“So, Jasper,” I say, feeling like someone should try to regain normalcy of the situation, “you know Dex, Jake, and George from school, right?”
“Sure, we’ve had some classes together,” he reaches across the counter and shakes both guys' hands then turns and does the same to George. “I never knew you worked here.”
“My sister owns it,” Dexter says, pointing at Sierra. She smiles again, well aware that we’ve entered into some kind of weird moment. “George, didn’t you say you were heading out for a tree too?”
“Yep. For my dad—down at the resort. They need three.”
“Oh so you’re going to the tree farm, too?” I ask.
He pushes his fingers through his shaggy brown hair. “I am.” His eyes dart behind me and I spin. Dexter stares at him—hard. What’s his problem? Something passes between them and George adds, “Maybe we should save gas and drive together?”
My heart flutters at the idea of spending some time with George—even if Jasper is there, too. I open my mouth to answer but Sierra cuts in. “I’m not sure you can get four trees in one truck. It’s probably a better idea to go separately.”
“I don’t know,” Jasper says rubbing his chin. “It may be a good idea. I’m a little worried about hauling it out by myself.” He smiles at me. “No offense.”
“They have staff that helps with that,” Sierra interjects. “I’m sure people need help all the time.”
I mean, I know Sierra’s been struggling with all of this but a
n out-and-out cockblocker? When it has nothing to do with her? Technically, George isn’t her concern anymore. I give her an incredulous look. Dexter nods next to her. “I think that’s a great idea. I mean, Jake and I would go but we have to work.”
“Cool,” Jasper says, still oblivious. “Let me grab some coffee and one of those tarts and we can head out. Starlee, you want something?”
“Mocha and a muffin, coming up,” Dexter says before I can answer, his voice carrying a slight edge.
Is he jealous?
I look at Jake, who is leaning against the entry to the kitchen, arms crossed, and then George who is standing with his keys in his hands, shoulders pulled back.
Wait. Are they all jealous?
“George,” Sierra says as Dexter hands us our drinks and food, “can we talk for a minute?”
“Nope,” he says, giving her a fake apologetic grin. “We really should get a move on.”
We head to the door and George opens it, waiting for both me and Jasper to walk out. I take a last look at the guys, still keeping their distance in front of Sierra but there’s a slight relief in their eyes. There was no way Jasper was getting out of that shop without one of them chaperoning.
George agrees to drive since his truck is bigger and the resort pays for the gas. He walks to the passenger side and opens the door, helping me up the high step and placing a hand in the small of my back. If he were Crowley the dog, he’d just piss on my leg, marking his territory.
“Really?” I say when he slides in behind the driver’s wheel and Jasper goes to get his gloves and coat out of his truck. “Is all this necessary?”
“Our hands may be tied right now, Star, but there’s no way in hell you’re spending the day with that guy alone.”
“You don’t trust me?”
He pushes a lock of hair behind my ear. “I trust you completely. But that kid? Not a chance.”
I’d seen a lot of sides of the wayward sons, but jealousy wasn’t one of them. I know it’s a little barbaric and chauvinistic, but there’s something to knowing the boys in my life are willing to draw a line for me and that no one else is allowed to cross it.
21
George
Jasper Williams isn’t an idiot. Sure, he may be a baseball player and a catcher, which means he’s most likely taken a few pitches to the head, but I refuse to think he’s dumb enough to make a move on my girl.
Except, as he sits next to Starlee in the truck, talking about the New Year’s Eve party in Mammoth Lake, I get the feeling he’s awful damn close to asking her to be his date.
“Oh, my mom told me about that party. She says it’s always been really fun,” Starlee says, oblivious to what’s going on.