“You wanna get married in the summer, baby boy?” Jasper’s voice is soft and almost a little wistful, and it makes my heart swell.
“Maybe in the field next door. I love the flowers in the summer. We could get a little arch and get married in the flowers.”
The smile that overtakes his face forces one to my lips as well.
“Well, I want to wear a pretty dress,” Nora says.
“You can wear whatever makes you happy,” Jasper says, shooting her an indulgent grin.
If he has anything to say about it, these kids will be spoiled as fuck. They’re going to get anything they want, whenever they want it, and I’m not sure how I feel about that.
Relieved, I think. In some ways. Dread in others. Because, God, he’s gonna have to put his foot down about something every once in a while.
“So, wedding in the summer and adoption after?” Salem asks.
“Yep.” I glance at Jasper. “As long as you’re okay with a summer wedding.”
He snorts. “Baby boy, I’d marry you any time, anywhere.”
Salem makes a fake gagging sound. “Gross.”
“Really,” Nora agrees, leaving Jasper’s side to go back to her seat.
Jasper sighs. “And I was also thinking…” He pauses, rubbing a hand over his jaw nervously. “Maybe after the wedding, I’ll change my last name. So we all match.”
That stuns me into silence.
I’m not the only one. The kids are quiet too.
We all just stare at Jasper for a second, and then Salem clears his throat. “Do you have to?”
Jasper frowns, and I snap my head in Salem’s direction. I thought we hadjustturned a corner with him. “I guess not,” Jasper says quietly.
Salem’s eyes widen. “No. I just—I mean…” He groans. “What if I want your last name? Could we take your last name instead?”
Silence falls across the table again, and I blink at Salem in shock.
“Really?” Jasper whispers, his voice full of disbelief.
My heart thuds, my stomach warming at the thought of sharing Jasper’s name. Like we’d be leaving our shitty family and becoming one with him. Just the four of us, our own little unit.
Salem shrugs, trying and mostly failing to use his “too cool to be bothered” facade. “Yeah, I mean… our parents kinda suck, right? Fuck them.”
“Salem,” I warn.
He grimaces. “Sorry. Screw them,” he corrects. “So I’d rather be Salem Tate. What about you, Nora bug?”
She cocks her head. “Sure. I don’t care.”
Jasper’s throat clicks as he swallows. “You really want that?”
Salem’s eyebrows draw together. “Do you not?”
“It’s not that,” Jasper rushes to assure him. “I’m just surprised. I’d be… damn, I’d be honored for you all to have my last name.”
“Jasper,” Salem says in my same warning tone, his lips quirking up.
Shaking his head, Jasper laughs. “Sorry for my language.”
