Van
* * *
It might be the end of my workday, but I checked my schedule for the tenth time today. After Clover’s appointment last week, the admin reviewed her upcoming appointments. There was no way I could join Clover for even a small part of the next ultrasound visit and make it to my first investor meeting.
There had to be a way.
I scrubbed a hand down my face and spun around in my chair. My office was upstairs in the house I was renting. It was all one open space, and Jasper promised he’d only need a bedroom. I didn’t believe him, but I was flexible. I was actually looking forward to his arrival, which wouldn’t be until the new year.
I folded my hands and gazed out the small port window. The place was old, but it had charm, and Alder had restored it nicely inside. Jensen said he’d done the cabinets for him and also helped lay new flooring in the kitchen after they discovered water damage.
This place was a dream to work in. Yet each morning, I woke up and stared at the popcorn ceiling, willing myself to get out of bed.
This was the first time since my breakup with my ex that I was truly alone. I hadn’t liked living with my parents, and as aggravating and interfering as they’d been, they were still human interaction. Since I had no clients yet and was only peddling my business to potential investors, I had myself for company.
My parents had tried contacting me for the first time. Elijah had likely gotten to them.
Now I had them all blocked. As far as I was concerned, my only family would be Bean.
The whole situation was an adjustment, and I missed Clover. I missed seeing her stuff in the bathroom. I missed having her in bed next to me. I missed those breathy moans when she came.
That fast, I was hard and aching. I pushed at my dick like that’d help. Only one thing would, and jacking off in the shower wasn’t it. I spun back around to face my monitors. They had gone blank.
Another evening with nothing to do.
I could go to Bismarck for a Pokémon tournament, but a few snowflakes drifted past the glass. The roads might be slick.
The doorbell rang.
Was it Clover? I raced downstairs. It didn’t matter that there was no reason for her to call me. I sprinted across the house to the front door, but when I opened it, there was no one there. A box sat on the welcome mat.
Clover’s Christmas gift that I’d ordered. She hadn’t said not to exchange any, and we were friends. She was damn near my only friend.
Just then my phone buzzed.
I grabbed the package and looked at the phone. Jasper’s name appeared, and my heart sank. I had more friends than just Clover, but they were all her relatives. Thanks to her, I had them in my life. But I’d rather she was on the other side of this line.
“Hey, Jasper.”
“Do you have my bed warm, or do we have to share like you did with my sister?”
“She required a pillow wall.”
“No kidding?”
He didn’t have to know how long it lasted. “And she cooked every other night.”
“I can handle that, but you might get sick of steak.”
“Challenge accepted. Do you like popcorn and brownies like your sister?”
He chuckled. “You’re going to have to specify which one.”
I liked all of his sisters, but there was only one I dreamed about.
“I was calling to let you know that I paid Alder for half of December’s rent, but I’ll be there a little later in January than I thought.”
He didn’t have to pay for half of December, but I’d been around him enough to know arguing wouldn’t change his mind. “Thanks for the warning. I can walk around naked until then.”
