Page 20 of Keeping it Casual
I spend part of the evening trying to figure out the dynamic between Jasper and Beau. Jasper refers to his ex-girlfriend once, and while nothing about Beau indicates he’s anything but straight, something about the dynamic between them raises questions in my mind.
It’s the way they bounce banter between them so quickly it’s hard for the rest of us to get a word in edgeways. The way they finish each other’s sentences.
And as the night goes on and more alcohol is consumed, making everyone looser, there’s something about how Beau angles his body toward Jasper that makes it seem like he’s a wilting plant and Jasper’s the light he needs to survive.
Or maybe my beer goggles make me see gay everywhere.
It’s near the end of the night when Beau glances across the pub and does a double take.
“Oh shit,” he says.
Beside me, Jeremy looks in the same direction and stiffens, his hand tightening around his beer glass.
Jasper’s eyes narrow and he throws a look at Jeremy. “Do you want me to run interference while you escape out the back exit?”
Jeremy smiles, but it’s tense. “It’s okay.”
I follow their collective gazes to a group of four women who’ve just come in and are making a beeline for the bar.
Jasper’s eyebrows fold in on themselves. “If she gets drunk and ends up crying all over you again—”
“I said it’s okay,” Jeremy cuts him off sharply. I stare at him. I’ve never seen Jeremy wound up before.
His jaw is clenched. He takes a sip of his beer, then swallows thickly.
“I broke her heart. She’s entitled to a few tears,” he adds.
“It’s been over two years,” Jasper says.
“Yeah, well, I’m that hard to get over.” Jeremy’s attempt at humor falls flat, maybe because we can all hear the sadness in his voice.
I want to touch him.
Fuck it.
I reach under the table, putting my hand on his leg and giving a gentle squeeze.
He throws me a small, grateful smile.
I keep my hand on his thigh for a minute, enjoying his warmth, before reluctantly withdrawing. I don’t want to do anything to add to the speculative glances Jasper continues to shoot me.
“I should head off home now anyway,” Jeremy says. He shoots me a glance. “You readyto go?”
Jasper snorts into his beer. “You’re going home together? I thought you guys weren’t a thing.”
“He lives just around the corner from me, idiot,” Jeremy says affectionally.
“Oh, right, well, I guess safety in numbers and all that. You wouldn’t want to get mugged on the way home.” Jasper’s voice contains more than a hint of sarcasm. Because yes, I’m fairly sure the crime rate in Mineral Creek probably doesn’t require safety escorts. But I’m not turning down more time with Jeremy.
“It was great to meet you all,” I say as I stand. Jeremy follows suit.
“Yeah, you too.” Jasper gives me an easy grin. “You’re welcome to hang out with us anytime. You don’t need to bring Jeremy.”
“Hey!” Jeremy says. “Stop trying to pinch my friend.”
“Sorry, I wouldn’t want to interfere with yourfriendship.”
I try not to flush at Jasper’s insinuation, but Jeremy rolls his eyes, grinning.
