“I don’t understand why she gets a special day, anyway. It’s technically family dinner night, so really…”
“Jasper!”
“Ugh, fine.”
By the time we arrive at Dragonfly, I’m only somewhat convinced Jasper will behave himself.
“Sorry, we’re late. Someone had a small panic attack about not finding his jacket.”
“Hey, she’s a piece of art. She’s special.”
I chuckle. “Yeah, baby, she’s pretty special.”
“You two are just so stinking cute.”
“Spencer is just saying that because he won the bet,” says Finn, walking up to greet us.
“Really? You bet on us?” I ask.
Finn nods. “Yep. And you’re right on time. Food’s almost ready.”
We started having our family dinners at Dragonfly and then we rotate who’s in charge of cooking. “Who’s our chef tonight?”
“Beckett and Lucas.”
“Oh, that’s right. Beckett said his friend was coming tonight.”
Spencer lowers his voice to an almost whisper. “Yeah, so everything’s been going just fine. There hasn’t been a brooding, massive meatball standing in the corner all night shooting daggers at Beckett’s friend.”
Jasper and I both snort. “When are they going to realize?”
“Oh, you mean the way you two danced around it forever?” Finn says.
“It just wasn’t our time yet,” I say, grabbing Jasper’s hand and kissingthe back of it.
Mazie cries in the distance. “Duty calls,” Spencer says, making his way to her, Finn following close behind. Seeing them as parents is the absolute best.
Beckett comes out of the kitchen carrying a tray of food, and my stomach rumbles.
“Look, tiny little sandwiches,” Jasper says. “I could eat a whole tray.”
“Please, don’t eat a whole tray.”
“Ugh, fine.”
“I’m going to go talk to Jaxon about my schedule for next week.”
Jasper has turned a corner, it seems, with opening up more. He has a doctor’s appointment coming up, and instead of hiding it, he told me right away. He even told me he was nervous about it.
“Okay, I’m going to talk to the brooding man in the corner.”
“Can I just say I’m proud of you?”
“For what?” I ask.
“You used to be intimidated just by talking to Dom. Now you’re just walking up to him without a care in the world.”
“Yes, well, my curiosity is outweighing his scariness. And please, he’s just a giant teddy bear.”
