Page 230 of Romeo

Jasper: Already in the library.

Me: Heated seats in my car.

Jasper: Spoiled.

Me: I’m from Virginia. Your weather is unreasonable.

Jasper: Anything else?

I thought for a second.

Me: Someone who knows how to drive in snow.

His answer came instantly.

Jasper: I know a guy.

Me: Is he annoying?

Jasper: Extremely.

Me: That sounds unfortunate.

Jasper: Handsome though.

Me: According to him.

Jasper: And you.

My eyes narrowed at the screen.

Me: I never said that.

Jasper: Cher, I have eyes.

Me: So do I. That doesn’t mean I told you.

Jasper: Your face did.

Me: You’re awfully sure of yourself for a man fifteen hundred miles away.

Jasper: You want me closer?

The question wiped the smile from my face, but not because I disliked it.

I glanced at Granny again. She’d fallen asleep in her chair, chin tipped toward her chest while the television continued transforming the old house without her supervision.

My attention returned to the phone.

Me: You know I do.

There, I’d said it.

No joke.

No emoji to soften it.

Jasper took almost a full minute to answer.