Page 44 of Born in the Spring

“So who’s making you feel old?” Vanessa asks now, and I shake my head at her lilted voice, following Skylar’s little fingers along the piano keys when they play into my view.

“You’re still who you used to be,” Vanessa goes on, her voice now low with assurance, speaking to things I haven’t said. “You’re being her right now and getting on a couple people’s last nerve,” she adds, and when I give her another side stare, she laughs. “There’s nothing wrong with who you are or howoldyou are.” She angles her head toward the front, drawing my eyes to Jasper as he makes his way to us. “Just ask that man coming our way. Be right there, Mads,” she calls out, far from slick, as she makesherway to a girl who didn’t even call for her.

Jasper takes her place next to me with a much smoother slide, his shoulder a firmer, warmer press into mine. His smirk is just as warm, but similar as he watches Skylar fumble some keys and create his own tune. “He’s getting better.”

I smack my leg into his, his gibing grin growing as he looks down at mine, that I turn to Skylar. “He’s having fun.”

A quiet settles between us, a hum in the places our bodies touch. And when I feel myself lean more into him, the comfort of his closeness, his leg brushes lightly against mine, and he releases a sighed breath that breezes through my hair.

“Your idea?” he asks low, both a hope in his voice that Tripp had no part in his son’s piano playing and a worry that he did.

“Skylar’s,” I tell him, then add honestly, “But I’m gonna help him talk to his dad about lessons.” There’s a distance in my words as I keep Tripp’s name from my mouth, from Jasper’s ears, so that’s all he knows Tripp is—Skylar’s dad.

And Amie. And Vanessa. They should know that too.

Jasper scoffs a laugh. “Well, the kid’s got his lessons. Tripp won’t say no to you.” He says his name himself, distaste in the way he pops the ps, a strain in his throat to match the sudden strain in his body.

“And that’s a bad thing in this case?” I press my arm more into his with a shake to loosen him, adding a look to the reminder that thisisabout a kid.

He sighs, loosening, as he glances over at Skylar, his features softening over him like I knew they would. My eyes fall to the lift in the corner of his lips, and I make them keep falling until they’re back on little fingers playing keys.

“Is there another case?”

There’s a heaviness in the question that makes my voice light as I say, “Is that why you came over here?” I press into him with another shake. “To question me about Tripp?”

He loosens this time too, another lift in the corner of his lips, but a heaviness still in his gaze as he holds mine. “I’m always near you for you.”

My eyes fall again, then blink back up, my lightness fighting against the weight. “You don’t have to protect me anymore, Jasper.” Words that put a flinch on his face and in my heart at once as they leave my mouth.

Then it’s all scoffed away in his laugh downto his hands, that clasp together into one fist. “If I’m protecting anyone, it’s him from me.”

I snap my gaze up at the cracked edge to his voice, seeing the dark look in his eyes, and a panic zips through me, my grip on his arm as firm as the scold in my voice as I tell him, “Okay,for me, don’t do anything to get yourself hurt.”

“Are you trying to say you don’t want to lose me?”

“I am saying that.”

“Thensay it,” he pleads through a breath, shifting to face me more, and my hand slips from his arm back to my cup, my head shaking.

“Of course I don’t want—”

“Not like that.” His headshake is an argument to mine. “Reallytell me you don’t want to lose me.”

“Daddy!”

Skylar slams his little, but mighty body into my legs, closing my parted lips and sitting me to attention as Tripp approaches from behind Jasper. I manage a smile as Skylar informs his dad, “I’ve been playing the piano!”

Tripp laughs, eyeing me as he says, “Guess I’ll be paying for those lessons?”

I laugh back as I stand. “You took the words out of my mouth.”

“Kid’s got his lessons,” Jasper mutters aloud as he stands, catching my stare before facing Tripp. “Tripp,” he greets him, popping the ps with an obvious exaggeration, that pops a cackle from Skylar, then a genuine smile down at him from Jasper, that forces one from me. I angle my head to hide mine behind my hair.

“Jasper,” he greets back with no amusement.

Skylar tugs on my hand, giving me theCute Eyes. “Let’s show Daddy the piano.”

“Oh, I’m sure your dad needs to—”

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