Page 94 of The Boyfriend Gamble

“But I didn’t know.”

“I told myself you did. Something to carry me through when I was shoving down the food between runs.”

I blinked.

“Yeah. That.” He cleared his throat. “Do you need a hand?”

I shook my head as I moved toward the table. I placed the plates down, then headed toward the fridge.

Pouring two glasses of juice took little time, and soon I sat across from him.

He held his fork. Poised.

“Oh God, Jasper, eat.”

He grinned, cut a piece of omelet with his fork and shoved it down.

“Oh, we need toast.”

He swallowed. “Given how much egg is on my plate, I’m good.”

I sized up my own pile of food. “Yeah, I did go a little overboard.”

“No worries on my end. I’m starving.”

“Did I not pack enough—”

He held up his hand to halt me.

Which I did.

He swallowed his mouthful. “You did amazing. I just wound up being even hungrier than I could have imagined. I wanted to get home as soon as I could, so I didn’t go to 7-Eleven or anything. And here I am.” He shoved another forkful in his mouth.

I wanted to get home…

Every time he said something perfectly innocuous, meaning layered itself—whether intentional or not. He didn’t meanthiswas his home. That was some studio over on Second Avenue.

Yet he didn’t just pick up his car and go. He’s here. Clearly planning to stay.

Well, I’m not asking him to leave.

“What do you want for dinner?”

He blinked. “I haven’t even finished breakfast…”

“I like to plan ahead.”

“Yes, that doesn’t surprise me. But how about you surprise me? Unless there’s leftover lasagna. Because that was amazing.”

“I shared with Rayne and Everett last night. We did a potluck of leftovers. They had roast beef, mashed potatoes, and brussels sprouts.”

Jasper mimed retching.

I laughed. “Actually, with cheese sauce, they’re—”

“No.” He held up his hand, again to stop me. “You will not defile cheese by adding brussels sprouts. That’s a hard no.”

Again, I chuckled. “I’ll tell Everett you feel that way. I believe Rayne would echo your sentiments except I had the feeling some kind of…sexual favor…had been promised if brussels sprouts were consumed without complaint.”

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