Page 93 of From Helsinki with Love
“Thanks again, dude! See you later,” he waves and disappears to the other end of the plane.
“I love meeting fans, don’t get me wrong, but is it too much to ask to have this time for just the two of us?” Jasper sighs when he’s sure the kid is nowhere near. I shrug, and he takes my hand, bringing it to his lips for a kiss. “Thank you for understanding,” he adds.
“Of course. It’s not like we won’t have time alone later,” I reply, leaning my head on his shoulder.
“Yeah, I know. But the schedule will get hectic once we’re back in New York,” he murmurs.
“I’m okay with that. I’ll be working long days starting the day after tomorrow. We’ll make it work, okay?”
“I’ve never done this, and it scares me. What if I do something wrong?”
Squeezing his hand reassuringly, I answer, “I know it’s all new to you, but we’ll be fine. I’ll be there with you, every step of the way and one day at a time.”
He nods and leans in to give me a soft kiss on the forehead. “Thank you, Muru. You always know how to calm me down.”
The flight attendant interrupts our conversation, reminding everyone to sit down and fasten their seatbelts. As we buckle up, I sense Jasper’s tension fade away.
I look out the airplane window and see it has started snowing. Seeing that makes me feel a bit anxious. Jasper notices my discomfort and takes my hand. “It’s okay. We’ll be okay.”
I know he’s right, but my fear of flying always gets the best of me, even when I feel more relaxed with him. As the plane takes off, my anxiety about flying worsens, and Jasper holds my hand tightly. I try to stay calm and breathe deeply, but it isn’t easy. He leans closer to me, whispering sweet nothings in my ear. I close my eyes and lean on his shoulder, trying to focus on his voice and not the moving plane. Once the plane is in the air, we sit in comfortable silence for a while, not saying a word.
“I’m happy you’re here with me,” Jasper breaks the quiet.
“I’m glad to be here,” I reply softly, feeling a rush of warmth spread through my body.
“I don’t want our time alone to end, so maybe we can plan another getaway once we’re back in New York.”
“Where were you thinking?”
“Maybe I could join you on one of your snowboarding trips, even if I can’t snowboard. But we would still have nights to spend together.”
I smile at him, feeling my heart swell with affection. “You know, I think that’s a great idea.”
“I’m glad you agree. I want us to have some special time together, away from all the craziness of our lives.”
“I know what you mean,” I reply. “This will be perfect.”
It’s only been eleven days since we met, but it feels like we’ve known each other for much longer. Jasper is the kind of guy who makes you feel like you’re the only person in the world that matters.
* * *
“Home sweet home.” I sigh as I open the door to my apartment. “I have missed you.”
I roll my suitcases in and leave them in the hallway—I can unpack later. Jasper follows me in, his eyes scanning the space with a hint of curiosity. I lead him to the large living room while I take off my jacket and toss it on the dark green velvet armchair in the corner, gesturing for Jasper to make himself at home. He sinks into the cushions on my new couch, his eyes still wandering around the room.
“This is a nice place,” he says. “Very cozy and very you.”
Looking around, I see what he means. There are art prints, plants that Lottie waters during my trips, and pops of color to bring something unique to otherwise neutral decor—just how I like it.
“Thank you. It’s taken me a while to make it feel like home,” I tell him. “And I’m still considering moving, but let’s see when.”
“There’s always time to think about that later. Come here.” Jasper motions me to join him on the couch.
I sit down next to Jasper, feeling the warmth of his body. It's lovely having him here with me in my space, a place I have carefully curated to be my own. I lean my head back against the couch, letting out a contented sigh.
“I love traveling, but being back home is the best.”
“I know the feeling.” Jasper looks at me and asks, “Should we order dinner?”
