Jasper’s eyes stayed on him. “I have a patience problem.”
Bennett’s stomach flipped.
He turned away first. “We should go back. We have work.”
Jasper followed at an easy distance. “Whatever you say.”
When they returned to the room, Bennett showered immediately, as if water could reset his brain. He stood underthe spray longer than necessary, trying to quiet the memory of a brief touch that had felt like a match struck in the dark.
When he came out, Jasper was on the bed again, laptop open this time. He looked up.
“Better,” Jasper said.
Bennett paused. “What?”
“You,” Jasper replied. “You look like you’re not about to throw yourself out a window.”
Bennett’s lips twitched despite himself. “Give it time.”
Jasper smiled. “That is the spirit.”
They workedin uneasy harmony for the next hour. Jasper handled messaging for the client facing side, his voice smooth and reassuring as he explained the delay to stakeholders. Bennett coordinated internal logistics, rescheduling meetings, reallocating resources and building contingency plans.
It should have felt normal. It should have felt clean.
But the awareness sat under his skin like static. Bennett was hyperaware of every movement. The way Jasper’s knee brushed the edge of the bed when he shifted, the way his voice softened when he spoke to the team, the way he glanced over and waited, as if making space for him.
It was unsettling. Despite his reluctance, Bennett found it comforting.
Later, the power flickered. The lights dimmed, steadied, then dimmed again.
Bennett looked up sharply. “No.”
Jasper’s eyebrows rose. “What?”
“No power,” Bennett said. “No Wi-Fi. No contact. We can’t lose power.”
Jasper closed his laptop with infuriating calm. “If it goes, it goes.”
Bennett stared at him. “How are you like this?”
Jasper’s smile was gentle. “I know what it’s like to have plans change. You adapt.”
“I prefer to execute a well crafted plan,” Bennett said.
“I know,” Jasper replied. “That’s why you’re often having a harder time than necessary.”
Bennett opened his mouth to argue, then thought better of it.
“Can I ask you a question?” Jasper said.
Bennett’s jaw tightened. “Ask.”
Jasper’s eyes stayed steady on his. “Have you ever wanted something that didn’t fit your plan?”
Bennett felt the words land.
He forced his voice to remain flat. “Everyone has.”
