As if reading my mind, he gave my shoulder a squeeze. “We were all worried, that’s all.”
A comfortable silence settled between us, and I gave his words some serious thought. Had I neglected my friends recently? Breaking up with Evan had been long and unpleasant, and yeah, maybe I had retreated to lick my wounds. But he’d hurt me. I’d needed time to get through that. Had I had long enough?
Maybe.
But that still didn’t mean I wanted to have Jasper as my lodger. I thought back to last night, the way he’d looked leaning against the bar, all long and lean, and... I shook my head, ignoring the curl of desire the image provoked.
So not going there.
Having him in my house was just asking for trouble.
“Maybe you’re right. About me needing to get out a bit more.” I added quickly, “Not about Jasper moving in.”
“Just think about it. Please? You need someone to help pay the mortgage, why not him?”
“Does he even have a job?” He’d only just come back from travelling, could he even afford to live with me?
“Yeah, he’s working at the Amazon warehouse.” His smile was wry. “Hates it, mind, but the money’s all right.”
“Seriously though, Cole. I was hoping to find someone more my age and who isn’t too high maintenance.”
“Jasper’s not high maintenance, and wouldn’t you rather have someone you know than a complete stranger in your house?”
He had me there, but I still didn’t understand why he was pushing this so much. Usually he’d accept my first answer and let it go.
“And if Jasper lives there, you’ll have me round all the time.”
I laughed. “That’s not the incentive you think it is.”
“Piss off.” He elbowed me in the ribs. “You love me.”
“I do. And you’re welcome any time. You don’t need Jasper to be there.” I met his gaze and held it. “Why are you so insistent that he move in with me?” There had to be more to it. Unease prickled my insides as his face fell.
“He doesn’t want to stay at his mum’s. She’s got a new boyfriend.”
Oh. My eyebrows scrunched together and he quickly shook his head.
“No. nothing like that. Jasper says he’s nice and all that, but their personalities clash a bit and he just doesn’t feel comfortable there. Their relationship is new and he doesn’t want to get in the way of that. He says it’s been ages since he’s seen her that happy, and he can tell they’re holding back when he’s there.” He sighed. “He doesn’t want to get in the way and ruin it for her.”
“I’m sure his mum would rather her son felt comfortable in his home than her new boyfriend.”
“Exactly. She’d always put Jasper first, but he doesn’t want to put her in that position.”
I felt my resolve crumbling but struggled to hold on. “What about his dad?”
“Yeah, no. Not happening any time soon. They aren’t even speaking at the minute.” He crossed his arms, expression grim, so I left it alone. “If he told his mum he was moving in with someone she knows and trusts, then she wouldn’t worry about him.”
She would if she knew I’d thought about getting him naked less than twenty-four hours ago.
“But he’s so much younger than me, we have nothing in common.” The protest sounded weak and Cole knew it.
His smile grew as he spoke. “It’s five years, Finn. And Jasper’s pretty chill, even more so after his year away. He’s more like you than you realise.”
I doubt that.
“Look. Why don’t you have a trial run, like maybe a week or something and see how you get on. Or at least talk to him about it?”
I looked down at the cat in my lap; I’d almost forgotten he was there. Was I really going to do this?
