Jasper was still asleepwhen I went downstairs the next morning. I left him alone, quietly getting breakfast and eating in the kitchen so as not to disturb him. Angus strolled in after a while, meowing loudly for food, and as soon as he’d eaten his fill, he disappeared back into the living room. I’d bet money he was back on Jasper’s lap.
My phone rang as I was halfway through breakfast, Cole’s name flashing up on the screen.
“Hey, Co—”
“Why didn’t you let me know Jasper broke his bloody wrist?”
Shit. I sighed into the phone. “Sorry, we were knackered when we got back from A&E.” I frowned. “How did you find out?”
“I woke up to a text from Jasper,” he grumbled. “Just tried to call him, but he’s not picking up.”
“Yeah, he’s still flat out.” I smiled, “with Angus on his lap.”
Silence met my words, and I had to check the call hadn’t dropped.
“Cole?”
“How do you know he has Angus on his lap?”
Ooh.
“Because he slept on the sofa last night, because of his wrist.”
“Oh.” He paused. “So the two of you aren’t...?”
“Nope.” It wasn’t a lie, we weren’t anything yet, and I really didn’t want to get into it with Cole.
“Shame.” He sighed. “You’re away this week aren’t you?”
“Yeah, leaving just after lunch, why?” I checked the time, luckily I had a few hours yet because typically I still had to pack.
“Will Jasper be all right on his own? Won’t he need help with stuff?”
At the time Christian had seemed like the perfect person to come stay. He was my best mate, of course I was going to turn to him. But Cole was Jasper’s, how the fuck had I forgotten that? “Um... I’ve asked Christian to come stay with him while I’m gone.”
“What? Why? Does Jasper even know Christian?”
“They’ve met. I think?” I pictured him rolling his eyes.
“Why didn’t you ask me?”
Good question, and I really had no answer to that. Not one that Cole would appreciate anyway. “I didn’t think, okay?”
He huffed. “Clearly.”
“Anyway, aren’t you at work all week?”
“And Christian’s not?”
“He can work from home for most of it.” Maybe that was my saving grace.
“Well, if you’d bothered to check with me, you’d know I have this week off.”
Or maybe not.
Bugger.
“Look, Cole.” I scrubbed a hand over my eyes, wondering how to fix this. “I kind of told Christian he could stay with me while he waits for his house to be finished, as long as Jasper’s okay with it. I thought this would be a good opportunity for them to get to know each other.”
