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The truth landed on Jasper. “That afterward, she would come back and pick you anyway.”
Cal gave him a look that confirmed Jasper’s conclusion as he gulped a little more wine.
A little flare of possessiveness went through Jasper, but he tamped the feeling down. “Have you told her any of this? Is that why you’re here?”
“No, I’ve been willing to wait. I promised myself when she finally started dating that I would keep my mouth shut and see it as progress, but tonight…” Cal plunked the wine bottle on the side table and shook his head. “It’s killing me to stand by and watch some smooth-talking actor sweep her up just to use her for his own agenda.”
Jasper’s jaw flexed, his sympathy for the guy morphing into irritation. “I’m not using her.”
“Right,” he said dismissively. “You’re looking to find a woman to settle down with. You totally seem like the type.”
Jasper’s hands, which had been loosely clasped between his knees, clenched. “First, don’t pretend you know anything about me, because you don’t. And second, this relationship is new, man. No, I haven’t bought her a ring and named our future children, but I’m not leading her on to get a damn review. I like her. We enjoy being with each other.”
“You like her?” Cal huffed. “You enjoy her company?”
Jasper didn’t know what the guy was expecting him to say.
When Jasper didn’t respond, Cal’s lip curled. “You have no clue, do you? You have no idea how she looks at you when you’re not paying attention.”
Jasper’s stomach flipped. “What?”
“God.” Cal ran a hand over his face, his expression weary. “You don’t realize what you’ve stepped into. You don’t know what Hollyn’s been through. How isolated she’s been all her life. How hard everything has been for her.” His throat worked as he swallowed. “Kids were cruel to her. People avoid her because they don’t understand. Every interaction with a stranger has been anxiety-ridden for her. And her mother didn’t help by locking her in a virtual prison to try to protect her. There were times I worried she’d just…decide to not go on at all.”
Cal looked down like he was trying to gather himself, and Jasper’s throat tightened at the thought of Hollyn being that depressed.
“And finally, she’s making some progress, putting herself out there.” He looked back to Jasper. “I’m so glad for that. Seeing her working outside the house, making friends, meeting new people. She’s been fighting hard to create a life she wants. But as tough as she is in some ways, she’s so fucking vulnerable to someone like you.”
Jasper’s defenses went up swift and tall. How many times had someone referred to him that way?Someone like you.The stupid one. The foster kid. The problem child. The fuckup. “Someone like me?”
Cal gave him a smug look. “The good-looking guy who knows how to say all the right things. You’re the prom king asking the wallflower to dance just to feel like he did something nice.”
Jasper’s temper surfaced, his voice rising. “I’m not dating her out of fucking pity.”
But the words sounded hollow in his ears. He and Hollynwerejust pretending to have a relationship. He wasn’t actually her boyfriend. He was helping her. Exchanging favors.Being nice.Did that mean there was some truth to Cal’s accusation? Even though Jasper was attracted to Hollyn, was he doing all this just to feel like a good guy after fucking up so royally? Was he trying to prove something to himself?
“Even if this isn’t about pity or getting publicity, even if it’s just about getting her in bed and having a little fun,” Cal said, “she’s not hardened to that kind of thing yet. She hasn’t been through the meat grinder of the dating scene. Her defenses are weak at best. She looks at you like…”
“Like what?” Jasper asked.
Cal’s frown lines deepened, his eye contact steady. “Like you’re the guy.”
That took the wind right out of Jasper. No way. Cal had it all wrong. Hollyn was just a better actress than she gave herself credit for. She was selling the lie hook, line, and sinker. He shook his head. “Cal—”
“Hollyn deserves someone who’s going to love her and stick around,” he continued. “Someone who puts her first. I could be that guy. You—are not that guy.”
That pressed all of Jasper’s fuck-off buttons. “You don’t know me.”
“I know enough,” Cal said. “You don’t do what you do unless you’re fame-hungry. I bet your career is everything to you.”
“Says the dude in a band. And a career and a relationship aren’t mutually exclusive last I checked.”
“Right,” he said, tone dismissive. “If a big break gets tossed your way, you gonna turn it down to stay with Hollyn?”
“If your band gets a record deal and is asked to tour the world, you gonna turn it down to stay with Hollyn?” he lobbed back at Cal.
“Yes,” he said without hesitation. “I would.”
“Then you’re dumb,” Jasper said, derision in his voice. “Nothing like starting a long-term relationship with a big, heaping pile of resentment that you gave up a life dream to be with someone. I wouldn’t expect her to do that for me either.”
