I took my shot, missing completely. “We’re in our thirties, Jas. Do you not think we need to grow up and settle down?”
He lifted his head, a look flickering behind his eyes that I couldn’t interpret. “Na, I’m still enjoying my freedom too much.”
I lowered my cue, walking closer to him. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just feeling a bit cynical about love and romance. Ignore me.” He picked up his beer and took a sip. “I don’t think I’m cut out for it.” His sad eyes landed on mine. “It hurts,” he almost whispered.
I leaned my body next to his against the pool table. “You met someone?”
“I did.”
“And?”
“They had to make a choice, and they didn’t choose me.” He sounded so hurt.
“I’m sorry you went through that. Was it recent?”
Closing his eyes, he looked as if he were replaying a memory. “Six months or so ago.” His eyes opened again, his face twisting to see mine. “I thought it would get easier, but it hasn’t. It’s hard when they're everywhere.”
“You still have to see them? Are they local?” I didn’t say he or she because I had no idea what my oldest friend was into these days.
Jasper put his pool cue down, reached for his phone in his back pocket, and unlocked the screen. He opened his saved photos, pulling one up that I instantly recognised.
“Is that Astrid Strickland?” I whispered.
“Apparently, but I knew her as Halle Whitaker.” I stared at my friend, utterly confused. “We met while I was working away. She was just a girl I met on the beach. We got chatting and well, thenext few weeks were pretty spectacular. But she didn’t tell me who she was, and I had no clue.”
I let out a laugh because Jasper was always so unaware, so it made sense that he wouldn't recognise the lead singer of the band Anatomical Hourglass who’d had a number one album for about the last… 6 months. My laughter stopped. “She chose the band over you and then went home and became a megastar?”
He shrugged. “I mean, what do I have to offer her? She has the whole world at her feet. I don’t blame her.”
I threw my arm over Jasper’s shoulder. “She’s a fool.”
He pushed up, put his phone away, and took hold of the pool cue again. “Well, it’s done, and I need to move on. But I’d appreciate it if you kept this to yourself. I don’t want anyone finding out what a tit I made of myself with her.”
I zipped my lips, offering him a sad smile. “You know, you can talk to me about it… tell me what happened?”
He bent, lining the cue up with the white ball, slamming it so that three balls slipped into the pockets. “I know, man, but I think the best thing I can do is forget it ever happened.”
Helen
I ached everywhere—stupid pilates that Lizzy had persuaded me to try at lunchtime meant that muscles I didn’t even know I had were now angry with me. Although, I had to chuckle as she was hungover after going clubbing last night when I’d sensibly come home.
I’d hoped a bath would help, but I was still so sore that I could barely move to get dressed, which was why I was still in my robe.
I limped downstairs, eyeing the sofa, deciding that it was the perfect place to spend an hour or two until the aches hopefully eased. I flopped down with a groan of relief, twisting my legs so they were stretched out in front of me.
“Never again,” I mumbled to myself as I closed my eyes.
“What aren’t you doing again?” a deep voice asked. I let out a screech as my eyes shot open.
Lodger, Helen. You have to remember you have a bloody lodger.
I shuffled, trying to make sure I was decent as my gaze skimmed over Jackson, who stood in front of me, wearing a tight white t-shirt, black jeans, and a black cap on backward.He looked so goddamn sexy that I licked my lips, letting my wayward thoughts have a moment to spiral before I reined them in.
He pointed to the sofa, but I moaned at the thought of having to move again. Without warning, he lifted my feet and sat, placing them in his lap. My body hummed.
“Pilates.”
