Page 140 of Romeo

Me: That sounds serious.

Jasper: Pancakes or waffles?

A quiet laugh escaped me.

Of course.

Me: Waffles

Jasper: Wrong.

Me: Then why ask?

Jasper: I wanted to know how disappointed to be.

I rolled onto my side, the conversation with Nash slipping a little farther away.

Me: Waffles hold syrup better

Jasper: Pancakes are softer.

Me: You’re oddly passionate about breakfast

Jasper: I’m imagining Sunday mornings.

My smile faded and I read the message again.

Sunday mornings.

There was something different about that phrase. Breakfast was pancakes or waffles and arguing because Jasper enjoyed being difficult. Sunday mornings were slower. Familiar. The kind of thing that happened often enough to become part of a life.

Me: With pancakes?

Jasper: With someone arguing that waffles are better.

My heartbeat changed.

He’d done it again. Offered something that looked almost casual until I stopped long enough to hear what was beneath it.

Me: Who?

Jasper: Haven’t decided.

I smiled despite the sudden tightness in my chest.

Me: Liar

Jasper: Smart girl.

I lay there looking at the words.

Weeks ago, I would’ve torn that conversation apart searching for another explanation. Jasper was flirting. Jasper was naturally charming. Jasper talked like that to everyone.

I didn’t believe those excuses anymore.

Me: Would there be coffee?

Jasper: Obviously.