My heart was beating too quickly again. I wasn’t sure if it was from bravery or from the worry that was starting to seep in.
“Hey, look at me,” Jasper got my attention, leaning a bit more over the table. The table wasn’t all that big to begin with. “You’re okay, Koda. Take a deep breath. Yeah, just like that.”
I gasped in a breath, feeling way better all of a sudden as the panic ebbed away. Or maybe it's just him.
“Two big things happened, and you survived. You didn’t die. You didn’t panic. You ordered your own drink, and then you talked to me for the first time ever. I think that deserves a reward, don’t you?”
I tilted my head. Reward?
“Jasper…” Dawn warned, unsure almost.
“Nothing rated R. Promise,” he turned his gaze back to me. “A movie night maybe? Dawn’s welcome. Grams would love extra company. Some popcorn even. Candy, too.”
A movie?
I squinted.
“There was a new movie that came out that I’d like to see.” He named the movie, one that didn’t ring any bells. So, I could just shrug. “Think about it, okay. If not, I’ll just…get you another bear.”
At that, I perked up, then blushed. I wasn’t a dog who wanted a treat.
“I think I got my answer,” Jasper laughed lightly, sitting back in his chair. His eyes went over the top of my head before he waved at someone over there.
I was tempted to turn and look, but last time there was a group over there, I saw ghosts that I knew weren’t really there.
“My friends are going to wonder who you are,” he went on, this time putting his arms a bit further up on the table, and close to me. “Wanna come meet them?”
Uh, no.I shook my head too quickly.
“Figured. Maybe someday. My friends won’t hurt you, and one or two may make their way over here to say hello since I’ll have to explain to them who you are.” He winked, causing me to blush ten shades of red again. “I’ll leave you two to enjoy your drinks then.”
I watched as he stood. When he was right beside me, he leaned down so only I could hear, “I’ll bring your reward later today.”
“Okay.” I squeaked.
He gave me another one of those smiles that I wasn’t sure how to take before he went back to his group of friends. Left in his wake, I felt too many eyes on me and cold at the same time. And my stomach was full of butterflies.
Glancing over my shoulder, and more towards Dawn, I watched a few of Jasper’s friends talk to him and point in my direction.
“We can leave,” Dawn drew my attention. I shook my head. I knew none of them could hurt me here. I was eighty percent sure that Jasper wouldn’t let them do anything anyways. “Alright.”
I had to force my gaze away, although I’d have liked nothing better than to watch Jasper. Lately, it seemed that’s exactly what I wanted to do if he was in the same area.
Cleaning Mrs. Lee’s house once a week at least gave me enough time to do that. It may have started to take me a bit longer on Saturdays to clean her house when Jasper was there. And it may be possible that I chose that day just so I could see him.
Crap.
Today wasn’t a day to figure out three things. Two was more than enough.
“What’s wrong?”
I took a deep breath, then huffed. Would she even understand? Because I didn’t. I felt like I was losing my mind all of a sudden. It was turning to mush.
“Jasper….he’s…. I like him. And….I shouldn’t. I’m…. broken. I can’t…. gah.” I slapped both hands on my face, hiding my frustration. I was a mess and there was no hope for that to be fixed.
“It's perfectly normal to like someone,” she said after a moment. “He’s a good friend. A safe one who won’t put you into a position to make you panic or freak out.”
“More than….” I blindly waved a hand in the air before forcing myself to sit up and wrap my hands around the warm mug before me. Maybe my drink could have all the answers.
