“Trust me,” he said, giving my shoulder a squeeze. “It’ll make you both feel better.”
I didn’t geta chance to call Finn that evening because he called me.
Nervousness hit me like a hundred butterflies in my belly when I saw his name flash up. “Hey,” I answered, hoping I didn’t sound as weird as I suddenly felt.
“Hey.” His voice sounded different over the phone but still like him, and it made me smile. “I didn’t wake you did I?”
“No. I’ve only just come upstairs.”
“Bet you’ve got company, right?”
He sounded amused and it took me a second to realise what he meant. I glanced down at the black ball of fur curled up next to my pillow. “My furry shadow is fast asleep next to me.”
His soft laughter filled the phone, andfuck, I missed him. “How’s your wrist?”
I glanced down at the fibreglass cast I now had. “Better. No more sling now the swelling has gone down and the pain’s lessened. And I should be able to do a bit more for myself now. Thank God.”
Both Cole and Christian had been good sports helping me get dressed and whatever else I needed a hand with, but it’d be nice not to have to ask all the bloody time.
“I wish I was there,” he murmured, voice so soft I wondered if he’d meant to say it out loud.
“I do too.” I thought about what Cole had said and decided this was the perfect time to bring it up. “Talking to you every night but not saying the things I want to is...”
“Frustrating? Confusing?”
I laughed. “Yeah.”
He sighed and it sounded a lot like relief. “Tell me about it.”
“I know we need to talk about this in person, but I hate having to wait to do it.”
Silence.
It lasted a beat too long, and I had to check the call was still up. “Finn?”
“I know, me too. But I’ll be home in a few days.”
“And then we’ll talk?” My heart rate picked up, and I ran a hand down Angus’s back to calm me.
“Yeah. About everything.”
“I’ll look forward to that, even if we still have another four days to go.”
“Jasper,” he whispered, and I clutched the phone tight. “I miss you.”
I closed my eyes, relaxing into my pillow, imagining him doing the same. “I miss you too.”
“Thanks for babysittingme this past week.” I gave Christian a one-armed hug. “And for putting up with my grumpy arse.”
He laughed. “Considering how much pain I know you were in, you were pretty fucking cheerful, Jasper. I was happy to help out.” He grabbed his laptop case and his rucksack and headed towards the front door. “You sure you don’t want to come out tomorrow night?”
He and Finn were going out for a Christmas meal and drinks. They’d both invited me, but according to Cole, Finn hadn’t been out much with his mates lately, so I figured I wouldn’t intrude. “Nah, it’s fine, thanks. Cole’s coming round because we’ve not seen much of each other lately.” I rolled my eyes and sighed, all for Cole’s benefit as he stood beside me.”
“Fuck off. You’re going to miss me when I’m gone, and you know it.”
It had been good spending time with him, with both of them. But Finn was due back today, and I couldn’t help but be excited by that.
And a little nervous.
