Page 54 of Bar Down


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The only messages I’ve gotten since are from my lawyer. Nothing new on that front, which doesn’t do anything to improve my mood.

Because I keep picturing Jasper as he left.

God, I wish I could get the look on his face out of my mind.

Maybe if we didn’t meet so suddenly I could have come up with a plan to tell him I knew who he was.

“Dolly, I really stepped in it.”

She purrs against my leg, curling up next to me.

It’s a dreary day, rain pattering against the skylights in my bedroom. I don’t have the energy to get up. Thank God for the automatic feeder for Dolly, or she’d be mad at me too.

Glancing at my phone, I realize it’s still early. Hoping my friend is awake, I tap her phone number and wait for her to answer.

“Why are you calling me so early? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, but I need my friend.”

“Okay, when you say it like that, I’m worried,” Claire whispers.

“Can I tell you something and you not yell at me?”

“Why would I yell at you?” she asks. I can hear the confusion in her voice.

“Because I didn’t tell you something and I don’t want you to get mad at me. Someone is already mad and I don’t know if I can take anyone else being mad at me right now.”

“I won’t yell.”

“Promise?” I ask.

“Promise,” Claire confirms.

“I met someone.”

“You met someone?” she shrieks over the phone. Based on the groan that filters through the phone, she’s in bed still.

“Yes. On a dating app.”

“You met someone on a dating app?”

“Not just anyone. Jasper Hayes.”

“Why does that name sound familiar?”

“He’s the hockey player we met when I did?—”

“You met Jasper Hayes on a dating app?!” I hold the phone away, her voice increasing by at least five decibels. “I’m not yellingatyou. But you met him? The guy I said you should totally get his number?”

“One and the same.” I wince.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was scared.”

“Scared I’d be mad? Hang on.” I wait a beat before my phone buzzes in my ear. She’s video calling me.

“Why in the world are you video chatting with me so early?”