Right
burst, Jasper took Ingrid’s hand and led her out
Everyone thought he’d lost his mind, but he still made a stop at his office first, calmly arranging work matters and tying up loose ends before finally leaving with her.
Inside the elevator. Jasper turned his head to look at her. “You okay?”
Ingrid hadn’t thought much of it before, but those couple of simple words hit her like a wave, stinging her nose,
The forced down the lump in her throat and glanced at Jasper’s right hand. The skin across his lockles was scraped raw, tiny beads of blood pooling on the surface.
Jasper casually said, “I’m fine.”
As he spoke, he lifted ingrid’s left hand. Two long, deep scratches ran across the back. It was Zelda’s doing.
Jasper frowned. “You shouldn’t have wasted time reasoning with her. I told you to hit back.”
Ingrid changed the subject. “Where are you headed after this?
Jasper paused briefly. “Nowhere urgent, just taking you home.”
“I have a first–aid kit,” Ingrid said “Come up. I clean that for you.”
Jasper chuckled “Well, guess this wasn’t all bad luck, then
Ingrid didn’t find it funny.
When the elevator doors slid open, a familiar face from orthopedics stood outside, about to step in Ingrid instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but Jasper held on tight.
The newcomer’s gaze flicked down to their joined hands and visibly feed before quickly pretending not to ser
He put on a bright smile. “Dr. Clitlood”
Jasper smiled bark
As the doors closed behind them, Ingrid shot him a look. “Are you insane?
Jasper smirked. “Want the honest truth? I can’t stand Brandon, but I kind of have to thank him for being such a spineless idiot. If he had’s let things spiral out of control, I wouldn’t have had the chance to swoop in.”
still holding her hand, be raised in slightly and arched a row. “Now, everyone knows I’m your boyfend. You’re not seriously planning to cut me loose tomorrow, are you?” Ingalid stared at him, bailed. She had no idea how he could still be joking around.
“Talready told you I talked to Brandon,” she reiterated.
“I know” Jasper’s expression didn’t change.
“You heard what Zelda said.”
“I did.” He shrugged “1 also have an ex. My body is in perfect working der. Do you have an issue with the fact that I’ve had consensual sex in a past relationship?” Ingrid said nothing.
Jasper looked at her. “Come on, I didn’t study abroad in the late 50s. Besides, with faces like ours, wouldn’t be weirder if we were pushing thirty and had never dated anyone? Ingrid studied him. He wasn’t dodging the subject.
Of course, if he had cared about that, he wouldn’t have publicly stood up for her.
She sighed and asked the age–old question, “What exactly do you see in me?”
Jasper smirked “Well, I was going to say that in bed.mmph”
Ingrid slapped a hand over his mouth. “Forget asked.”
That evening, they went back to Ingrid’s place.
She grabbed the first–aid kit to treat jasper’s wounds, but before she could, he took the antiseptic swab from her and pulled her hand forward instead, tending to her injuries first. Ingrid watched him through her lashes.”
She’d been burned before–the wasn’t the type to forget pain easily. She’d turned him down, put up walls, and kept her guard up.
But when Jasper held her hand in front of everyone and called her his girlfriend, she still felt something
couldn’t figure out what he had to gain from this
If it was just physical attraction, he had more options than she did. If it was state or wealth, he didn’t even care about VIP–dub trust fund kids.
“stop overthinking.” Jasper said, long lashes casting shadows as he carefully dabbed at her wound.” “Look at you. You don’t want me for my looks, my fame, or my money. You treat me like I’m someth Ingrid’s heart skipped. “Don’t box me in. I’m not as good as you think.”
you because you’re good person
about to you. If that doesn’t scream ‘good girl,” what does?”
Jasper blew gently over her wound, then looked up and smiled. “Perfect I’m not as good as you think either.”
stime Together
