“Oh, fine, both bedroom closets are full, and the hall closet. Also, he knows. It’s not like he hasn’t been at my place before.” Last weekend when I went to stay with him, I did finally steal a shirt of his, and I sleep in it every night. When we FaceTimed and he saw what I was wearing, his eyes sparkled, and let’s just say him watching me get myself off in nothing but his shirt still has me blushing.
“Oh snap, have you told Bridger yet? You know he’ll do a full background check, financials, and anything else Jasper could have hidden in his past.” I huff out a breath before responding.
“Considering Bridger called when I was with Jasper last weekend, we talked, then he demanded we video call him. They got along well, a little too well. Jasper and I are talking about going to Virginia for a weekend once his schedule gets settled again. Bridger was more than impressed, and I’m pretty sure he’ll be a part of the boys club before too long.” We all make our way to my car, stow their luggage in the back, and climb inside. Our first stop is my apartment for drinks and food. Then who knows what else we’ll get into. I’m honestly hoping it’s a pretty low-key weekend, hanging out in our downtown area and being vegetables at my apartment.
“You okay?” Rowen asks. She somehow managed to finagle the passenger seat while Peyton and Berkley are sitting in the captain’s chairs in the back.
“I’m tired, but I think that has more to do with staying up late to talk to Jasper for a few minutes. Plus the store being in full swing for the holidays. I don’t know how Ruthie does it. That woman has more energy than all of us and Mom put together.” I need to call Mom when the girls leave. We chat every few days. I’m so thankful she’s doing better, though I still worry.
“Well, it’s a good thing we’re here. Put us to work for a bit, take us sight-seeing, and get us food. That’s all we need, honestly.”
“I’m going to take you guys up on that. Thank you for coming down here. I really needed my girl gang.” Berkley and Peyton make cooing noises in the back. Ro grabs my hand and holds it, giving me a bit of strength I clearly need. This emotional upheaval must mean my period is coming, and it’s surely going to be a doozy.
“We’re here for it, and who knows, maybe I’ll stay,” Berkley chimes in. I think I’d like that more than I’m letting on.
“Can I be a fly on the wall when you tell Uncle Mick if you do stay?” Peyton asks.
“I’ll record it. That way, we have proof of him shitting a brick over his only baby girl wanting to spread her wings and fly.” If we thought Dad and Bridger were overprotective, we all have another thing coming. Uncle Mick is ten times worse. I know he comes from a good place, but yikes.
“We’ll all figure it out,” I say as we drive towards my apartment. The girls offered to get a hotel room, but there was no need. Not with Jasper gone. And even still if he were home, they could have taken my place and I would have stayed with him. This actually works out better though, because while he’s working, my days will be occupied with them. This weekend is going to be a lot of fun, and I think it will lift my spirits even more. I listen to the girls catching me up on the latest gossip in Lodgeview. Yeah, this is exactly what I needed.
Ten
Jasper
Four Weeks Later
I knew the minute it happened, my body being jarred, the landing on my ass, the way my last thought was of Aspen and how pissed off she was going to be. Not only that, the worry I’ll be putting my mom through. She’ll for sure kick my ass, even though this wasn’t my fault. No, that would be the new kid. Shit, I can’t fault him too much, but still. Hank and I have talked to him till we were blue in the face, but he still thought it was okay to fuck off.
This was the last weekend before we got to take a much-needed two weeks off. Now my time will be more extended than that.
“You okay?” Hank asks me while I’m sitting on my ass, holding my shoulder and feeling dizzy as hell.
“Ask me again after I’m standing up?”
“Fuck, looks like you’re getting loaded up. That cocksucker is about to get the steel end of my boot shoved up his ass,” Hank grumbles. I tilt my head back and suck in another gulp of air before I use my good arm to help get myself up. That’s when I start seeing stars.
“Shit, Aspen and Mom are going to have more than a mouthful to say. Pretty sure I have a concussion, and who the hell knows what’s up with my shoulder.” Hank gets down in the rig to help me stand up. The new guy darted off to a corner when he saw what happened to me. Little shit is definitely not going to be around to see another paycheck, that’s for sure.
“Don’t pass out on me. I’m not making that phone call to those women. It’s bad enough I’ll have to tell Marge,” he jokes. It takes us a few minutes, but he gets me on my feet.
“Looks like I’ll be getting more than two weeks off,” I grunt.
“Shit, how the fuck is anything going to get done now?” Hank’s a good guy, trying to keep my mind off the pain and being out of work. Not that I’m worried about money. I’ll get some sort of compensation from this happening on the job, and I have money set aside. The one perk of being a bachelor when you’re well into your thirties.
“You’ll be alright. They’ll bring in Larry until someone gets on rotation.” He opens the truck door for me, already knowing we’ll be heading to the hospital.
“I’ll call Aspen as soon as I know what’s happening. If I tell them what’s going on now, they’ll both drive down, hysterical and thinking the worst.” I close my eyes while we drive to the hospital, which isn’t too far away from where we’ve been working, another plus in my favor.
“Probably the safest bet. Worse comes to worst, I’ll make the call, or I’ll have Marge go pick them up. That way, they aren’t driving while upset.” Hanks pulls up in front of the emergency room door, slams the truck in Park, and says, “Stay put. I’m gonna go have a nurse bring you in.”
“I can walk,” I bark back.
“Too bad. I’d have wheeled your ass to my truck if we had a wheelchair. So, get your panties out of a wad and sit tight.”
I pull my phone out of my pocket and look at the picture Aspen captured of the two of us while we were in the kitchen of my camper too fucking long ago. Her ass was on the narrow countertop, her arms looped around my neck, my hips between her spread legs. She’s smiling at the camera. I didn’t get the memo apparently because I was too busy looking at her, a small smirk playing on my lips. The moment she took it, I had her send it to me, knowing I put that smile on her face. It’s something I look at daily. It ties me over until the moment she’s back in my arms.
“Hop on down,” the nurse in blue scrubs says, interrupting my thoughts. I do as she says, shaking my head the entire time. I’m pretty sure my clavicle is broken. I did this once before when I was a teenager out riding dirt bikes with a friend. I landed wrong, and it cracked. The doctor warned me back then this could happen just as easily again.
“Thanks,” I tell both the nurse and Hank.