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“Your parents didn’t mind you moving in with your boyfriend?”Callahan’sparents wouldn’t have even entertained the thought. It was simply something that wouldn’t have been allowed.
Riley put his arm around Blake, kissing her temple. “I went to meet them, of course, and I asked their permission. I told them that I was in love with their daughter, that I planned to keep loving her for the rest of time, and I asked if she could live with me. I told her dad I wanted to know that she was safe, always. Her mom swooned and they said yes.”
“My mom did not swoon.” Blake rolled her eyes, gently shoving his face away. “And my dad threatened to murder you if you broke my heart or got me pregnant.”
“Either way, we’ve been living together ever since.” Riley winked.
Jasper had his forearm resting on the back ofCallahan’schair, and she hated how much she liked it.Despite herself, shewas beginning to enjoy his attention and all the things she’d promised before agreeing to hang out with him. “I thought living with a girl would be nice, that she’d keep things neat and clean. Nope. Blake is the actual messiest person I’ve ever met.”
She scoffed. “I am not.”
He pulledCallahancloser, speaking into her ear like he was telling a secret. “She is.”
She’dnever craved attention like that. Every time he touched her, spoke only to her, butterflies took flight in the pit of her stomach.
“This bar is getting too crowded, let’s pick up some food and eat at the house.” Riley stretched his arms over his head, and then gathered Blake into his lap. “Too many dudes looking at my girl, it’s making me twitchy under my skin.”
“Yeah, I should head home, I have another final the day after tomorrow.” It was what sheshoulddo. That was the responsible move, the move she would normally make. She found herself disappointed though, bummed at the thought of leaving the three of them and going back to her empty dorm room andblandfood from the dining hall.
Jasper stood, helping her to her feet. “You sure? You could eat with us and then I could take you home after.”
He’d given her an out, he’d provided her with exactly what she wanted. A way to dragout thenight, a way to keep this giddy feeling inside her from disappearing. Her brain was at war:what she should do and what she wanted to do. “Well, yeah, okay. That sounds good.”
The truth was, she wasn’t ready to say good-bye. She’d wished onthedance floor for aredo, to have more fun.
There was no harm in her indulging herself now.
She wouldbe home and back to boring and sensible in no time anyway.
***
Dinner was takeout, again. Riley said he liked to cook, but he’d had too much beer to care. They piled on the couch and ate every last morsel of the Greek food they’d picked upontheir ride home. An old movie was onTV, but no one was paying much attention to it.
Riley dragged Blake to her feet, then playfully threw her over his shoulder. “Callahan, it was nice to see you again.” He winked at her, gesturing his head to the flat-screen mounted on the wall. “Turnupthe volume.” Blake giggled and waved good-bye as he carted her up the stairs.
Callahanwiped her hands, gathering the empty cartons.
“Don’t worry about that, you’re our guest. Youdon’t need to clean.”Jaspertook the containers from her, carrying them into the kitchen before dumping them in the trash. “You want to watch another movie?”
“I shouldgo.” She licked her lips, resigned to the fact that she prolonged her one night of fun for as long as possible. The movie was over, dinner was done, Blake and Jasper were in bed, and it was getting late.
“There’s a big difference betweenshould goand wanting to leave.” He came back into the room, his eyes alight with a sense of mischief she’d come to recognize. “Which one is it, Callie?” She stayed rooted in place, unable to move or look away. She was trapped by him, by the feelings he stirred inside. She never met anyone like him. “Because I want you to stay with me.”
“I thought you didn’t dosleepovers.” It was the first thing she could think to say.
He chuckled, taking a step closer to her. “You won’t be getting much sleep,baby.”
He was standing in front of her, calling her baby and asking her to stay the night. She’d never been propositioned like this before. He was forward and bold, everything she wasn’t. Everything she’d been raised to fear and avoid. He spoke without a filter,andhe wasn’t ashamed of how he was feeling.
She wished she was a little more like him. Maybe she was drunk on the fun and the freedom from their day together. Maybeshe was simply tired of being so lonely and reserved. Either way, she wanted this. She wanted one wild experience, one crazy story from college. And Jasper, well, he really was the perfect candidate,wasn’t he?
“Okay.” She dropped hershoulders, her gaze darting from him to the top of the stairs where she assumed his room was located. “Okay, I’ll stay.”
She smiled at the surprise in his eyes before he worked to disguise it. He thought she’d turn him down again. Hethought he’d be driving her home.
Yeah well, so did she.
Here they were though, negotiating a night together.
