As if on cue, Rodrigo, the former marine turned fitness vlogger sidled up to the coffee bar. Hollyn had admired him from afar since her first day there and had kept a steady crush simmering on her mental back burner. Where Jasper was artsy hot, Rodrigo went straight for the obvious hot category. Good-looking in that way that wouldn’t go unnoticed by anyone with a pulse. Dark hair and eyes. Light-brown skin. Body built for combat.. He smiled her way and gave her a nod of greeting. “Hey.”
“Hey.” She gave a quick smile and then concentrated on the cinnamon roll like it held the answers to the universe.
She caught Jasper giving her a curious look in her periphery, but then he shifted his attention to Rodrigo. “What can I get you, man?”
Rodrigo made his order, and Jasper struck up an easy conversation with the guy, making him laugh like they were old friends. God, if he could teach her five percent of that, she’d be good to go.
Maybe he could.
It was a big maybe.
Jasper finished up with Rodrigo and waited until the guy left before moving back down the counter to Hollyn. He cocked his head in the direction Rodrigo had walked. “What’s that guy do for a living? Get paid for selfies?”
She snorted. “Pretty much.”
Jasper chuckled. “Don’t blame him. If I looked like that, I’d cash in, too.”
She wanted to tell Jasper that she’d buy his selfie any day. But she kept her mouth shut. Friends didn’t tell other friends that.
“So is that what happens for you with anyone you don’t know?” he asked.
“What?”
“You go into avoidance mode.” He jabbed a thumb to where he’d been talking with Rodrigo. “I was going to pull you into the conversation, but it was like you’d put up a force field around yourself. You wouldn’t even look up. You became one with the furniture.”
She groaned, shoved her plate to the side, and put her head down on the counter. “I’m hopeless.”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic.” Jasper palmed the back of her head and gave it a playful pat. “By the end of classes with me, you’ll be the one making gym boy nervous. Just wait.”
She didn’t believe Jasper for a second. She lifted her head. “Maybe this is a waste of time.”
“A couple of weeks ago, you couldn’t talk to me. Now look at you. We’re sharing food.” He grabbed another chunk of cinnamon roll and then touched her nose with it, leaving icing there. “It won’t be a waste of time. I promise.”
She gave him a small smile and wiped the icing from the tip of her nose. “You’re full of big promises, Jasper Deares.”
“I’ve got no place to live and no theater. But promises, I’ve got.” He shrugged. “And I’m not bullshitting you. Improv saved me. I believe in the process. You just need to be open to it and give it a chance to work. The first rule of improv is to always say yes.” He met her gaze. “So, Hollyn, what do you say?”
She wet her lips, tasting sugar there, and forced herself to hold his gaze even though she could feel her facial tics cycling through their dance. “I guess I say yes.”
“Welcome to my world, Hollyn. We’re going to have a grand ol’ time.” He slipped the bite of cinnamon roll in his mouth and smiled a smile that made her insides melt.
Goddamn. She was doomed. Artsy hot was so much sexier than obvious hot.
Chapter Eleven
“Fitz, are you sure about this?” Jasper asked as he spun around slowly, taking in the killer top-floor apartment in all its converted-warehouse, exposed-brick-walls, high-ceilinged glory. “You could get some serious rent off someone to stay here. Or film a reality show. I can’t pay you what this is worth.”
Fitz crossed the main living area, his footfalls heavy on the refinished parquet wood floors, and dropped his laptop bag on the kitchen island. He smiled before going to the commercial-style fridge, pulling two beers from it, and popping the tops off. “I didn’t ask you to, and I’m sure.” He walked over to Jasper and handed him a bottle of Abita. “I’ve got the extra space, and I don’t actually need rent money. I do have a proposition for you, though.”
Jasper tipped back the beer and sipped, marveling at the words I don’t need rent money. “What’s that?”
Fitz propped a hip on the back of his leather couch and pointed the neck of his beer toward Jasper. “You can stay here for the next few months rent-free—”
“Fitz, no, I don’t need charity.”
His friend lifted a hand. “Hear me out. It’s not charity. You don’t have to pay me rent. Just cover half the utilities, and when we get this theater thing worked out, you give me a ten percent stake in it.”
Jasper lifted his brows. “You want to invest in my hypothetical theater?”
“It’s not going to be hypothetical if you stop doubting my brilliance and actually pursue it,” he said pointedly. “Did you look at the listing I sent you?”
He nodded. “I passed by. The price tag is steep.”
“It’s a steal. The neighborhood’s on the upswing. Many of the buildings are being converted into lofts. A younger crowd is moving in. I think with the right vibe and design, and a group like yours, an improv venue could be golden. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I like investing in people who are passionate about what they do.” He shrugged his wide shoulders. “But I’m also an opportunistic bastard, and I think there’s money to be made here.”
Jasper laughed.
“Seriously, though, this could really turn into something,” he said between sips of beer. “I want in on the ground floor. Let’s do this shit.”
The genuine eagerness in Fitz’s tone sent a pang through Jasper. How could this guy he knew in middle school so easily believe in him? Fitz hadn’t even seen him perform yet. But Jasper wasn’t stupid either. Free rent for a sweet apartment? Hell and yes and where do I sign? No rent for a few months could do wonders for paying off his hospital bills. Plus, he liked Fitz, and the guy was going to be key in getting a shot at the theater project if Jasper was really going to attempt this. If Fitz could actually make this happen, ten percent seemed like a small price to pay.
“I don’t know what to say,” Jasper said, floored by Fitz’s generosity.
Fitz stood and put out his hand. “Say yes, asshole.”
Jasper chuckled. “Well, that is the first rule of improv.”
Fitz gave him an expectant look. “So?”
Jasper let out a breath and grabbed Fitz’s hand. “You realize I have no idea what the hell I’m doing, right?”