Page 270 of Romeo

“Yes, Jasper.”

He walked me to my car, opened the door, then waited while I got inside and locked it. I watched him cross back to his motorcycle, unable to stop tracking every step he took until he swung onto the seat.

The engine started.

For the first time since he pulled into the parking lot, the sight of the bike made sense.

He had ridden here.

To surprise me.

The thought should have made me smile.

Instead, tears blurred the rearview mirror.

I wiped them away and pulled out.

Jasper’s headlight stayed behind me the entire drive to Granny’s.

I checked it too often.

Every time I saw it, something inside me eased. I didn’t care where he had come from or how long he had ridden or why he had decided to surprise me tonight of all nights.

He was there.

That was enough.

By the time I turned into Granny’s driveway, I had stopped shaking badly enough to manage the steering wheel, but the moment I shut off the car, the quiet rushed back in.

Jasper parked behind me.

I was out of the car before I realized I had been waiting for him to stop moving.

He reached me without saying anything and slid his hand against the small of my back. The touch was light, but I leaned into it anyway as we walked toward the porch.

The front door opened before we reached the steps.

Granny took one look at me and froze.

Her gaze moved immediately to Jasper. “What happened?”

The suspicion in her voice made me grab his hand.

“Not him.” The words came too fast. “Granny, Jasper saved me.”

Her face changed. “Saved you from what?”

I opened my mouth.

The brick wall came back.

Hands.

Breath against my face.

Nothing came out.

Jasper stepped closer—not enough to crowd me, just enough that his shoulder touched mine. “A man attacked her behind the shop,” he said.