Page 229 of Romeo

Me: You’re ridiculous.

Jasper: You liked it.

Me: Maybe.

Jasper: There she is.

The flirting had changed after our kiss. Before, Jasper could say almost anything, and I could hide behind the possibility that he was simply being Romeo. That this was what he did with women.

That excuse didn’t work anymore.

I knew what his mouth felt like against mine.

More importantly, I knew what it had cost him to stop.

Me: We were discussing Nebraska.

Jasper: Were we? I liked where this went better.

Me: Answer the question.

Jasper: What question?

Me: I hate you.

Jasper: No, you don’t.

My thumb hovered over the keyboard. He’d said that before. Usually, I rolled my eyes or told him he was too confident.

Me: No, I don’t.

A few seconds passed before another message appeared.

Jasper: Could you live somewhere that cold?

I stared at the question.

Not would you move to Nebraska.

Not would you move for me.

Just cold.

Safe enough to answer.

Me: Depends.

Jasper: On?

Me: There would need to be benefits.

Jasper: Like?

Me: A really warm house.

Jasper: Easy.

Me: Fireplace.