Dom winks. “We all did. Why do you think Jaxon picked each one of us? Tattoos are not just drawings on skin—especially not to Jaxon. It’s art. You’re talented, Jasper. Your creations should be displayed, hung on walls for people to admire.”
I bristle at the compliment, and Dom laughs, changing the subject. “So, how’s Olly?”
Next subject!
“Wha… what? How would I know how Olly is doing?”
“Because you were spotted at the Farmers Market last weekend together. Then there’s the whole ‘Spencer Baby Heist.’ Finn had me on standby in case the authorities got involved and Spencer needed a character witness.”
Geez, call a guy out.
“I just wanted to make sure that he was ok and not stressing out. A baby gets left next to a dumpster and we all know Olly gets frazzled easily,” and then goes as cool as a cucumber at the flip of a switch like a sex god, but I don’t say that.
“He asked if I wanted to come over for dinner. He was being nice, and I wasn’t going to turn down free food.”
“Sure, you stick with that,” Dom says with a low rumble.
Yes, ok, there’s something going on between Olly and me, but I’m not ready to share when evenIdon’t understand what’s happening.
Life is spinning around in my head like a tornado. It needs to settle so that I can see clearly. The upcoming doctor’s appointment is a constant weight on my mind, a heavy cloud of worry that I can’t shake.
Ididn’tplantogo to Olly’s today. I just got in my car after work and this is where it took me. So, when he doesn’t answer, I let myself in…with the key that he never moved, I would like to point out.If he didn’t want me to use it, he should’ve moved it.
I lean against the wall to the kitchen, watching Olly covered in flour… and is that frosting? And what is he doing to that poor mixer?
“Do you need some alone time?” I ask, making my presence known.
Olly jumps, “Ahhhh! Why Jasper? Just why do you have to scare me like that?”
I put my hand up in defense. “Hey, I knocked at least three times. You didn’t answer. I knew you were home, so I got worried.”
Olly scrunches his face like I’d just said something wildly unexpected.
“Shit, what did I do now? At least this time, I wasn’t standing in a dark living room waiting for you?”
“And you know what? I appreciate that.” Olly cracks a smile. The tension in my chest loosens, followed by a tiny flutter when he smiles. It’s been doing that a lot lately and I don’t think it’s the meds.
I step further into the kitchen. “What are you working on?”
“I’m testing out some cupcakes,” Olly says. “But my mixer, Juan, is causing me some heartbreak.”
His ridiculously mean yet somehow gentle look at the problem mixer has me holding back a chuckle.
“Juan, huh?”
Olly laughs. “According to my grandfather, Juan was named after a sexy local Mexican baker he and my grandmother met on their honeymoon. I chose not to ask any follow-up questions.”
“I haveso manyfollow-up questions.”
Olly sighs, flipping the switches back and forth on the old-powdered blue mixer, with no sign of life. “I might have to mix this last batch by hand.”
“Do you want some help?”
He eyes me curiously. “Yes, since you’re here and all, I might as well put you to work. I’m surprised you’re here, actually. With the number of times you’ve helped me, I figured you’d be too scared to come over. It’s been a few days since I’ve heard from you.”
That’s on me. I should have reached out sooner.
I walk around the island, sliding next to him, leaning in. “You could never scare me, Olly,”
