Page 32 of Keeping it Casual
I attracted attention with my coughing fit, and it appears Dustin and I have managed to hold their attention subsequently.
Oops.
Time to leave before I completely blow our cover.
“I’ll catch you later,” I say.
“Definitely,” Dustin replies.
I’m heading back across the lawn when Jasper intercepts me.
“Like hell nothing is going on between the two of you.”
I stop still. “What?”
Jasper fixes me with a penetrating stare. “You said at the pub that nothing was going on between you and Dustin. That’s bullshit, isn’t it? You two are definitely fucking.” He says the words with so much certainty it feels pointless to try to deny it.
“We’ve hooked up a few times,” I admit.
“Why the hell didn’t you just admit it then?”
“Because it’s nothing serious. It’s just a casual, friends-with-benefits arrangement.”
Jasper narrows his eyes at me. “What are you doing, Jeremy?”
“What do you mean, what am I doing?”
“I mean, you’re not a casual relationship kind of guy.”
“Says who?”
His face softens, but his gaze remains locked on me. “Says everyone who has ever known you. You’re a relationship type of guy, through and through. Why have you agreed to just friends with benefits?”
I suddenly feel defensive. “Because, in case you haven’t noticed, there’s not a vast array of gay guys in Mineral Creek. Idon’t exactly have a queue of more Pierce Brosnan lookalikes waiting to date me.”
“Pierce Brosnan?” Jasper squints in Dustin’s direction. “Yeah, I guess I can give you that. But don’t try to distract me away from my point.”
“Oh, you have a point, did you? I just thought it was pick-on-Jeremy day.”
“My point is you still feel so guilty about what happened with Emily that you don’t think you deserve to be happy.”
His words hit me like a slap.
For a second, I can’t breathe. I suck at the air, desperately trying to regain my breath.
Jasper’s still watching me expectantly, waiting for me to reply.
“Right, amateur psychology hour has officially ended, okay?” I turn on my heel and stalk across the lawn.
“Jeremy,” he calls after me, but I ignore him, continuing to walk away.
I don’t know my destination. I just know I need to escape.
Chapter 9
Dustin
Ilove watching Jeremy at Lucy’s party. He’s in his element, surrounded by people, talking and laughing. It feels like half of the population of Mineral Creek is here, a sea of faces I’ve seen around the town.
