“You’re so competitive.”
“Yeah, I am. What’s the point of playing a game if you don’t win?”
He’s so pretty. I reach out and nudge my pinkie against his and we sit in silence for a minute.
“Let’s go to your room,” he murmurs.
“What happened to your whole ‘sign from the universe’ thing?”
“I won’t touch you. Just — come on.” He stands up and offers me a hand.
I take it, and he pulls me up before leading to my room, picking up his coat on the way.
“I got you something,” Jasper says after he closes the bedroom door. He pulls out a small package from his coat pocket, wrapped in brown paper and twine.
I take it and unwrap the package. It’s a book.The Hobbit.
“I remember you said you likedThe Lord of the Ringsmovies. Anyway, I saw this at the supermarket so I thought I might as well get it for you.” Jasper shifts his weight. “Do you already own it? I can return it.”
“No, I don’t own it. I haven’t read it either…” I’ve been meaning to, though. I turn the book over and glance at the blurb.
“Do you like it?”
I smile. “Yeah.”
“Good. That’s good. I wasn’t sure…since it’s a book…”
“I do read, you know.”
His embarrassment disappears with one sharp look. “Don’t, Kieran. Don’t act like I think you’re stupid, because I don’t. I just…I didn’t want you to feel like I was assigning you homework or something, that’s all.” He glances away.
The moment stretches out. Something’s changed, and it makes me feel uncertain.
“Thank you,” I say, finding my voice. I place the book on my desk. “Is there a specific reason, or…”
“It’s a thank you for listening to me that other day.”
“You don’t have to thank me for that.”
“Well, paying you back gives me peace of mind.”
“Peace of mind,” I echo. Right. Because it’s only fair. What’s between of us is totally transactional.
“Yes.”
I let out a soft sigh through my teeth. “Jasper…”
He turns and glances around my room, then walks over to the closet and opens the doors. “You’ve still got the box.”
“Yeah.”
“Want me to take it tonight?”
I shake my head. “I talked to Senior. He said I should keep it, just in case.” I don’t think I was ever going to convince him it was a bad idea. Senior’s always been set in his ways.
“Hm,” Jasper says, then ruffles through the clothes hanging on the coat hangers. He flips through jumpers and jackets and comes across a faded red hoodie. “This is nice,” he says, pulling it out and holding it in front of him.
“It’s old.”
