When we reach Knox’s room, he slams the door shut behind us. “Really, Blakely. Really? Jasper?” He hangs his head and runs his fingers through his sandy blonde hair.
“What’s the big deal? We’re just hanging out.”
“Blakely.” He tilts his head and looks at me like I’ve lost my damn mind? “I know you. You don’t hang out with just anyone. You can barely tolerate your best friends; yet, you spend your time with that douche.” He points his finger at the door.
“People change. I’ve changed.” I flop down onto his bed and grab the remote, turning the TV on. I’ve spent so many nights in this room with Knox. Growing up, we were always back and forth at each other’s houses. As we’ve gotten older, we’ve gotten busier and we don’t get to spend nearly enough time together. When my parents would fight or when I’d go through a bought of insomnia, Knox would stay in my room with me all night, sometimes falling asleep sitting up, mid-sentence, because his voice always calmed my anxiety.
“Clearly, you have. Why him?” He grumbles.
“He’s been good to me, Knox. He treats me like a person and he’s easy to talk to.”
“Uhhh huh. Because you love to talk. I’m not buying it.”
“I do like to talk, mainly about myself, but he listens.”
“I listen.” He straightens up and puts his hand on my arm. “You have me, Blakely. You don’t need that guy.”
“I need him in a different way. You’ll always be my best friend, but let’s be real, there is so much I need that you can’t give me.”
He takes in a deep breath, scoots closer, a little too close. The room suddenly feels stuffy—tense, and I’m not sure how to take it.
“I could if you let me.”
“What are you doing?” I laugh, scooting back a little.
“Blakely, please. Stay away from him.”
“Is this because you think he’s just trying to get to you or because you’re protective over me?”
It has to be one or the other, both maybe. For a moment there, I thought Knox was implying that he was jealous, that he wanted to satisfy those needs himself.
“Partly. It’s also because I don’t want you to get hurt. He’s bad news.”
“Unless you know something I don’t, he seems like a decent human being.” I grab a pack of gum from the nightstand and unwrap a piece, popping it in my mouth.
“Be careful. Like, really careful.”
“Always am.”
“No.” He laughs sarcastically, “No, you’re not. You’re reckless and the one who gets wrecked in the process is always yourself.”
“Not always. Have you forgotten about the time that we had that bubble blowing contest and I stuffed a whole pack of this stuff in my mouth.” I hold up the pack of gum, then toss it at him. “I almost choked to death, but I won, and you ended up with a wad of it in your hair.”
“Yeah, and Mom had to shave my head because of it. What’s your point?”
“My point is, when I want something, I fight for it, and I don’t always get harmed in the process.”
“No, but at that time, I did because you blew such a big fucking bubble that it popped out of your mouth and landed on my head.”
“You forgave me.” I throw my arms around his neck. “Because you love me.”
“What the hell does this have to do with Jasper?” He laughs, pushing me off of him.
“It doesn’t have anything to do with him. I just like reminiscing with you. I’ve missed you, Knox.”
“You’re deflecting. Quit changing the subject. Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I promise,” I say, as I lean forward and give him a hug.
A knock at the door grabs our attention, and before Knox can speak or answer, the door swings open.
“Everything okay in here?” Jasper asks, as he appears in the doorway.
“Didn’t I tell you to stay the hell out of my room?” Knox huffs, shooting daggers at Jasper.
“Don’t you know that I do what I want?” Jasper braces himself with his arms stretched out and his hands pressed against the doorframe. His attention turns to me. “You okay?”
I nod and look down at the gum wrapper in my hand as I ball it up.
“I’ll come hang with you guys in a bit.” I turn to Knox.
“We’re heading into town to get a pizza,” He jumps off the bed. “Shouldn’t be more than an hour.”
I give him a nod before he walks to the door. Jasper presses his body against the doorframe to make room for his exit.
I don’t like being in the middle like this and I certainly don’t like making Knox feel inadequate in his own home.
Jasper tilts his head, gesturing me out of the room.
“Is your dad home?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “I don’t think so, why?”
I pull him into his bedroom.
When I hear the car doors shut, and I’m sure that Knox and the guys are gone, I push him against the door and slam my mouth onto his. Prying his lips open with my tongue forcing it in, he lets his guard down and accepts it.
Chapter Twelve
Jasper
With my back against the bedroom door, I cup her face in my hands, allowing her to gain the satisfaction of throwing herself at me momentarily. As much as I want this—damn, I want this; I can’t have her. I use my hands to try and break the suction of our mouths. When she doesn’t budge, I try and tell myself fuck it, take her here and now, but I can’t. It’s Levi she wants, I’m just a temporary replacement. She will leave once she gets what she wants. With him.
I press my hands against her chest, and she finally backs up.
“What’s wrong?” She looks at me with desperation in her eyes. Begging for more, more than a kiss, more than last night. “Jasper?” She moves her lips closer, but I turn my head. “What the hell?”
My resistance seems to have pissed her off—the queen is used to getting what she wants, and right now, she wants me.
“We can’t, B.”
“And why the hell not?” Her voice grows louder, and her arms drop to her side. I’m waiting for her to start throwing a tantrum like a toddler, but instead, she tries again.
“No.” I step past her, walking over to my dresser and pretending that I’m looking for something in the top drawer, an empty drawer because I haven’t even unpacked my boxes yet.
Last night was one thing, we were caught up in the moment, and at that time, it was us. After realizing how desperate she is to get Levi, I realize it’s not us, it’s her. It’s all about her, and I’m just a pawn in her game.
“What’s wrong with having a little fun?”
“Maybe you should go have fun with Levi.” My voice is harsh, and while I was thinking it in my head, I wasn’t planning to say it out loud. I fumble with a couple of papers on the top of the dresser to refrain from looking at her. If I do, if I see the agony in her eyes again, I may not be able to stop myself.
“Wait a minute,” she perks up. I can feel her getting closer. “Are you... jealous?” She rests her chin on my shoulder while my back is still facing her. I can tell by the tone in her voice that she is no longer confused, she’s now pleased with herself.