Page 227 of Romeo

Me: You sound disappointed.

Jasper: Nope.

Me: Liar.

Jasper: I don’t lie.

That was true—Jasper never lied. He carefully worded his responses so they were never untruthful. The reminder made me look at the message differently.

Me: Then what?

Jasper: I said it was a fair answer. Doesn’t mean I don’t have a preference.

Me: Are you going to tell me?

Jasper: Nope.

Me: Coward

Jasper: Patient.

That word had become his favorite weapon.

I shook my head.

Me: Fine. New question.

Jasper: I’m listening.

Me: Do you think you’ll always live in Diamond Creek?

His answer didn’t come immediately.

I watched the three dots appear, then disappear.

Jasper: Probably.

Me: Because of the club?

Jasper: Club. Business. Brothers. Family. It’s home now.

I read that twice.

There was no hesitation in it, and there shouldn’t have been. Jasper had a life in Nebraska. A real one. The Silver Shadows weren’t a group of men he visited on weekends. They were his family. His landscaping business was there. His responsibilities were there.

Of course he wasn’t leaving.

Oddly, the certainty didn’t disappoint me.

Instead, another question took its place.

Jasper: Why?

Me: Just wondering.

Jasper: About Diamond Creek?

Me: About things.