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“You have nothing to be sorry for, your safety is more important to me.” He strokes my cheek. “I don’t trust Link, so you need to be escorted at all times.’
“That is the reason why I asked you the night of the ball whether Michael is able to protect me. I suspected he was stalking me, and…” I sigh, trying to gather my thoughts. “Thank you, Jasper.”
He kisses me again and ushers me into the car.
Jasper doesn’t know how much his protection means to me, and I’m grateful for him.
Poppy
“My brother has a surprise for you. He’s taking you out on a date.” Lacey’s eyes beam with excitement. She bounces on her feet. Every other week she comes over and we’ll have a girls’ night out, or I’ll pick her up at school and we’re go get smoothies.
I love surprises.
After that day I ran into Link, I’ve been on edge and watching over my back. I try not to think of what would have happened if Jasper hadn’t shown up. I shake my head and try to wipe away those memories.
I raise my eyebrows. “What kind of surprise date?”
“The kind where you will find out soon enough,” she teases.
I perch up on the couch with my legs tucked in.
Jasper left a while ago and he hasn’t been back, so I’ve been with Lacey. We’ve been painting our nails and talking about the latest gossip in the celebrity world. She loves trashy reality shows like me.
Her cheeks turn rosy red. “With this pregnancy, you know, it feels weird.”
I will never know the feeling of being pregnant or caring for a child, but I’m coming to grips that it will never happen for me. Even when I see mothers with their children, my chest tightens, but this is the life I signed up for and Jasper will never go back on his word.
“How so?”
“I crave weird foods, like hot peppers and lime juice. It’s really good.”
I crinkle my nose. “That sounds unpleasant.”
“Also, I’m moving next month. My boyfriend bought a house in Los Angeles, so I’m going to live with him there. I’m going to miss you.”
She hugs me and I embrace her.
“You’re like the sister I never had. You can visit me without Jasper. I mean, I would love for him to visit too, but you are always welcome.”
“Of course. I will come visit once the baby is born. Do your parents know you’re pregnant?”
She shakes her head. “No, matter of fact. I haven’t told them I was moving.” She shrugs. “I’m going to pack my bags and leave in the middle of the night. When I get to LA, I’ll let them know. It’s best that way.”
I bob my head. “I understand.”
Jasper walks into the living room, wearing a turtleneck and black dress pants. My heart flutters in my chest as the sight of him. Those butterflies never go away when he is around. I jump up from the couch, and he comes up to me and gives me a kiss on the lips. Sometimes it doesn’t feel as if we’re just friends with benefits and more like we’re husband and wife, but I don’t dare entertain the thoughts further because Jasper will never be with me like that outside of on paper. We decided on friends with benefits and that’s what we’re doing.
Which is why I don’t understand why he’s taking me out on a date tonight.
“Why are you taking me on a date?” I blurt out, voicing my thoughts.
He shoots Lacey a glare and she shrugs, resting her hands on her small belly.
“It’s not a date, it’s us hanging out. Friends hang out, Poppy.”
My mind goes to a week ago when I ran into Link. The way he protected me from Link didn’t feel like a friend protecting another friend. It felt like he meant every word as my husband. I shake my head. It’s all in my head. There is no way he loves me. That would be absurd.
“Where are you taking me?”
