My phone rings when we're halfway back to my place. I groan when I see Olive's name flashing on the display.
Sarah's lips twitch. "You know she'll just keep calling if you don't answer."
"I know," I growl, stabbing the button on the display to answer. "What do you want this time?"
"Well, you're awfully cranky today," my sister grumbles.
"Only because I know you. What do you want?"
"I need a favor," she says, right on cue.
"No."
"Jasper! It's important."
Sarah hides a smile behind her hand.
"You always say that, Ol. And I hate to break it to you, but your definition of important and mine are drastically different," I point out.
My sister growls like I'm annoying her.
"You're the one who called me. What do you want?"
"I need the military."
"What the fuck?" My brow flies up as Sarah tries not to lose it beside me.
"My new neighbor is a serial killer. So I need you to call the military. You just retired. Surely you still know people."
I pull into the driveway, sighing so heavily every goddamn ounce of air expels from my lungs. Sarah is red-faced beside me, her hand clamped over her mouth, her body shaking with silent laughter.
"Olive, baby sister," I say as patiently as possible. "Why in the ever-loving fuck do you think your neighbor is a serial killer?"
"Because he is. Trust me."
Yeah, I've heard that before. Damn near ended up in jail last time she said it.
"He keeps coming to the bookstore, and he's hot and smirky, and he reads romance. I mean, who does that, Jasper?"
"You mean aside from you?" I ask dryly, grinning when I hear the confusion in her voice. Whoever he is, she likes him. No wonder she's spiraling.
"This is serious, Jasper!"
"I can hear that," I say, trying not to laugh. If I do, she may very well cut my balls off. Olive runs from love like she's in a goddamn foot race. Unlike Sarah, there is no real reason for it aside from her stunning ability to attract the worst kind of men.
The right one is out there. She just hasn't found the one strong enough to love her exactly like she is. Whoever he is, she's going to change his life. If he's smart, he'll let her. If he isn't, he doesn't deserve her. My sister may be a lot, but no one will ever love harder than she does.
"Give me his name, and I'll look into him," I mutter, willing to give her that much. Not because I think he's a serial killer. Ninety to one, he's not. But given her dating history, the odds aren't zero, either.
"Have I told you lately that you're the best big brother ever?" she says.
"Nope."
"Good, because I'm still mad at you," she retorts, making me laugh. "But I guess I still love you. Bye!"
"B—"
She's already gone.
