“Hey.” Christian snapped me out of my thoughts. “Just ignore what I said. You talk about him so much, I forgot for a minute that he’s only Cole’s mate.” He headed inside the shop, but not before I caught the smirk he tried to hide.
I knew he’d said it to get a reaction out of me, but fuck, it worked. His words grated on my nerves and I scowled as I followed him inside the shop.
I might not know what Jasper and I were to each other, if anything, but I did know one thing. He wasn’tonlyCole’s best mate anymore.
Completingmy neglected Christmas shopping took us the better part of two and a half hours. Thank fuck for Christian, though, because it would’ve taken me a lot longer without his help. Since he’d taken the bus in to meet me, I dropped him off at his house.
The sold sign stood proudly in his garden at the front.
“I mean it,” I said as I parked outside. “If you need to, you’re more than welcome to crash at mine until your new house is ready.”
“Thanks.” He met my gaze as he undid his seatbelt. “But since Jasper is paying to live in your house, shouldn’t you discuss it with him first? You’d be changing the arrangements.”
“I—” Arse. He made a very good point. “Bollocks.” I wasn’t used to having to consult someone else when it came to my house. But Jasper was paying, and I couldn’t just invite someone else to live with us without at least talking to him first. Even if that someone was Christian. “I’ll talk to him. Pretty sure he won’t mind.”
“Thanks for the offer, Finn.” He gave my arm a squeeze as he got out. “I’ll let you know if I can’t sort something else out.” Halfway out of my car, he suddenly turned and ducked back in. “Oh, Mum asked if you wanted to come for lunch this Sunday. A sort of early Christmas thing.”
“Erm...” I felt colour rising in my cheeks, and his eyes narrowed. “I’d love to, but I’m already going to lunch at Jasper’s mum’s.” He’d mentioned it last night and that Clive would be there. I got the feeling he wanted some moral support so, of course, I said I’d go.
Christian’s eyes widened, lips curving into a smile. “Another time then.”
“Yeah, tell her thanks, though.”
“Oh don’t worry, I will.” He winked before shutting the door, and I got the feeling he’d be telling her a lot more than that. My ears would no doubt be burning come Sunday.
Chapter 10
Jasper
“Fuck.”I slipped on the path for the second time, almost taking Finn with me.
He caught me, grumbling under his breath. “It’s those bloody shoes; they’ve got no grip on the soles. And it was icy this morning. I’m not sure it’s all gone.”
As if to prove his point, I sighed, my breath turning foggy in the chill afternoon air. “It’s not like I have far to walk.”
“Just as well.” He walked sure-footed in his boots, smug expression firmly in place when I almost slipped again.
I refrained from raising my middle finger. Just about.
Thankfully I managed to make it to the car without mishap, but he was right. I did need better shoes. Not that I was likely to admit it.
“Thanks for doing this,” I said as we pulled out onto the main road. Finn had offered to drive because I’d been pacing about the house all morning, way too nervous. I don’t know why; it was only a late lunch with my mum.
And her boyfriend, who I might have been a bit of an arse to before I moved out.
Finn glanced over at me with a smile. “I’m looking forward to it.”
That made me laugh. “Yeah, I just bet you are.”
“Any excuse for a home-cooked Sunday roast,” he said, turning back to the road.
“She does make a decent roast dinner,” I conceded. “But seriously, thanks. I don’t think I could’ve faced it on my own.” I knew I couldn’t. Sorting things out with my mum was one thing—and we were still on shaky ground—but adding Clive into the mix was another thing entirely. But it was Christmas and I’d promised I’d try.
“Do you think that’s why she invited me?”
Oh, I’d not thought about it like that. “Yeah, maybe. I mean she’d been banging on about having us over for a meal before all this, but it makes sense. She probably knew I’d be nervous about going on my own.” She definitely did it on purpose.
“Would you have gone on your own if I couldn’t make it?”
