Page 222 of Romeo

I laughed and returned my attention to the screen in my hand.

Jasper had been unusually quiet for the last hour. He’d called me the morning after the gas station incident and every night since, but he hadn’t mentioned the man again after the first conversation. I’d expected questions. A lot of them. Instead, he’d asked about my wrist once, listened when I told him Frank and Georgie had everything handled, and moved on.

I appreciated that more than I’d told him.

Everyone else kept looking at me as though I might shatter if someone opened a door too quickly. Jasper had listened when I said I was okay.

Mostly okay, anyway.

My phone vibrated against my palm.

Jasper: Important question.

I smiled before I even opened it.

Me: Those are never actually important.

Jasper: Rude.

Me: Accurate.

Jasper: I’m serious.

Me: That makes it worse.

His response took longer this time and I knew he was typing out more than a word or two.

Jasper: If you had complete control over a house, what room would you spend the most money on?

I glanced at the television. The homeowners were now standing in what used to be a kitchen while the designer explained why removing perfectly good cabinets had somehow added thirty thousand dollars to the budget.

Me: Kitchen.

Jasper: Really?

Me: Why is that surprising?

Jasper: I pictured a library.

I sat up a little straighter.

Me: I can have both.

Jasper: Expensive woman.

Me: You gave me complete control. This is your fault.

Jasper: Already regretting it.

Me: Too late

His answer took only a few seconds.

Jasper: Fine. Big kitchen.

Me: Huge kitchen.

Jasper: How huge?