“It’sandy natural for some people to behave politely in front of others. You shouldn’t madtoo much laro L.”
*la stacja monta vetol tanken between you t
“Nothing is going onbewus
Ingrid didn’t want Zoey to get the wrong idea, sa che quickly denty of people chasing her bin, so you don’t have to see yoursell with settingne up with him.” Zary immediately asked, “You mean he’s still single
“jka’s not a local here. He’s not planning to stay in Wales City long lem.”
catch is a good catch, even if they’re not from around here
hei tare, asking. “And what’s the logic behind that?”
wrong fit, being a local won’t change a thing if they’re the right one, they could make it work anywhere—even on Mart
texaspriatim and amusement, asked. “You want to ship me off no Mars?”
Zory wasn’t intentionally trying to pull at her heartstrings, but Ingrid felt a pang of warmth nonetheless.
“Tinput in Wales City. Fin not going where. If I ever date someone, they have to be from here.”
Aungle right turn changed their plans completely, leaving them with a less–than–satisfying breakdast.
Zoey was off grocery shopping while Ingrid was heading back to catch the bus from the opposite direction.
In the mida ot bet walk, her eyes were drawn to a tall figure standing by the street. It was Jasper, standing out amidit the crowd in a long, light–hued cashmere cout. He attracted the
bol many women, but his eyes were only on lær.
masond bette Ingrid quickly booked away and code forward
As expected, tapes followed. She frowned and was about to snup an bin when a voice called out from the side, Toy, are you healing to work?”
Ingrid tumed and spotted Jane Besich enjoying breakfast in a small diner. She flashed the latter a smile and replied, “Yeah, Tam.”
jams garenarurathe landed on pasper, and her evellop Tour betuar
just a colleague hom the hospital. He baby too
then pireted poltek. “Goodmorning, a
Tahamed “oood morning Do you live around here too? Haven’t seen you before
moved in the area,” Jasper sand. “Hven’t fully in yet
“No wriidep……. Well, you get to work See you around”
Ingrid wared goodie with a smile, but the second she turned around her expresslipped like arch “Can you now?
“This is the only way to work”
before she could finish another familiar voice called out. ““px”
Ingrid looked up and gave a friendly smile. “Megan! Just got back from the store?”
Thewlderly woman, Megan Locke, raised the grocery bags in her hand and said, “The market on the ether side has better p
our prices. Are you
Tumas Megan glanced at Jasper, Ingrid immediately cut in, “He’s my colleague. Lives nearby.”
And so it went — greeting familiar faces one after another as they made their way through the old neighborhood. It didn’t give Ingrid a chance to cust When they reached the main road, traffic bustled. The bus step was less than to meters ahead, but the street was already crowded with people. Not wanting to deal with Jasper, Ingrid picked up her puce.
Right on cue, the bus to the hospital pulled up. Ingridtllowed the crowd on board, scanned her pass, and moved toward the back
Mements later, someone behind her said, “Not that one. You need to scan your digital pass.”
Then came Jasper’s voice. “Can you help me? I don’t know how to use it.”
twas rush hoạt, and the box was packed. Ingrid didn’t get a seat and was standing near the bark when she caught a glimpse of the crowd shifting. Meanwhile, Jasper–tall and conspicuous–was still up front, sticking out like a sore thumb
Every single prison who passed him spared him a glance. Andina sea of commuters effortlessly scanning their passes, Jasper looked like a complete idiot. Fortunately for him, he was a very good–looking idiot. A young woman eagerly stepped in to help
(minute later, Jasper thanked her. “Thank you, I appreciate it.”
The woman was caught up in her unexpected meet–cute and blushed responded, “No problem. Do you not rake the bus often
Jasper answered honestly, “I’s been prárs.”
Yeah that was a lie. He had
taken the bus before. His impression of public transit was that bor had to pay with coins.
ΤΗΣ
Claning toward the back, he can ingrid standing behind some guy and was blocked from VIEW,
After thinking the woman again, Jasper squeezed his way through the crowd while murmating. “Excuse me, coming thaugh.” Ingrid was internally charting. “Stay away. Stay away.”
She didn’t want to be the second person on the bus everyone stared at because of Jasper. But, of course, fate wasn’t on het såde
per managed to wedge hindell beside her.
While grid looked away, he stared at her and remarked, “So that’s how you bound a bus. Glad I learned something new.”
Instantly, Ingrid sensed all eyes on her. She pressed her lips together and stayed allent.
It wasn’t that she didn’t want to respond. She penuinely didn’t know what to say.
Jasper continued, “Quess that means we’ll be commuting together every day no
His voice wasn’t loud, but the bus was quiet. Afraid of what he might say next, Ingrid shot him a warning place. She had barely held the look for two seconds when the driver raddenly hit the
Everyone in the middle section of the bus lurched forward–Ingrid included.
Before she could stumble, juger hurtedly moved forward and gapped the overhead all with one hand while the other wrapped securely around her maint
Up front, the bus de hver was cursing at reckless pedestalans.
per lowered bis head slightly and asked. “Youuery **
te was barely audible.
Indistinctively stepped back, but the arm around her was held firm. She couldn’t move. When she looked up, her cheeks were flushed, and her voice Dan jasper couldhear her say, “Les pa”
