Page 14 of Nyctophilia

Jasper was frozen to the spot. He looked like he was about to have a heart attack. I knew he wasn’t a cat person, but surely he wasn’t afraid of them. Right? I grabbed my insane cat and started to rush out of the room. “I’m so sorry. I’ll lock her in the bathroom. Hold on.”

Jasper seemed to shake himself out of his trance, and cursed under his breath. When he spoke, his voice was strained. “Actually, I should go. I forgot I have an early morning tomorrow. I’m sorry.” He started backing towards the door. “I’ll see you soon. Sorry.”

And before I could say anything, he was out the door, leaving me in the same spot wondering what the hell had just happened.

* * *

I passed through the next couple days in a stupor, wondering exactly what had taken place that night with Jasper. He hadn’t come into the coffee shop the next day, and I found him taking up more space in my brain than I would have liked. Had he just been using me, and magically developed a conscience? Not that I had tons of experience, but we’d had some pretty honest conversations, so that one didn’t seem likely. Was he afraid I was going to freak out over all the crazy things he had told me, and didn’t want to stick around for the fall out?

I had no idea.

I met Mollie on Wednesday for our weekly date at our favourite diner downtown. After we sat down and ordered our usual meals, she turned to me with eager eyes. “Okay, spill. You told me it didn’t go well, but that was all I got out of you. What the hell happened?”

My question exactly. I filled Mollie in on the disastrous date (minus the werewolves -- I didn’t think she’d take too kindly to that lunchtime topic), and Jasper’s sudden departure. Her eyes steadily grew wider, and when I finished she sat back, mulling over my story.

“I knew he looked like a jerk! No one looks that good in a leather jacket and isn’t an asshole.”

I shook my head. “I don’t know, Mollie. Maybe I’m naive, but something about the whole situation doesn’t add up to me. Maybe something was wrong, and he had to leave. Maybe he left his oven on.”

Her mouth dropped open. “So you’re telling me you aren’t even a little bit pissed off? No offence, but you don’t normally let guys get up close and personal, period. This guy did, and then took off.”

Iwashurt, and angry too. But I also felt the need to defend Jasper from Mollie’s wrath. I toyed with the straw in my drink. “I think there’s more going on than what I know.”

Mollie looked past me. “Well if you need closure or whatever the hell you think would make you feel better, now’s your chance.” She poked her fork towards the window. “Your brooding bad boy just showed up, and he’s staring at you.”

Jasper was here? I slowly turned to look over my shoulder, and sure enough, there was Jasper outside the window. If anything, he looked hotter than he had at dinner. His white shirt curved across his shoulders, with his black tattoos peeking out around his collarbone. I wasn’t the only one admiring his strong build. Outside, a woman walking by on the sidewalk overtly checked him out as she passed. Must have been a coincidence. Jasper wouldn’t search me out like this. He’d practically run out of my house.

But as my gaze met his, a hopeful smile spread across his tanned skin. He curved up one finger in a “come here” gesture. I was angry, but I was also more than eager to be near him again. Frazzled, I whipped my head back to Mollie. “What do I do?”

Mollie nonchalantly popped another fry in her mouth and shrugged. “Looks to me like he wants you to go out and meet him.”

Very helpful. I sighed at her. “Obviously. But do I go?”

Mollie shrugged again. “Honestly, girl, it’s up to you. But if I were you, I’d go give him a piece of my mind.”

Gathering my courage, I pushed back from my chair and tried to look confident as I walked outside to meet Jasper. Mollie was right. I should give him a piece of my mind. When I finally stood in front of him, I crossed my arms and forced myself to look him in the eye. “What do you want?”

He at least had the courtesy to look ashamed. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his black jeans. “I’m sorry, Green. Really.”

My anger had been simmering until this point, but now it boiled over. He’d left me, embarrassed me, and all I got was asorry? “What the hell? I told you I don’t do stuff like that, ever. So imagine my shock when I trust you for some crazy reason and then you proceed to run out on me like my house was on fire. To be honest, I don’t even know why I’m out here talking to you. I already got the answers I needed.” I started to turn away.

He grabbed my wrist so fast I didn’t even see him move his hand. “Ava, wait. I can explain everything. I swear. There’s… there are things you don’t understand yet.”

I felt instant sparks from where his hand grasped my wrist and did my best to ignore the desire stirring in my body. “So explain, but I don’t have all day. Mollie is waiting.”

This time, I was sure he felt the sparks too, his eyes getting a shade darker. “Not here. It’s something I have to show you, not tell you.”

We were still going in circles and I found myself getting frustrated. “Forget it, Jasper. It was a mistake going to dinner with you in the first place, let alone bringing you home.”

He took his free hand and pulled my chin up to face him. “Then make one more mistake. Please. Go for a drive with me? I’m working right now, and Mollie is waiting on you but I’ll pick you up tomorrow night, at seven. Give me one more chance.”

I only saw honesty reflected in his eyes. Even though I knew I should make him work for it, what came out of my mouth was simple. “Okay.”

He breathed out in one huge gust, like he had been holding himself tight. “Okay.” He gave me another slow smile. “I don’t think your friend is too happy with me.”

I looked over my shoulder and saw Molly’s gaze shooting daggers at Jasper from the table. “Don’t mind her. She’s a little overprotective of me.”

His voice grew raspy, and I knew where he was going. “Well then, how about we give her a show?” He pulled my face closer to his, bringing my mouth a second away from his. “What do you say, baby?”

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