Page 62 of Taste of Surrender
“All right. Did you set a date?”
“Not yet, but we’re thinking next May.” Jesse smiled at his fiancée.
“Cool. Gives me time to plan something epic for your last night as a single man.”
Jesse grinned, but before he could respond, a sudden yelp pierced the air. I whipped my head around to see Jasperclutching his arm, his eyes wide as he stared at us. Instantly, my heart leaped into my throat.
“Shit!” I shouted, rushing to his side. “What’s wrong?”
He doubled over as he clenched his bicep. “A fucking bee stung me.”
“Hang on, man. I’ll get your EpiPen,” Jesse called out, his voice calm but urgent as he bolted into the house.
I knelt beside Jasper as Olivia, Savannah, and Elliott stood back and watched. “Jasper, look at me,” I said, my voice soft. I wanted to reach out and lift his chin, but I held back. “You’re gonna be okay.”
“Yeah, but why is it always me?”
“It’s because you’re too sweet,” I whispered.
He snorted a laugh and sat on the concrete. “Fuckers just want to kill me.”
“We won’t let that happen.”
Jesse returned quickly, and after he stuck Jasper in the leg with the medication, he said, “We need to get him to the ER.”
“You guys have your show,” Jasper protested. “I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll take you,” Olivia stated.
I looked up at her. “Are you sure?”
“Of course. I’ll go get my keys.”
“Thanks, baby.” Jesse kissed the side of her head.
Everyone except me dispersed, and I sat next to Jasper as we waited for the medication to fully get into his system.
“Remember when you got stung when we went camping?” I asked.
“How could I forget?” He chuckled slightly. “We had our first kiss that night.”
“Yeah, we did.” I smirked, remembering that night.
“I was so scared, though, when you got stung. Still am.”
“I’ll be fine,” Jasper assured me.
“Probably so, but it still doesn’t make my heart hurt any less.”
“You say that as though you love me.”
Out of sight from everyone, I brushed his pinky with mine. “I do.”
Jasper’s gaze collided with mine. “You do?”
“I should have told you when you admitted to me that you were in love with me back in the day. I don’t know why I didn’t, but yes, Jasper ‘The Best Chef Ever’ Bennett, I love you and you really need to stop getting stung because it’s killing me.”
He smiled softly. “I love you too.”
