Page 88 of Ensnared

“Didn’tI?” he says dismissively. “Mymistake.”

“Sadist.”

Jasperinclines his head again. “AsIwas explaining.”

Igroan a little laugh and look at the board, my chin in my hands.Imove my castle toD8, beside my king, with a pout.

Jasper’ssmall smile softens, then he continues, “It’snot enough to want to be right for someone.Youcan’t carve away important parts of yourself to make your pieces fit.Nomatter how much you might want to.”

Thereis so much pain in him as he says it, so much aching loneliness thatIsuck in a breath from the second-hand hurt.

Hemust have loved his wife deeply.

Jasperpicks up his castle, andIcan’t help but stay his hand.Heraises a stern brow, but for once...Idon’t feel like crumpling.

“I’mso sorry,Jasper.Thatmust have hurt.”

Withhis other hand, he captures mine and tugs it free.Hesqueezes it once, gently. “Yes.Itdid.”

Jaspertakes my knight with his castle atD7. “Tellme the rest.”

Ishift my gaze back to the board, finding it easier to talk while my hands are occupied, and take his castle with my knight, feeling likeI’mfalling into his plot.Buteven so, it doesn’t even occur to me to hesitate now. “Henrywas in theArmyfor a few years, andIhad just finished my degree when he was dishonorably discharged—found criminally negligent in his basic duties.”

Deadsilence.Jaspersits back in his chair, andIcan tellI’vesurprised him.

“Itwas sloppiness, really.Igenuinely don’t believe he would have done anything malicious, but he was always careless when things didn’t interest or benefit him.Twomen died because of his actions, and he was serving his time in a military prison when the strikes happened.”

“Youleft him while he was in prison?”Sittingforward again smoothly, he moves his other castle toD1.

Thatwas a hard time.I’dburied myself in work and tried to ignore the whispers of my coworkers.Peopletook dishonorable discharges seriously.

Theywere a serious matter.

Ismile ruefully. “Itried.Turnsout, dishonorable discharges are expensive.Hislawyers were expensive.Divorceis expensive.Ittook time.Iwas trying to get that sorted when everything happened.”

Hiselbows on his knees,Jasperregards me with unnerving intensity.Needingto escape the attention,Ishift my queen toE6to put pressure on his queen.IthinkI’velost this game.PlayingagainstJasper,I’mnot sureIhad a chance to begin with.

“DoIremind you of him?” he asks seriously. “Isthat why you’ve been avoiding me?”

Hisbishop takes my knight atD7in a severe, clipped motion.He’sright next to my king.

“Check.”

Isuck in a breath, butI’mnot looking at the board. “No.No,Jasper, you don’t.Not—Notreally.It’sjust the wealth andI—Ijust feel likeI’msaying the wrong thing all the time.”

Ratherthan looking hurt or offended, asIfeared, he seems to consider that. “Becauseyou don’t know the rules?”

Itake my knight toD7, taking his bishop, for all the good it would do.Thisgame is hopeless.Iwas lost beforeIbegan.

“BecauseIhatethe rules.”Thewords burst from me like a geyser.

Oh.

Myhand flies to my mouth, mortified. “I’msorr—”

“We’vespoken already today about that word,Eden,”Jaspersays calmly.Hemoves his queen toB8, andI’min check again.Heexamines my face. “Therules...”

Iwrap my arms around my stomach, sitting back... but asIdo,Jasperleans forward in his chair, chasing me.

---