Page 7 of To Love Jason Thorn

Me: I have no idea. Maybe you can start withwhere you are and what you are doing?

Jason: Easy enough. As I’m already sure youare not a Michelle, you must already know my friend Dylan, I’m over his place.

Me: I know of him and I know that you areclose friends, that’s about it.

Jason: Would you like me to introduce youtwo? It’ll be like a second introduction for us, too.

Me: Not necessary.

Jason: As you wish, new shy friend. Whatelse would you like to talk about?

Me: Do you have any guesses as to who I couldbe?

Jason: Oh, another game. You sure are fullof games tonight, mystery girl.

Me: It’s not exactly a game for me.

Five minutes passed but no texts came in. Whenit hit the ten-minute mark, I got anxious, worrying if he already knew who Iwas and had put a stop it. Getting up from my bed, I started pacing my smallbedroom. When the space wasn’t enough, I sneaked out of my room and quietly wentdownstairs to grab a bottle of water and distract myself with something else.

Padding into the kitchen in a tank top andpajama bottoms, I stopped short when I found Jason staring out the small windowover the sink.

“Jason?” I whispered.

Turning to me, he whispered back, “Hey,little one.” His chocolate eyes looked tired for his young age. “What are youdoing up so late?”

Spying his phone on the kitchen counter, Iforced my gaze away. “Bad dream, I guess. Couldn’t go back to sleep.” Actingnonchalant, I opened the fridge and took out a bottle of water. “What were youlooking at?”

“Just at my house.”

“Your mom okay?”

“I don’t know, Olive. I really don’t know.”Letting out a deep sigh, he absently reached for his phone and walked over tome.

“You can talk to me if something’s on yourmind.”

He stopped right in front of me, his eyesalmost invisible in the dark.

“I can?”

“Of course. I know you worry about yourparents sometimes. I can listen if you need to.”

“You’re right, little Olive. I do worryabout them, but they are the last thing I want to talk about.”

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, looking down at thefloor.

“No need to be. Come and get us if you needanything, all right? I don’t think we’ll go to sleep for a few hours yet.” Agentle tug at my hair and he was gone.

I waited a few minutes before I padded backupstairs.

Just as I was about to go into my room andrun for the phone, Dylan peeked out of his room.

“What are you doing, Olive?”

Damn it! Didn’t he have anything else to doother than make my life miserable?

“What are you doing?” I asked back,a little peeved and a little nervous.

He cocked his head, his eyebrows knitted.

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