I’ve heard enough. I let out a huff, throw my hands up, and storm away. I don’t even know which direction I’m walking in, I just need to get away from the abject torture of hearing my parents discussing my possible future sex life. All I want is to spend some time with my mate without the burden of thinking about how it affects the pack, without being scared my head is going to explode. I haven’t even thought about if we’d…
My feet stop moving of their own accord. Somehow I’ve made it halfway across the bridge that crosses the lake.
Have I been naive? Should I have been thinking about sleeping with Jasper? Should I have assumed that’s what would happen if we went away together? Things have changed a hell of a lot since the first time Jasper and I shared a bed at that dingy motel, back when Jasper was still trying to pretend he hated me. And the time we stayed in the tent in the mountains, neither of us were in a particularly sexy mood. Will this trip be different? Are we different? Am I? And is that something I’m ready for? I place a steadying hand on the railing as footsteps approach behind me.
“Hey,” Jasper says, arriving on the bridge. “You okay?”
I turn and face him, my cheeks still warm, and find him looking strangely bashful, his head bowed, his eyes darting from mine to the ground.
“I didn’t mean to suggest that we’d—I don’t want to pressure you into—we don’t have to—”
With a single step I come to stand an inch in front of him and slip my hands into his.
“Honestly, it hadn’t even crossed my mind until my insane parents brought it up. I mean—I don’t mean itnevercrossed my mind. Believe methathas definitely crossed my mind.” Where am I going with this? “What I mean is I didn’t think that’s what you were suggesting. Not that I wouldn’t—not that I wouldn’t like to, at some point.”
Finally, his gaze settles on mine and I force myself to hold his stare.
“You would?” he asks, his voice low, with just enough gravel to it.
I bite my lip. “Yeah, I mean, yeah. I would. Would you?”
His smile reaches the corners of his eyes and he nods. “Yes.”
For a moment we’re locked in a never-ending expanse of time. The stars reflected in the calm surface of the water twinkle and rise like fireflies all around us. The wind rustling in the branches of the willows is a gentle whisper, a hum, singing some romantic tune. If this was a rom-com the camera would be circling us as we drift closer together, closer and closer, until we kiss.
When the rom-com moment ends I pull back, stifling a laugh.
“What is it?” Jasper asks, his forehead grazing my bangs.
“I can’t believe how awkward that was,” I say. “I’m sorry.”
“They’re just being good parents.”
I sigh. Jasper is right and in a way that’s sort of comforting. In a sea of wild emotions and dramatic events, my parents wanting to awkwardly discuss sex with me is a wonderful island of normalcy.
“How are we going to convince them to let us go?” I ask.
“We could…make it a group thing? See if Aisha and Troy want to tag along? Katie too?”
“Sort of betrays the point of getting away, no?”
Jasper’s shoulders slump forward. “I guess.”
As much as I want to get away without anyone else, to spend some serious one-on-one time with Jasper, his idea has merit. Maybe making our solo trip into a group hang is the only way to convince my folks to let us go.
“It’s worth a shot,” I say.
“It won’t be too disappointing?”
I shrug. “It’ll be fun.”
We head back to the picnic site hand in hand. The sun has fully set and the park has grown dark. The rugs have been packed away, the food and cups stashed in bags and a cooler. Everyone is standing in a line, waiting for us, ready to leave.
“Hey,” I say to my parents, letting go of Jasper’s hand and stepping forward. “About the trip. We were thinking maybe if everyone is free it would be okay if—”
“Max,” Mom says, stepping forward. Dad follows closely behind. “Your dad and I have had a little chat and…”
Mom pauses. I glance across the faces of everyone present. Aisha has a cheeky grin and Katie is swaying from side to side with a knowing smirk.
