Page 115 of Hopeless
At 2:11, I woke with a gasp rather than a yell.
She reached for me before padding to the bathroom and returning with lotion that smelled like her. In the dim light, she gently rubbed my feet until the burning sensation subsided and then crawled back under the covers with me.
We didn’t say anything. Didn’t need to.
Until morning, when I realized there were things I needed to say to her. Things that shouldn’t go unsaid.
And for all my heroics, I took one look at her peaceful, sleeping face, felt my body come alive from watching her lie there, and I crawled out of bed before I could do anything I shouldn’t.
I worked all day, found things to fix just to keep myself busy.
Then I texted my best friend—my almost-brother—and told him I needed to talk.
Movement at the front door draws my attention. Jasper jogs down the front steps of his and Sloane’s new house. He’s dressed like he’s been to the gym. Hair curling around his ears, Calgary Grizzlies hoodie stacked up around his neck, shorts, and sneakers.
When he yanks the door of my truck open, he smiles at me. I’ve known Jasper for the better part of our lives, and I’ve never seen him look as happy as he does lately. He’s lost so much, been alone in so many ways. He was moody and quiet and shy.
But now he has Sloane.
I smile back at him. “Hey, man.”
He hops in, slamming the door. “Hey, dumbass,” is his reply as he buckles up. “How’s it going?”
I roll my eyes and pull out of the driveway. “Fine.”
“That’s it? You text and tell me you need to go for a drink when I know you’re basically living some sort of deep-cover mission and what you give me isfine?”
“I’m waiting until we’re on the road.”
“Why?” He’s literally laughing at me now.
“I don’t fucking know, Jas. I’m paranoid about anyone hearing. I don’t want to betray Bailey.”
“You think Cade has some sort of special microphones planted around the ranch?” He peers around us dramatically.
“Fuck off.”
He does not fuck off, though. Instead, he claps his hands together and then points at me. “Nah. It’s probably those new supersonic hearing aids Harv got.”
“Dad got hearing aids?”
Jasper chuckles, flopping back in his seat. “Goddamn, dude. You ask some seriously stupid questions for someone who was supposed to have been a super soldier.”
I can’t help but crack a smile now. “That’s what Bailey always says.”
I expect Jasper to laugh, but he doesn’t. In fact, he goes so quiet I glance over at him as we turn out of the ranch and head into town.
He stares at me.
“What?”
He tips his chin at me. “You.”
“Don’t be Mr. Mysterious with me. That’s not our jig, and you know it.”
“Okay, well, that rule goes both ways. Yeah?”
I shake my head. Can’t ever pull one over on Jasper. He’s too smart. Watches everything too damn closely.
