Page 94 of Ghost of a Chance
Jasper was usuallythat guy.The one who cheered her up when she had a rough moment, or made her laugh just by being silly, or turned her on by looking at her.He was always trying to help.
“Out, Chewie,” she said firmly.The dog needed a command instead of options.
Jasper peered over at her, and he had glasses on.He looked somehow sexier than she’d expected.He opened the door again and Chewie went out to do his business.
“Since when do you wear glasses?”
“Since I didn’t sleep last night and my eyes are too scratchy for contacts,” he said, following Chewie out the door.
He wasn’t ready to make nice with her.Feeling as if she were the injured party, she’d let herself forget that she’d lied to him too.
Especially since she hadn’t figured out if bridging it was a smart thing to do.But this morning had been a clarion call showing her that her life needed a change.She’d sort of hoped that Jasper would have been his old normal self this morning, that this would be easy.
He came back in with Chewie who shook himself off, trotted over to her.She bent to pet the dog.
“Gia mentioned that Pete from the used bookstore is going to meet you later today.Do I need to be there?”he asked.
“Only if you want to,” she said.Though she’d hoped he’d come.Seeing him would make all the difference.
“My mom is driving over and I want to make sure she’s settled in her hotel.”
“Why is your mom coming here?”Kirsty asked.
“It’s my birthday tomorrow,” he said.
“Oh, I didn’t realize.”That one stung a little.
“Why would you?”he asked her, washing his hands and then leaning against the counter.
This was one of those moments where her life shuddered to a halt and her head got light and it was hard to think.Whatever happened next would determine if she and Jasper were able to move past this or if they’d part ways as onetime lovers.
It had been a long time since she’d allowed herself to feel this much for a man.But Jasper with his dreamy blue eyes, high cheekbones and quirky personality had charmed his way into her life and into her heart.
There was no denying it.Or what she wanted.She’d never asked to stay, or anyone to stay with her.But now it seemed important that she did.She’d always thought she was content with the loneliness she’d cultivated in her life…but she wasn’t.Not anymore.
* * *
Jasper had spent a lot of time thinking about everything that she’d said the night before.He’d replayed it, done things differently, but in the end it was up to her if she wanted to move past this.
He did, but he was tired and cranky.His mom was here to celebrate another birthday.And this morning, as Jasper performed his usual routine, he realized that he finally knew what he wanted from his life.
It wasn’t a career change or a big upheaval.It was simply to have someone with him.Not just any someone—Kirsty.
But she had to be willing to meet him halfway.
She studied him with those unreadable, serious dark eyes of hers.What was next?Was this where she told him goodbye?
“I guess I figured we knew each other better than that,” she said.“That this was more than temporary.”
His heart almost stopped beating.Then redoubled, pounding so hard he struggled to hear anything.Had she?
“This isn’t easy for me to admit but you were right.I was waiting for you to screw up so I’d have a reason to push you away.That’s not something I wanted to hear you say.”She put her hand on her hip, which was hugged by a formfitting black turtleneck sweater.
“What are you getting at?”
“I want to do aStar Warsmarathon after we leave here.I want to see you regularly.What do you think?”
Chewie was looking back and forth between the two of them as they talked.Jasper’s heart was still racing.The fact that she stood before him right now was a lot.“I want that too and a lot more.Last night after you left I kept thinking I shouldn’t have let you walk away.We should have hashed things out.”
