—until an all too familiar voice cuts in.
Jesus H Christ!
Did Jase seriously follow me out here?
Anger quickly obliterates any other emotion, and I’m about to storm off when I realize he isn’t talking tome.
Given how far I’m slumped in my seat, I don’t even think he sees my body. I peer over the back of my chair, and sure enough, he has his phone pressed to his ear as he paces the width of the patio, not looking anywhere in my direction.
I lift my legs up to rest them on another seat so I can hide them from view as well and slump back down. He’ll finish his call in a few minutes, and when he is, he’ll go back inside, and I’ll have my peace and quiet.
Unfortunately, that still leaves me privy to his conversation. Or at least his side of it.
“I obviously need it before the exchange. He can’t fulfill his end of the bargain without it,” says Jase.
Pause.
“Trust me, he got the message. Loud and clear. He won’t be a problem.”
Another pause.
“How about tomorrow night at Murdock’s?”
“It’ll cost extra, given the short notice,”I hear another voice say faintly. The tinny quality makes it clear it’s coming from the other end of the call, meaning only one thing.
Jase is coming closer and closer to me.
Shit.
“I’m good for it, as long as I get what I need,” he assures. “There’s no knowing when the next party will be held, so I need to make sure I have it on hand.”
For the love of all that is sacred, just go away, Jase!
I silently chant this like a mantra, like a prayer, hoping against hope that some divine intervention will force his legs to head back inside when he ends the conversation.
No such luck.
Eventually, Jase comes strolling into view, ruffling a hand through his hair until it’s properly disheveled. He sighs, or at least begins to, but he freezes the second his eyes land on me.
Yeah, I don’t apologize or even bother to explain myself. It’s obvious who was here first. If anything,heshould be the one leaving.
But he isn’t. Nope, apparently, the jackass is allergic to taking a hint, because Jase leans against the railing in front of me, looking like he might say something as he slides his cell back into his pocket.
I’m not in the mood.
Rolling my eyes, I stand up and turn to go, only for him to call out, “You don’t have to leave.”
“Trust me, Iwantto.”
I make it about ten feet when he asks, “Is she always like that?”
The last thing I want to do is give him a chance at starting a dialogue, so I don’t take the bait and inquire who he’s referring to, but I at least look back at him.
He smiles, though it’s humorless at best. “Your stepmom used to be much more subtle around other people.”
And now I’m pretty sure my expression matches his. “Yeah, well, I’ve limited my social interactions for years around here, and I’ve been gone for the last nine months, so she’s apparently out of practice. Not that anyone notices.”
Jase lifts the hand not in his hair, revealing two frosted bottles of beer. He uses something on his keychain to pop the tops and extends one to me.
