Page 33 of Fallout

Jasper leaned over so their faces were close. “I want to stay.”

He couldn’t let her be unsure. Not with everything she was about to face. She had to know he would be there for her.

No matter what.

FOURTEEN

Destiny’s stomach had settled enough between the tea and crackers. What she really wanted was popcorn. She put a package in the microwave, even though everyone said it was terrible for you. She needed comfort right now.

And a minute out of Jasper’s immediate vicinity to breathe.

She sent a text to the Famous Ones chat.

You let him up? Really?

All she got back were emojis, so apparently, they thought that was an adequate answer. It was easier to be irritated than to face her situation—and the man who’d settled himself on her couch. He probably wanted to talk through it all, but she might not have the energy. When the popcorn was done, she poured it in a bowl and took it back over, placing it between them.

She sat facing him, her legs crossed on the seat. Mr. Fancy Suit Police Detective kicked off his shoes and put his suit jacket on the recliner chair. He even loosened his tie and pulled it over his head. “You don’t have to get back to work?”

“Not today. I’ve clocked enough hours, and with the witness downstairs in protective custody, I can be on hand in case anything happens.”

“You don’t want to go back to your house and get some actual rest instead of hanging out with a cranky, nauseous pregnant woman.”

“I’m not touching that one.” He tossed a handful of popcorn into his mouth.

Destiny had to ask. “Is your mom all right?”

“That’s a simple question that should have a simple answer, but instead, it’s…” Jasper fell silent for a minute, and she got to study him in profile. Did he even know he was basically breathtaking?

Probably, he’d realized by now that women fell over themselves to get to him. Her sisters had talked about him at length. And the waitresses at Backdraft where she used to work before…

She didn’t want to think about that.

“My mom,” he began. “When she found out Tessa and I were engaged, she told me that if I didn’t break it off, she would kill herself.”

Destiny stilled her hand over the popcorn bowl.

“She had problems with me dating. It was why I waited weeks to tell her I was even engaged. She doesn’t attend many public events, and we managed to keep it from her.” The skin around his eyes flexed. “We manage a lot with her. And for her. So this wasn’t any different. She was civil enough to Tessa the couple of times they met. But something Tessa’s father—he’s the deputy mayor—had said to my mom around a decade ago made her dig her heels in.”

He took a deep breath. “And when I say that, I mean I came over to check on mom, and she was in the bathtub. She’d slit her wrists and nearly drowned while she was bleeding to death.”

Destiny laid her hand on his knee. “I’m so sorry.”

“Because you have compassion. Something my mom has never had.” He tipped his head to the side. “Well, maybe she had it before…”

“Before Caleb?”

He hesitated. “My father told you about him?”

Destiny squeezed his knee. “You had a brother?”

“He was my best friend.” Jasper squeezed the bridge of his nose. “And then, he was just…gone, and everything was so empty. Maybe she wasn’t like this before he got sick, but I don’t remember her ever being other than what she is now.”

“I’m sorry she believes I tried to kill her.”

Jasper looked at her, a curious expression on his face. “You really mean that.”

“Of course. She deserves our compassion.”

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