Page 6 of Bulletproof Love

“You might be onto something,” he says with a smirk. Damn, he’s attractive. He has these smoldering hazel eyes that hide all his secrets. That lip ring too. He’s always nibbling it between his teeth. Something about a pierced guy gets me going.

I realize I’m staring up at him and blink, focusing my gaze at a discolored spot on the wall. “Remind me to never hang pictures in my room.”

“Oh yeah, that would be asking for broken glass everywhere.” He stretches his arms over his head, showing off his lean muscle. “Hey, I noticed Jasper’s gone. Is he in your room?”

I’m mid-sip when water almost spurts from my lips. “What? Why would you think that?” My voice drips with indignation.

Leon grabs me a paper towel from the counter, that smirk still visible. “Come on, I know you two are hooking up. It’s obvious.”

What the hell did Jasper tell him?

“We’re not hooking up. That man drives me insane. Plus, he’s not my type,” I lie. “I go for older guys… with their lives put together.”

Leon scratches his chin, scrutinizing me far too closely for my liking. “What about Blake’s birthday?”

Damn him. I knew he’d bring that up.

“That—That was—I—That had—Nothing. Nothing happened.” From the way I mangle my own words, any bullshit detector would know it’s a bold-faced lie.

Truth is, we made out that night. That’s it.

Well… okay, maybe there was some dry humping too. But I swear that’s where it stopped.

Thing is, only one of us actually remembers what happened—and it’s not the guy who was so wasted on pills and booze he could barely stand up straight.

I knew it was a mistake the second I woke up and saw him passed out on the floor beside me. If he wasn’t going to bring it up, neither was I. Lucky for me, he never said a word.

Leon, being the smug jerk that he is, only shakes his head and lets out a dry chuckle. I’m glad he thinks this situation is so funny. Before I have a chance to think of a witty retort to his mocking, we’re interrupted by an earthquake.

Not really… but holy hell it sounds like those two are going to break the floor. I clench my thighs together and take another sip of water.

“I’m surprised we haven’t gotten a write up from the building manager yet,” Leon says. He heads over to the couch, where his laptop sits folded on the coffee table.

“Oh, I think we have. Blake told me that Damon took care of it. Whatever that means.” I shrug and organize a few random objects on the kitchen counter. Not like I’m getting any sleep tonight. May as well straighten up.

“So if Jas isn’t in your room, any idea where he is?”

Leon has his phone out and is texting someone. Probably Jasper. The brightness on his screen is like a spotlight in the dim room.

“No idea,” I lie again. I’m not getting in the middle of Jasper’s addiction issue. If the guys haven’t seen what’s right in front of them, then they’re far less intuitive than I thought.

Looking at Leon’s expression, he seems to believe me… but there’s concern written all over his face. I’ve got a feeling he knows exactly what’s up. I sink into the other end of the couch, tucking my legs beneath me. Even with my thickest socks on, my toes feel like tiny icebergs.

Unease makes my chest constrict. There’s no use in calling Jasper again if he’s on the subway. But if I timed his route correctly, he should be getting home in a few minutes.

Leon and I sit there wordlessly, each lost in our own thoughts while our friend’s... enthusiastic noises… fill the silence. I’d bet any amount of money that he’s just as worried for Jasper as I am. Living here is going to give me premature aging. Crow’s feet before I’m even thirty. I better hit up Sephora for some new skin care.

Fifteen tense minutes crawl by before the front door knob rattles and Jasper’s unmistakable heavy steps have us both turning to look. An ache gnaws at my chest as I take in his disheveled state. His black balaclava is scrunched up on top of his head, with strands of his dirty blond hair poking through the bottom. He’s wearing a black hoodie, and baggy dark wash jeans—both covered in what looks like dust and dirt. There’s a dull pallor to his skin, despite being outside in the cold for the past hour. Even his ocean blue eyes are foggy, like the sea in a storm.

He notices us sitting there and suddenly the mask he wears for the world slips back into place. “Lee, what are you doing up?” He tilts his head, picking up the sounds from Blake and Damon’s room and laughs. “Oh. Right on time.”

“Where were you?” Leon asks, getting right to business.

My knee vibrates while I watch Jasper try to bullshit an excuse. Before he can open his mouth, the sound of mewling echoes through the apartment. Damn, I’d almost forgotten about the kittens.

“What the—” Leon scrunches his face as Jasper pulls the two scraggly kittens from his hoodie pocket.

“Shhh, babies. Daddy’s going to feed you,” Jasper says to the kittens, completely ignoring Leon’s question.

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