Page 69 of The Edge Of Us

"Come on," he said, taking my hand, "let’s go see what dessert they’re hiding in that marble garden."

And I followed.

With a little less fear.

And a heart that dared to hope.

Chapter 40

Jasper

The warmth of Corinne's fingers still lingered on mine as we made our way back from the dance floor. She looked radiant under the soft golden lights, her cheeks flushed, not just from the dance but something deeper—maybe hope, maybe fear. I saw it all. Every flicker in her eyes. Every attempt to steady herself.

And damn it, she looked stunning.

"You good?" I asked, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. Her smile was soft but tight, guarded.

"Yeah," she replied. "I think I just need something sweet."

"Dessert," I offered, guiding her toward the long table where an elegant arrangement of sweets had just been served.

I saw my mother approaching before Corinne did. And the second I saw who was walking beside her, my stomach dropped.

Janice.

The same Janice who wore heartbreak like a medal and who my mother clung to like an extension of herself. Her heels clicked with practiced elegance, her smile sharp and too practiced.

Corinne stiffened beside me.

"Jasper," my mother beamed, arms open. "Darling, we were just talking about you. Look who I found."

"Janice," I greeted, voice flat.

"Jasper," she said, leaning in and placing a kiss on my cheek as if she still had that right. "You look well."

Corinne's grip on her glass tightened. I could see the confusion in her posture, the way her chest rose just slightly faster.

"And you must be..." my mother tilted her head, eyes squinting behind her mask of politeness. "Corinne, right? Brittany's friend."

Corinne smiled faintly and nodded. "Yes. Corinne. It's nice to meet you."

"Of course it is," Janice chimed, brushing her curled hair behind her ear. "We were just reminiscing about old times. Weren't we, Mrs. Ashford"

"Indeed. Janice and Jasper were such a beautiful couple. Almost a decade together. Engaged too. Such a shame things didn’t work out."

My jaw clenched. I didn’t want to do this. Not here. Not now.

Corinne cleared her throat softly. "Excuse me," she whispered to me, setting her untouched dessert plate down. "I'm just going to get some air."

I turned to follow, but my mother stepped in, a thin smile on her face. "Really, Jasper. Are you going to let a guest of yours walk out alone while you ignore the people who matter?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Don't do that."

"Do what?" she asked innocently.

"Insult her. Undermine her. Especially in front of someone who knows exactly what they’re doing."

Janice rolled her eyes, arms folded. "Jasper, come on. You barely know her. And she’s... come on. A mother of two? Divorced? And wasn’t she just recently—"

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