Chapter 71

Renee’s POV

A week passes and Emily and I fall into a rhythm with one another’s schedule. It helps that Emily’s guestroom comes with a guest bathroom.

Every morning we both wake up at seven, get ready for the day and meet in the kitchen. Whoever is there first starts making breakfast for the both of us. Emily has mastered the art of omelets, while I’m more of the waffle maker.

We talk about our schedules, and Emily leaves for her job as a dual fitness and nutrition expert at 8:30 am sharp. This leaves me with eight hours of my own time.

Sometimes I make the hike to visit clients, but most hours I do spend it enjoying nature and work outside or by her fireplace on calls or doing marketing, or design work. Though today, Jasper is coming over.

He’s the whole reason for me starting my business and he should see how his investment is being put to use.

Besides the last time we spoke was a week ago when he drunkenly said he loved me. He may not remember, but I do and the air needs to be cleared.

My phone rings and I see it’s a FaceTime call from Debbie. I close my laptop and lean back in Emily’s plush recliner.

“Hi sweetie,” I answer.

“When are you coming home?” Debbie asks, which had become her routine greeting. I sigh and give my routine answer.

“Soon,”

Debbie rolls her eyes. “Why? How are things with your father?” I ask trying to sound indifferent but I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a petty part of me that hopes one of these calls from Debbie will result in her complaining about Eric.

“Fine,” Debbie scrunches her eyebrows, confused that I would even ask. “We go to the park everyday and he hides a dead rabbit and teaches me how to find it,” she tells me.

I widen my eyes. “Sounds fun,”

“Yeah,” Debbie sighs and I know she’s holding something back.

“What is it?” I press.

“I miss you,” Debbie says and my heart breaks.

“I miss you too,” I tell her honestly.

“Then why don’t you come home?” Debbie whines. Just then the doorbell rings and I know it’s Jasper. I flicker my eyes in the direction of the front door.

“I have to go Debbie,” I tell her sadly. “I’ll call you before bed and I’ll be home s-“

Debbie hangs up.

She has every right to be upset, she’s too young to understand.

I let Jasper in. He has some white tape over his nose from where Eric hit him. It gives him a nerdy effect, in a cute kind of way.

“I take it you know what happened?” Jasper says stepping inside.

I nod. More than you know.

“Emily told me I walked into the wall,” he says and looks at me for confirmation. I purse my lips. “Yeah, I don’t think so,” he says. “Do I want to know?” He asks sheepishly. I open my mouth but no words come out. “Probably not,” Jasper answers for himself and I shut my jaw.

“Let’s look at this months progress checks,” I say jumping at the opportunity to change topics.

I’ll confront Jasper about his feelings towards me, just not this second.

Jasper heeds my suggestion and heady way into the living room. Jasper looks Emily’s place up and down. “This is nice,” he remarks. I murmur an agreement.

I just feel so awkward around him right now. He doesn’t seem like he’s into me, he’s acting completely normal.

“So,” I say opening my laptop. “These are last quarters returns,” I show him the numbers and Jasper pivots the laptop closer to him.

“Annie,” he remarks and the way he calls me by my real name makes me squirm. He’s the only one who does that. “That’s incredible!” He exclaims and looks at me with a mixture of joy and disbelief.

“Well, I have Eric to thank for that,” I say and scoot my laptop back. It’s subtle, but Jasper tenses.

“What do you mean?” He asks, his voice tight. I pretend to not notice.

“He gave me all his old clients since he’s changing brands,” I explain. Jasper sucks on his lip.

“I see,”

“Of course your donation is what got me here in the first place,” I say trying to save face.

“Thanks,” Jasper says letting me know he knows what I’m doing. “I’m happy for you, regardless how you got here, it wasn’t because of me or Eric- it was all you,” he says and pride swells up inside me.

Jasper puts a hand on mind and if this were two weeks ago I wouldn’t think anything of it, but knowing what I do now I instinctively pull my hand back.

The front door opens. “You will not believe the asshole I dealt with today,” Emily complains loudly as she enters through the door plopping down her bags of groceries and work suitcase. “Some client had the audacity to ask what my diet was like because I didn’t ‘look that healthy,” she stops when she sees Jasper and I standing in her living room. “Oh,” she says embarrassed. “I don’t usually come in through the door like that,” she explains.

Jasper waves her off. “I’d be upset too if a patient questioned my health,” Jasper says, doing exactly to Emily as I just did to him a couple minutes ago.

“Well,” Emily says kicking aside her shoes. “At least you understand,” Emily then looks at me and only because we’ve been friends for years, I can tell by the slight twitch in her eye she’s wondering why he’s here.

“We’re looking at business things,” I tell her and then turn to Jasper. “I want you opinion on the upcoming ads I plan on running in a couple of months,”

Jasper looks down at his hand, the one that held mine, now empty. “I’m sure whatever you plan will be great,”

I instantly feel stupid for inviting him over.

“So Jasper, how was your day?” Emily asks coming to sit down on the couch beside him. I can’t help but notice this is out of our unspoken yet established routine that we’ve built.

Normally if Emily is done work before me she gets started on dinner and vice versa, not to mention I did dinner the past two nights and I’m the one with a guest over. Isn’t it only proper etiquette that she makes dinner tonight? Then again, it is her house . . .

I sit down on the opposite side of Jasper. Emily looks at me confused and I’m wondering if she thinks that I should be making dinner.

“Uh,” Jasper begins, clearly picking up on some tension. “Good,” he finally answers.

“That’s great!” Emily replies a bit too excitedly. No get the weird feeling there’s something of a love triangle happening here. “Tell me about it,” Emily says.

Jasper looks at me and I shrug. “I guess I’ll get your input on the was another time,” I say concluding my work for the evening.

Jasper retells his day and Emily watches his lips as they move, and I watch Emily watching him.

I only had a few drinks last week and I chalked up everyone’s flirtations to the buzz from the alcohol but now without a single drop, it’s becoming clear that Emily has feelings for Jasper, who had feelings for me.

Who do I have feelings for? I’m looking at Jasper but my heart thinks if Eric- but that’s only because of the stupid fate of our relationship that doesn’t mean I have to continue to be with him.

And if I’m not with him, would I be with Jasper?

We’ve tried once before, sort of. I’m not sure if that was an honest attempt.

I try to keep up with the details of Jaspers story, but I’m too distracted. Unlike Emily who’s holding onto his every word. I find myself in a silent competition with her trying to also pay as close attention to Jasper.

But, why do I care if Emily likes him? He doesn’t even like her, and if he does would I care? I don’t even want him to love me, right?

“I’m gonna go start dinner,” I announce and by the startled look on both their faces I can guess it wasn’t the the most opportune time to cut in.

I awkwardly excuse myself. I need some air.