Page 19 of Love, Magic and Misfortune
“I-It’s just an observation.”
“No, I know you’re right.” Violet grinned, lifting her mug. “I’m going to do better. What about you? What doyoureally want to do?”
He shook his head, his face blank. “Nothing.”
“I don’t believe that for a second.”
“I can’t do much because of my sickness, so I don’t think about anything. What I’m doing now is fine. Being here…” Jasper lifted a hand, then raked his fingers through his thick, unruly dark hair. “Sitting with you like this, it’s nice. I never expected this, so it’s enough for me.”
What’s wrong with you?Why couldn’t he just explain it? Whateveritwas. Why was it a secret? It was nagging her, but she wouldn’t ask again. He’d made it clear that he didn’t want to talk about it.
Still, as she stared at the man across from her—his calm demeanor, linty blue sweater and pale gray eyes that almost constantly avoided her direct gaze—she wished that he would just tell her. Or perhaps that she could read his mind.
9
Now
“It happened again.”
“Oh no,” Violet moaned. “Seriously? I’m so sorry, Rosie. How much this time?”
“Five thousand. My bank is so accustomed to it now, they actually calledmefirst, preemptively suspecting the charge was fraudulent.”
“Yikes. This is the third time this year.”
Rose exhaled a heavy sigh into the phone. “It is—but it’s fine. We caught it right away, and when Jilly gets back from her work thing in Paris, we’re going to start planning wedding stuff. Life is good.”
“Oh very exciting. Have you talked her into letting you meet her parents yet?”
“Nope,” Rose said. “She’s still insisting they’re terrible people and we shouldn’t bother. I think I have to leave it alone. Anyway, what’s happening in Sleepyville? Entertain me with colorful stories of charming local yokels.”
“Hm, let’s see… Oh, Art was here last weekend. He was visiting his grandfather’s grave along with his grandmother.”
“Art? Who the heck is Art?”
“Arthur Malle. You dated him for two years in high school? You told me he was your first.”
“He wasnotmy first.”
“Um, ’kay?”
“I think I just said that to make it seem like I waited. I didn’t want to corrupt your young, impressionable mind.”
“Great.”
“What about him?”
“Nothing, really.” Violet shrugged. “We bumped into each other in town, so we had coffee. It felt weird though. I think he was being flirty.”
“Don’t have coffee with my ex-boyfriend.”
“It wasn’t like that, and you didn’t evenrememberhim a second ago, Rosie.”
“Still. It’s a sister code. Did he ask about me?”
“Yeah.”
“What did you say?”
