He smiled. “I’m sorry, Letti. Swear to Christ, I planned to tell you. I just—”
“Didn’t have the balls?”
He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t want to burst our bubble.”
“Well, it’s burst now, buddy.” I threw my hands in the air. “I liked you, you big fat jerk.”
“I like you, too, Letti. That doesn’t need to change.”
“You’re a prospect now, Jasper, I’m off-limits.”
He sighed. “Right.”
“But...” I licked my lips. “I can keep a secret, can you?”
He shook his head. “Not big on lying to people, beautiful.”
“It’s not a lie. It’s a secret. If we’re careful, no one will know we even know each other, let alone like each other.”
I couldn’t believe this thought had come out of my mouth. This had been my chance to walk away from him. Away from being stuck in ‘the life.’ But I couldn’t. I don’t know why, but I needed more of him. We hadn’t even kissed yet and I wanted to know what his lips felt like. Maybe I could get him out of my system.
“If I’m asked, I won’t lie,” he said.
“I don’t expect you to.”
“Okay, I can keep our secret for a while.”
I raised my pinky finger. “Pinky swear.”
He chuckled, wrapping my finger with his. “Pinky swear.”
I nodded and grinned. “This is gonna be fun.”
“Or not.”
I patted his chest, forcing myself not to linger. “I’ll see if the coast is clear. There’s a bathroom in here, so if anyone asks, I was showing you where it was.”
He nodded, and I opened the door. The hallway was clear, so I left the room and made my way to the kitchen, figuring he would follow in a few minutes.
* * *
Wednesday afternoon, I was going over my notes since Thursday morning was my last final and then I was done for the summer. I couldn’t wait. Dad was starting to ease up a little, so I was hopeful I’d be totally free once school was out for good.
I was home now, so that was a good start. Of course, I was never alone. There was always a prospect or one of my brothers with me, but I hoped that if I played my cards right, Jasper would be one of the ones on watch duty.
No. Aero.
I had to get used to calling him by his club name, especially since I had been introduced to him that way. It would be a huge red flag if I continued to call him Jasper.
“Letti!” Dad bellowed up the stairs.
“Yeah?”
“I’m heading out. Aero’s here to watch you.”
I leaned over the railing. “Who?”
“New recruit,” he explained, and I let myself secretly squeal with glee.
