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 is fine?”
“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.
Including me, apparently.
“Fine. Sure.”
“I’ve been in your company for like two minutes and you’ve brought Bailey up twice.”
“And?”
“Just making an observation. Once per minute is a pretty solid clip.”
“You talk about Sloane all the time.” I sound defensive to my own ears.
“Well, we are married. Were actually engaged at one point.”
I straighten and twist my palms on the steering wheel. “Well, so are Bailey and I.”
I don’t need to turn my eyes on Jasper to know the look he’s giving me right now. It’s blank and impassive. He does it well.
“Really, Beau? We’re gonna play that game?”
“What? We are. For all intents and purposes, we are.”
“Do you know what the word ‘intent’ even means?”
My molars grind. “Yes.”
“Okay, good. Cool. Thought you might have been confused.” He chuckles as he props one foot over his knee.
“I’m not. We’re engaged.”
I refuse to glance over at him and keep my eyes on the road as silence blankets the cab of my truck. Five seconds stretch into ten. Into twenty. I’m ready to snap at him about the silent treatment when he finally says, “Oh shit.”
“Oh shit, what?”
“You’re into her.”
Into her.
That seems like it’s vastly understating whatever it is I feel for Bailey.
Invested.
Possessive.
Obsessed.
I scrub a hand over my face and decide not to use any of those words in case Jasper thinks I’m insane. “Yeah,” is all I reply with.
“So, the fake part of this fiancée thing isn’t very fake anymore?”
“I don’t know. It’s changed.”
“I thought you didn’t want to be tied down?”
I grunt. “I don’t. Okay, I didn’t.”
Jasper lets out a low whistle, like he’s impressed. He knows all the reasons why I haven’t wanted to tie myself to anyone. But now I’m not taking off at the drop of a hat. Now my chances of dying are significantly lower.