like we've been since the night we kissed. "Not too bad. Once it started raining, we started doing inside maintenance at the road department, so at least I didn't have to be out in the elements."

She grabs a can of Coke from the fridge and pops the tab. "Good for you, we had to keep the kids in today since it was raining so hard. They acted like they've never been to school before." She groans, taking a seat on the other end of the couch.

"Cabin fever, huh?"

"Yeah, bad. All I want is a long bath and some really good food." She leans her head back against the couch.

"Well, I can help with both of those things, but I do have some news." I decide to go on and let her know about the message I received. "We're expected to be at my grandfather's tomorrow night. Do you have a dress? He wants us to be properly attired. Which means I need to wear a suit, and you need to wear a dress."

"Should I be worried?" She plays with the tab on the can. "I've never met him before, ya know."

"I know, it's because I've wanted to keep you away from him. He's the reason I am the way I am. The reason I can never fully give myself to someone. I'm terrified that shit is always going to be ripped away from me." I've said more than I meant to. Inwardly I cringe, annoyed that I’ve given away too much.

"You can trust me, Jasper. If I know what you're hiding, I can help you."

I want to trust her, have tried to trust people at different times in my life. At one point my grandfather even got me to actually think he cared, and I let him in. I believed for a brief moment that he wanted to help me cope with the death of my parents. That he had my best interest at heart, and he wanted to see me live a productive and wonderful life.

How wrong I was.

"I can't trust you yet," I admit. "I want to, but I've been burned too many times. Not by you, I realize that. I know that you've never hurt me either intentionally or unintentionally, but making yourself understand that one person is different from all others is hard. I want to believe you, Daisy Mae. I wanna open myself up to you and tell you all the things that are going on up here." I point to my head. "But I'm so used to keeping all of that to myself. I hope you understand."

She rolls her lips together, and while her face is sweet, her eyes show hurt. "I do, and I'll be as patient as you need me to be. If you don't mind, I'm gonna go take that bath right now."

As much as I don't want to be vulnerable in front of her, I also don't want to be left alone. I reach out with an offer I'm sure she'll say no to, but very hopeful she'll take up. "Can I take a bath with you? That tub is big enough. Might be a tight fit, but I'd like to join you, if you'd let me."

Her hazel eyes widen. "Jasper, what are you playing at here?"

"I'm not. I just don't want to be alone. I want to be close to you, but I don't know how to do that anymore. Not like I used to be. I haven't been close to anyone since we were together. Haven't cared for another woman, haven't slept with another one since we split..." I admit softly.

She looks down at her hands, picking at the chipped nail polish on her thumb. "Have you kissed anyone else since me?" Her question is whispered so low I have to strain to hear it.

"No." The word is like a mic drop in the silence of the room.

---