Page 30 of Beautiful Chaos

I carried my blanket, pillow, and my cellphone to the couch to watch some TV. I flipped through the channels repeatedly before I got bored and settled for Fresh Prince reruns. I put the volume at a low setting and used it as background noise, something to drown out the silence of the night.

I grabbed my phone and found the number of the only person who made me feel calm, besides Aster. I hovered over Jasper’s name before pressing the call button.

The phone rang three times., I was just about to hang up when he answered with a sleepy voice.

Oh no, I woke him, shit what time is it?

I looked at the clock, midnight.

Without saying a word, I ended the call, tossing my phone to the other end of the couch. In frustration, for my inconsiderate nervous calling, I rubbed my face with both hands, with a groan.

As my entire body heated up with embarrassment, my phone began to ring. I knew before I even looked at it who was calling.

I took a deep breath when I saw Jasper’s name cross the screen, losing all the confidence I seemed to have had moments ago, I let it ring for probably too long before I answered it.

“Hello,” I said in a meek voice of embarrassment. I don’t know what I was thinking of calling him. I don’t know this guy besides a couple vague encounters. A calmness soothed my worry when I heard his voice.

“Hey, Harper, Is everything okay?” he asked, with clear worry.

Is he worried about me?

“Um, yes. I’m sorry to have called so late and um… it was stupid… I’m sorry.” I rambled off just about to end the call.

“No, it’s not too late Doll, what happened? You sound stressed, is everything okay?”

Do I sound stressed?

I didn’t know what to say so I just stayed quiet.

My words betrayed me when I finally found them. I told him the truth.

The next thing I knew I was explaining my dream to him and how much it shook me. He went quiet once I stopped talking. Too quiet. I could hear his steady breathing coming through the phone. I imagined him lying in bed, probably in the dark, listening to me rattle off like a crazy person at midnight on a Sunday night, but what he said next caught me off guard.

“Harper, I’m sending a driver to you. I have a guest room with a private bathroom in my penthouse. You’re going to stay with me until your roommate comes home. He will be there in twenty minutes.” He spoke with intensity.

I chuckled thinking he was joking, or he had lost his mind.

“I don’t hear you packing,” he replied to my amusement of his offer.

“Oh, you’re serious. No, I’ll be fine. I just got a bit spooked.”

“Too late, he’s already on his way,” he said, not entertaining any objections.

Before I had time to consider all the potential problems, I was hastily packing my work clothes into a duffel bag. Jasper stayed on the phone, while I packed and kept talking until his driver gently knocked at my door.

“I’ll see you soon Harper my driver is there knocking now his name is Hector. I trust him deeply and you can too.” Jasper ended the call with perfect timing as if he anticipated the driver’s arrival.

Ending the call worked out for me, it gave me time to lock up and bring my stuff to the car.

Hector insisted on carrying everything, but after I insisted, he reluctantly handed me my makeup bag and purse.

Once I settled into the armored SUV and buckled my seat belt, Hector was swiftly behind the wheel carefully pulling out into traffic.

My mind finally caught up, when I realized how reckless my actions were. I suddenly regretted calling Jasper, especially agreeing to this crazy move for the week. I don’t know Jasper well enough to wander into his home. I could never allow myself to sleep there, sleep being the most vulnerable position a person could be in.

What was I thinking?

Have I lost my mind?

---