Page 13 of Romeo

Of course he’d ask that.

Jasper was a natural flirt. He probably couldn’t help himself, and I needed to remember that before my stupid heart started turning a joke into something it wasn’t.

Me: You wish

Jasper: That means yes.

Me:

Me: I have to get to class.

Jasper: What’s next?

Me: English

Jasper: Text me when you’re done.

Me: I have classes all day

Jasper: Then text me when you get home so I know you aren’t in a ditch or over the side of that fucking mountain.

Me: Bye, Jasper

Jasper: All right, Cher. Go learn something.

Me: Bossy

Jasper: Worried.

My thumb stopped over the screen.

Worried.

No joke. No flirty little comment tacked onto the end.

Just worried.

Me: I’ll text you after school

Jasper: Good. I’ll try not to plan another rescue mission before then.

I shook my head but couldn’t stop the smile spreading over my face. My eyes drifted back to that one word again.

Worried.

Jasper had that Southern charm Josie warned me about in spades. He probably flirted without even realizing he was doing it, and I couldn’t let a few texts convince me his attention meant more than friendship.

That was the part I had to keep under control.

He was older, definitely more experienced, and surrounded by beautiful women who knew exactly what they wanted.

I was still trying to figure out who I was outside of everything that had happened to me.

What happened when Jasper got bored with texting? When some beautiful woman in Nebraska smiled at him and reminded him how much easier it would be to want someone who already belonged in his world?

I shoved my phone into my bag.

There. Problem solved.