Page 164 of Romeo

Jasper: I’m sorry.

Me: I don’t need an apology.

An apology wouldn’t give me back the hours I’d spent picturing a phone call from someone else. It wouldn’t erase every time the clubhouse door opened and I expected Georgie’s face to tell me something I wouldn’t survive hearing.

Jasper: What do you need?

I closed my eyes. Of course he would ask me that.

What I needed was harder to put into words.

Me: You. Here.

Jasper: I wish I was.

Me: Then come when you can.

Jasper: You want me in Rosewood?

My breath caught in my chest. That question shouldn’t have felt different from any other time I’d told him I wanted to see him. But it did. Maybe because tonight, I wasn’t asking for a visit.

I just wanted him where I could reach him. Where I could touch him and know he was okay.

Me: I always want you in Rosewood.

I stared at the message after sending it.

Always was dangerous.

Jasper apparently agreed.

Jasper: You can’t say always unless you mean it.

My fingers hovered for only a second.

Me: I mean it.

The phone remained silent long enough that I wondered what he was thinking.

Jasper: Call me, Cher.

I swallowed.

Me: I’m angry with you.

Jasper: You can be angry while I’m on the phone.

A sob escaped before I could stop it. Several heads turned in my direction, but I ignored them.

Me: I thought I lost you.

Jasper: You’ll never lose me.

Me: You can’t promise that.

This time, his answer took longer.

Jasper: I can promise I’ll fight like hell to come back to you.