“You could have asked to use it in the first place.”
Vincent smiled faintly. “It’s not exactly my style.”
“Just like your mother,” Arthur said but without the disparaging disapproval that his grandmother would have employed. “Not exactly your style to take a vacation either, hmm?”
“I’m visiting friends. You remember Zach and Aston.”
“By yourself?” The knowing tone nearly had Vincent rolling his eyes, and it was utterly ridiculous to be embarrassed about seeing someone when he was in his third decade. “They were planning to start a rather risqué business, if I remember correctly.”
Vincent smothered a soft snort at that understatement. “No, not alone… I’m here with the man I’m seeing. It’s his father in the hospital.”
“What’s he like? Better than that wanker you left here with, I hope.”
Christ, how had he been so blind when everyone else saw how toxic Adam was? “It’s only been a few months, but so far he’s amazing.”
“Good. Maybe you’ll bring him to visit soon.”
Vincent suspected Jasper would have an aneurysm if he saw the Thornwell estate. It wasn’t quite as big as one that would be in a Jane Eyre rendition, but it was sizable. His grandmother wasn’t exactly a selling point either. She liked to pretend his being gay was an immature indulgence or a phase he’d grow out of and spent his entire time living there continuously trying to set him up with the daughters of prominent families.
“We’ll see.”
They spent a few more minutes catching up before Arthur was called away to another meeting.
Vincent slumped and rested his head against the back of the love seat to stare blankly at the ceiling. He’d only gotten a couple hours of sleep, but he doubted he’d get more at this point. He sent a quick text to Zach letting him know they might be leaving early, but that he didn’t have details yet. Packing wouldn’t take long. The food was an issue, but Zach and Ash would put it to good use if they did leave.
For now he was stuck in a waiting game. He could have woken Jasper, but when he got a text from Rupert with the flight plan confirmation, he saw the jet wouldn’t be there until nearly four that afternoon. Plenty of time for Jasper to make a decision and take care of everything after.
With a sigh he pushed himself up and headed back to the kitchen to caffeinate for the long day ahead.
Chapter 15
JASPER STIRREDawake to fingers combing through his hair and immediately wiggled closer to Vincent with a groan of protest. “No,” he grumbled, rubbing his face against Vincent’s shirt and breathing in the scent of warm skin and a lingering hint of soap.
“No, what?”
“No get up,” Jasper whined and refused to open his eyes, even though he really should have been up before Vincent to make breakfast. Except if Vincent wanted breakfast in bed, he shouldn’t have tormented Jasper for hours last night.
Vincent pressed a lingering kiss to his temple. “Sorry, pet, but you do need to get up.”
He let out a heartfelt groan and threw a leg over Vincent’s hip. “Why?”
Vincent sighed, his hand pausing in its path down Jasper’s back. “Amber called.”
Jasper grunted and pressed his face into Vincent’s chest. “So? We’re on vacation.” Even as he said it, he knew that wasn’t going to make a difference. She wouldn’t have called for something trivial, and Vincent certainly wouldn’t be making a big deal about it if it was.
“Pet,” Vincent said, his voice soft, and Jasper instinctively tensed up enough even his lungs stopped working for a moment. “Your father is in the hospital.”
Jasper wasn’t sure how he should react to that. A small part of him thoughtGood! But the rest of him was apathetic. He didn’t exactly wish his father ill so much as he tried not to let the asshole take up space in his head. “So?”
Vincent was silent for a long moment before his hand started moving again, a soothing rhythm that nearly made Jasper want to crawl out of his skin. “It sounds like he may not make it.”
“Then there’s no point in worrying about it. Or calling her back.”
“You don’t have to,” Vincent replied slowly. “I’ll tell her you don’t want to talk to her. Does that mean you don’t want to go back?”
“I want to stay here.”
“Okay.”
