“I’m sorry,” Jasper says. “For what happened earlier. Are you okay?”
“You mean when I barely escaped death only to fall on my ass?” I say, staring at him deadass and tensing right up.
“Yes, I shouldn’t have… I’m sorry. I hope you’re okay.”
He seems genuine, so I relax, sit back in the seat, and try to not to clench my fists underwater.
“It was pretty shitty leaving like that,” I say. “But I’m fine.”
“I know it was shitty, but I couldn’t with the others around… I—”
“Right.” I let my chin slip into the water. If I could dive under and stay there I probably would.
The bubbling sound of the water fills the silence that lingers between us. I shift uncomfortably while Jasper sits up straight, his eyes on mine.
“You know I didn’t think it was possible,” I say.
“What?”
“Your buddy Clayton, he’s even more of a jerk than you.”
It’s a joke, but Jasper doesn’t laugh; he breaks eye contact and lowers his head, like he’s ashamed.
“I know.”
“Okay, so why do you hang out with him?”
“His family and my family go back generations. Our relationship is important to the pack, it’s…”
Jasper stops when he sees just how much I’m rolling my eyes.
“So he could be the biggest dick in the world and you’d still be his friend because it’s important to the pack, but I’m—”
“Max, you don’t have to worry about Clayton…in that way.”
I huff.
Without looking at him I know that Jasper has edged forward on his seat, a little closer to me than he was before.
“And what about Mia?” I ask, knowing how sulky I sound. “You know the only reason any of us are here is because her dad wants to strengthen the packs by mating her to you?”
Jasper tenses in the water but remains where he is.
“If the pack is the most important thing to you then—”
“Max.” Jasper’s hand finds my arm just beneath the surface; he holds me tightly. “You don’t have to worry about anyone like that. I…”
I feel the slight tug of Jasper’s hand and slowly angle my body back in his direction. The steam wafts between our sweat-dotted faces.
“I may not be able to say you’re my mate in public,” he says, pulling me closer, and I drift helplessly through the tub and my confusion. “But there will never be anyone else that I…”
Can this dude ever finish a sentence?
Jasper purses his lips, and I drift a little closer, my eyelids drooping on their way to being shut. It’s warm, but my entire body is covered in goosebumps. I drift another inch closer…and then I hear the door swing open. We pull apart fast and conspicuously, splashing water onto the balcony floor.
“You boys better stop splashing when I get in there,” Mia says obliviously, shutting the door behind herself and heading toward the tub. “This is a place of relaxation.”
Jasper settles uncomfortably back onto his perch, his arms crossed over his chest. I laugh awkwardly—half at almost being caught and half at the idea that Jasper and I were having some kind of bro-y water fight.
