That stops him. “Wait, you did? What happened? Are you okay?”
He squeezes me closer. A sign of strength and solidarity from him. “I’m not going to lie. It unsettled me.”
“Anything I can do to help?”
“Just being here is helping. Eric told me if I put all of this behind us, we can work together again.”
“He what?” Jasper growls. “That prick honestly thinks you’d work with him after everything he’s done to you?”
“Trust me, it’s not going to happen.”
“Good.” A satisfied smile sits on his handsome face. “He’d have to go through me. I mean, you can dump me, but not for that asshole.”
Cupping his cheek, I draw him in for a kiss. “I don’t plan on dumping you anytime soon, Casper.”
“Good, Bella. Because I’m quite fond of you.”
“I’m quite fond of you too. Even if you’re my elder.”
“The sass.” Jasper laughs, slapping my ass in a playful manner.
“You like it.”
“I do. I really fucking do.”
“You know, there is something that you could do to help me feel better.”
“Oh, yeah?” Jasper sweeps the hair off my neck and kisses my throbbing pulse. “What might that be?”
“Karaoke.”
It takes him a minute to catch up. “Wait, karaoke?”
“Yes. Singing along to some of the best songs. Some beers. All very casual.”
“That’s what you want to do? The world’s biggest pop star?”
I shake my head. “I don’t wear that crown when I’m with you. Just Jasper’s girlfriend.”
“You’re my girlfriend now? Sliding that right in there, are you?”
My fingers play with the buttons on his shirt. “Something I’m trying out. Unless you don’t want to karaoke with me. Then you’re just a guy I’m chilling with.”
“Again, seems unfair that I’m going to karaoke with you.”
“It’s not like I’m performing. I’ve always wanted to go but no one ever wanted to go with me. I figured if someone would go with me, it’d be?—”
Jasper shuts me up with a kiss. A long, slow kiss that has my pulse fluttering.
“I never said I wouldn’t go with you.”
“Really?”
“Don’t judge me when I suck though.”
“I promise.” I drop a kiss on his cheek. “I won’t judge.” A kiss on the other cheek. “If you do suck.” A kiss on the lips. The kind of kiss that is a promise of what’s to come.
“Mmm, Quinn. I know you said karaoke will make you feel better, but can I do something right now to make you feel better?”
