I snort.
After she leaves, I move to the fridge to look for something to cook for dinner, but upon seeing the usual pickings, I decide to order in. If I want this to go well, I should spoil the kids.
There’s a knock at the door not long after I’ve placed an order at this Cajun place Jasper recommended after I told him we live on pizza.
“Food was fast,” Rhys says.
“That isn’t food.” I open the door and let Jasper in, and I can’t help grinning at him.
He looks so nervous. I lean in and kiss his cheek.
His eyes widen, and his gaze flicks behind me.
“I knew it!” Rhys jumps up from the table.
“Well, yeah, it’s obvious,” Hazel says.
“Everyone, this is my boyfriend, Jasper.”
“That’s Rhys’s tutor,” Ben says.
“It is. He’s also my boyfriend.”
“Oh. Okay. Hi, Jasper, I’m Emmett.”
Fuck, I got it wrong again? No, wait …
I fold my arms. “Hold up your hands. Palms up.”
“What? Why?”
“You know why, Ben.”
Ben huffs. “Damn it. We shouldn’t have told him we switch it up.”
I turn to Jasper. “Turns out the accident Emmett had on Christmas has come in really handy at telling them apart. If they ever try to trick you, Em has a scar on his left hand.”
Jasper smiles. “Good to know.”
Footsteps sound from above, and Zoe appears a few moments later. “When’s food getting …” She trails off as her eyes lock on Jasper.
“Zoe, this is Jasper, my boyfriend.”
“Isn’t that Rhys’s tutor? The professor we can’t tell Asher about because he hates him?”
“Ouch.” Jasper lets out an awkward laugh.
“It is. And I plan to tell him as soon as he’s home from Montreal, but tonight, we’re going to hang out and have dinner as a family. That okay with you?”
She shrugs. “As long as food comes here fast. I’m starving.” She turns on her heel and marches back upstairs.
I wrap my arms around Jasper’s back and kiss the side of his head. “Five down. One to go.”
26
Jasper
We’ll have two whole nights. Sure, it’s a relatively small thing, but in two days we’ll be doubling the number of sleepovers we’ve had, and knowing we don’t have to sneak around for it is even better.
Dinner arrives, and West insists on everyone sitting in the living room together. It’s a great idea, in theory, because it feels way less stuffy and more relaxed than sitting at the table, but as soon as the containers are opened, food ends up everywhere.
Zoe’s eating one-handed while she texts, Rhys’s plate is so full the food keeps falling over the edge, the twins are just … messy. I take a deep breath and try to embrace the chaos. If things work out with West, this will become my life.
Hazel’s the only one eating like a normal human, though that could be because she’s being so quiet. I know it’s because of me, and I have an overwhelming urge to win her over.
“Chicken?” I ask, offering the container.
She looks at it, then back up to me before shaking her head.
I try not to sigh. Her age group is completely out of my comfort zone, but if I’m going to be around more, I don’t want her to feel uncomfortable with me here.
“What’s your favorite subject?” I ask, then immediately kick myself. Sure, Jasper, what kid doesn’t like talking about school?
“Art.”
“Really? My best friend is an art professor.”
“Okay …”
Yikes. I turn to West like help, but he laughs and shakes his head. Thanks. I guess I’m on my own with this.
“How did you become a professor?” one of the twins asks through a full mouth.
“Lots of school.”
He cringes. “That sounds boring.”
“Maybe, but I like my job. What do you want to be when you grow up?”
“I’m going to be on Ninja Warrior,” he says with all the confidence of a nine-year-old.
“I’m going to be a hockey player,” the other twin says.
Two potential NHL players, a mathematician, and a … ninja warrior. At least the family is well-rounded.
“Yeah, you will, buddy.” West holds up his hand for a high five.
“What about you?” I turn to Hazel, trying to draw her out again.
She scrunches up her face. “I’m eleven. How would I know?”
“Hazel.” West is frowning now. “What’s gotten into you?”
Her gaze flicks to me again, and oh no, is she about to cry? Fuck. She bites her lip, looking like she’s trying to hold back the words.
“Yeah, stop being a bitch, Hazel.”
“Rhys!” West snaps.
“Me?” Hazel pushes to her feet. “We’re all lying to Asher when we know he hates him. What if Asher leaves? What then?”
Ohhh. My heart hurts for her.
“Then he’s a jerk,” Rhys throws back. “He didn’t care about West when he got together with Kole. I like Jasper. Asher can’t scare him off.”
“No, but he can leave us. We all know he’s going to anyway. This will just be his excuse to go now.”