Page 135 of Romeo

Jasper: Fair point.

My smile lingered, but the hollow feeling beneath it didn’t go anywhere. He’d left right after the ceremony, blaming the long ride home and club business that couldn’t wait. I’d watched him cross the parking lot after he kissed my forehead, lifting one hand before he disappeared among the cars.

Now I was surrounded by people celebrating my achievements, and the one person I kept looking for wasn’t there.

Me: Thank you for coming.

Jasper: I wouldn’t have missed it.

I ran my thumb along the edge of my phone. Somehow, that wasn’t what I wanted to hear.

Me: I already miss you

The second I sent it, heat crept into my face. I’d been getting bolder with him for months, but there were still things that felt too vulnerable once I saw them sitting on the screen.

Jasper: You saw me three hours ago.

Me: I’m aware

His response took long enough that I started wondering if I’d said too much.

Jasper: I miss you too.

My throat tightened. There were a dozen safer answers I could’ve given him. I chose none of them.

Me: Then come back

Jasper: Don’t tempt me.

Me: Maybe I’m trying to

Jasper: You’re getting dangerous.

Me: You keep saying that like you don’t enjoy it

Jasper: That’s exactly why it’s dangerous.

I read his answer twice before lowering the phone.

That was Jasper. He’d give me just enough truth to leave me wondering about everything he hadn’t said. I knew he wanted me. I wasn’t questioning that anymore.

What I didn’t know was what he intended to do about it.

Or how I would feel when I knew.

“You gonna stare at that phone all night, or are you actually gonna enjoy your party?”

I looked up to find Nash standing beside me with a soda in one hand and an amused grin on his face. He dropped into the chair next to mine and stretched his legs out in front of him.

“I’m enjoying it.”

“Yeah, you look thrilled.”

His gaze dropped to Charlie, and the teasing left his expression. “He asleep?”

I looked down. Charlie’s small body was curled against mine, his breathing deep and even despite the noise surrounding us. One hand remained tangled in my shirt as if even asleep, he needed to make sure I didn’t go anywhere.

“Yeah. All the noise wore him out.”