Page 39 of Sweet Little Thing

“You need to leave. Pack your shit and get the hell out of here. Maisie, we’re finished. Can you not remember that? Because I thought it was very clear. Entering my home uninvited and acting like you own the place is typical, offensive, and arrogant…and one of the many reasons I ended shit. Go. Get the fuck out.” Jasper then walked toward me and draped his arm around my shoulder. “I’m so fucking sorry,” he repeated as we made our way into the house.

“You threw that drink,” I replied. It was all I could think of to say.

Jasper sighed. “Yeah, I lost my shit for a minute.”

“I didn’t mind serving them.”

He shook his head. “You might not, but I did. She shouldn’t be here. This is your home. Not your employment. I wish you’d called me.”

“I thought you knew.”

“If anyone ever comes in this house and I haven’t warned you beforehand, they shouldn’t and won’t be here long. I’ve not had time to talk to anyone. No one knows about us yet. But they will now, which is good. They all need to know.”

“She’s beautiful, but she isn’t nice.”

“She was in the beginning—a fantastic actress. I’d been searching and hoping she was different. Her core is fuckingrotten. Maisie’s a terrible person.”

I could see that. Well, I did see it. I had been exposed to her all day.

“I’ll deal with them. If you want, just go upstairs. Take a long bath and relax.”

Other than Maisie, these were his friends. If I had any hope of fitting into his world, I would need them to like me. Running from them wasn’t going to help that, so I replied, “I’d like to stay. They’re your friends. I need to get to know them.”

Jasper studied me, looking unsure and concerned. I couldn’t have him incessantly protecting, constantly in hover mode. He’d get tired of that. Finally, he said, “Okay. Let me make sure Maisie is gone. Then you can come out and join us. I won’t run the other two off.”

“Thank you,” I replied.

Jasper’s frown increased. “Why are you thanking me?”

“For giving me a chance to find a place in your life.”

Jasper laughed. It was soft, and the look in his eyes said everything he needed to say. “Beulah, you are my life. That happened without me even realizing it.”

I didn’t have a response that seemed remotely adequate to the words he’d just said. Instead, I managed to nod and smile.

“Let me go deal with Maisie. Then, I’ll come get you. Sterling and Tate can get to know you as my girlfriend and not the fucking help. My God, that’s demeaning.”

“Okay,” I agreed. I started to clean the kitchen, and Jasper said, “Don’t do that.” He then enveloped me from behind.

“Why?” I asked, settling into him.

“Because you aren’t the help. Damn, I said it twice.”

I leaned back and replied, “If we were normal…if you were a regular guy and this was your apartment would you argue with me about cleaning up after entertaining your friends?”

Jasper was quiet as he held me. I gave him time to think itthrough. He’d never been a regular guy. It was something he couldn’t comprehend. Did he know how normal people lived? Had he ever been around it? Struggled at all? Had to pay something from nothing?

“I think I understand what you’re saying. If this makes you feel good, then do it. I won’t dictate what you do. I just don’t want you to do things because you think you’re supposed to.”

I nodded because I understood. Even if deep down he didn’t.

Chapter

Thirty

Jasper

When I stepped back outside, Tate and Maisie were both gone. Sterling calmly remained. He was sitting on a lounger with a beer in his hands. Lifting his chin to meet my stare. “Tate helped Maisie take her things to her car. She drove. We’ll need a ride when we leave.”

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