Page 116 of Romeo

“Changed my mind.”

Granny set a mug in front of the chair beside him. “Sit, Fiona. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I sat. Mostly because my knees had stopped being particularly trustworthy. “You stayed,” I said.

“I stayed.”

“Where?”

“Josie gave me a room at the ski lodge.” His mouth curved. “Drove down early this morning. Wanted to make sure you got breakfast before I headed back.”

Granny hummed approvingly from the stove. “That boy’s got manners.”

I wrapped both hands around the coffee. Jasper caught my eye over the rim of his cup. The doubts I’d spent half the night building suddenly seemed a little less sturdy.

The coffee shop on Main Street smelled like espresso, cinnamon, and warm bread. Jasper held the door for me, resting his hand briefly at the small of my back as I passed. That tiny touch was enough to restart at least three of the questions I’d tried to kill over coffee at Granny’s.

We found a table tucked into the corner. Jasper ordered coffee and croissants, and for a while we talked about nothing important.

His ride to Virginia.

The weather.

Easy conversation.

Except everything with Jasper felt weighted now. Every look seemed to linger a little too long. Every silence felt like it held words one of us wasn’t saying.

I was halfway through my second croissant when Dennis walked toward our table.

Perfect.

Not now.

Dennis worked at the hardware store and showed up around town often enough that avoiding him entirely would’ve required moving. He’d asked me out more than once.

I’d said no every time.

Apparently, he considered that an opening negotiation.

“Fiona,” he said, stopping beside the table. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Hi, Dennis.”

“I was thinking, since you’re not working today, maybe we could grab lunch? There’s that new Italian place over in⁠—”

“I’m sorry, Dennis. I’m busy.”

“Dinner, then?” He leaned one hand against the table. “Come on, Fiona. One date. What’s the harm?”

Before I could answer, Jasper spoke. “She said she’s busy.”

His voice was easy enough that someone who didn’t know him might’ve missed the change.

I didn’t.

Dennis finally looked at him. “And you are?”

Jasper leaned back in his chair, completely relaxed.