Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
JASPER
“Iappreciate all of you coming to Chloe’s store opening tonight,” Dax says, holding his drink up in a toast.
Sitting around a back table at the Sin Bin, it feels like it’s been ages since all of us have been here. With the guys all partnering off, we tend to go to their places now.
“Did Chloe not want you there to help?” Bode asks, sipping on his own cocktail.
Dax smacks his lips. “No. She wanted the girls there to put the finishing touches on everything. Said she wanted to surprise me.”
“Hey, it’s going to be great,” I say. “After all you two have been through, you deserve this.”
It’s been a long few weeks. With lengthy road trips and Quinn prepping for trial, our time together has been limited. If we were out in public together, there is no place I’d rather be than having her by my side tonight.
But we can’t.
Instead, I’m here with the guys wishing she were going to meet me later. Hell, it’s not like I can even buy her anything because it’d look suspicious since I haven’t told any of them about her.
Well, except Noah. Who surprisingly has kept his mouth shut so far.
“Like I said,” Dax continues, “I’m glad you could all come tonight. I know it’s not easy taking time away from your families.”
“Hey, you’re our family too,” Bode says. “We love you, man.”
“Aww, what a sap you’ve become,” Noah chirps.
Bode brushes him off. “Fuck off. I’m a changed man.”
“Don’t listen to him.” Marcus pins Noah with a look that tells him to cut it out. He ignores it.
“I guess that face only works on your kids.” I laugh.
“And here I thought I had more influence over you guys.” Marcus shakes his head. “That always works on my kids.”
“Because you can take away screen time,” Dax says. “I’d be scared if you could do that.”
“Maybe I need to threaten to take away your phones then,” Marcus states matter-of-factly.
“Nice try, Marcus,” I say. “I don’t think you’re getting any of our devices.”
At least not mine. Because for the longest time, it was the only way I could communicate with Quinn. Given that she can’t be here tonight, it’s the only way I can talk with her.
“Why would you need your phone?” Noah asks, glancing over at me. “Got a hot date or something?”
Asshole.
“Why would I need a date when I’m hanging out with you idiots tonight?” I give him a cheesy, knowing smile.
“Oh, I don’t know—”
Graham slaps a hand over Noah’s mouth before he can finish. “Be nice. Tonight is all about Chloe and Dax.”
“Well, mostly Chloe,” Dax says, a lovesick look washing over his face. “It’s her big night.”
After having to deal with Dax’s douchebag of a brother, Duncan, and all his bullshit, these two deserve time to just be together.
Is this what it’s going to be like for Quinn and me? The two of us getting through all the bullshit of her trial and ex and finally getting to be together? I have no idea how long the trial is going to take, but I’ll be by her side every step of the way.
“Wings and nachos.” The waitress comes by, dropping our appetizers in the middle of the table.
“Thank God. I’m starving.” Graham helps himself to a nacho, overloaded with cheese, sour cream, and guacamole.
“You know Chloe is going to have food there tonight, right?” Dax asks, grabbing a chicken wing.
“Graham didn’t get lunch in after practice. We didn’t have much time at home.” Noah pats his stomach. “Let him be.”
“For someone that gives so much grief, you sure don’t let anyone give it to you,” I jest.
Noah turns to me, sipping on a beer. “I could give you so much more grief if I really wanted to, Jasper.”
“I’m good. I don’t need any more,” I mumble.
The last thing I want is Noah blurting out who I’m dating. In the middle of a crowded bar on Broadway is not the place for the guys to find out I’m dating Quinn.
Or Genevieve as the world knows her.
“At least it seems like the fans aren’t giving you as much crap anymore,” Marcus says.
“Because you’re always on the ice when they’re chirping at me.”
“I’d like to see them play,” Bode huffs. “It’s not easy trying to play on skates. Trust me, I keep trying to get Caleb out on the ice, but I don’t think it’s working yet.”
“Why don’t you wait until he has all his teeth before trying to get him in skates?” Marcus asks, laughter evident in his tone.
“Sue me. I want to carry on the Adams name and have Caleb be the second-best player ever for the Knights,” he says.
“Assuming you’re the first?” Noah asks, scooping nachos out onto a plate.
“Duh.” He rolls his eyes at us as we all dig in to the food on the table.
Having only had time for a quick shower after practice, I came straight to the bar. I scarf down what I can, getting a warning from Dax that we need to leave soon.
Fine by me. The sooner we leave, the sooner I can get to Quinn.
By the time we leave, downtown is bustling. It always is. Even on a Thursday night, people are spilling out of bars as music competes to be heard.
Dax leads the way as he steers us off the main drag and onto a side street that is no less busy. A sign hangs over a door, painted in pink, reading “Charms by Chloe.”
“This is it.” Dax swings the door open and we all filter inside.
All of the guys go right to their partners. Meanwhile, I stroll around, taking everything in.
Exposed brick walls. Old Edison bulbs dropping down from the high ceilings. Hardwood floors. Display cases line both walls with tables filled with jewelry in the middle.
I let out a low whistle. “Wow, this place looks great, Chloe.”
“I couldn’t have done it without Dax,” she says, blushing.
“You did it. You and all these amazing women helping you,” he replies.
The two of them are so in love that before, it would have hurt to see. While it stings I don’t have Quinn here with me, I know this is the exact type of thing she would love. That maybe once the two of us take this thing public, we can come to events like this.
Until then, I snap a picture and send it to her.
Jasper
I really wish you could be here tonight >
Quinn
I am going to have to make the trip
Send me pictures of the jewelry
You’d love all of them >
Think you could buy one for me?
Without the guys noticing?
Probably not
But hey, I’m supporting Chloe, right?
Try it and see
Are you still coming over tonight when you’re done?
Try and keep me away
“You really made everything?” I ask, fingering a ring as I stuff my phone back in my pocket.
“I did. So if there’s anything you want, let me know. And I’ll be taking custom orders as well, so I can always make something for you.”
“You know,”—I smile at her, examining a gold ring with a large black stone set in it—“I don’t have anyone I could give this to, but can I buy it to support you?”
Tears well in her eyes. “You really don’t have to do that, Jasper.”
“I want to.”
I have no idea if it will fit Quinn or not, but we’ll see.
“What are you buying?” Noah asks, dropping his elbows onto the counter as Chloe rings me up.
“Would you quit it?” I hiss.
“Quit what? I’m only asking you what you’re buying.” He waggles his eyebrows at me.
Chloe eyes the two of us, but passes over the bag as she takes my card and runs it through the machine.
The rest of the guys are standing around together in one corner as a few people drift inside. I head over to them, doing my best to ignore Noah and his not-so-subtle hints.
“What’d you buy?” Marcus nods at my bag.
“A ring. Wanted to support Chloe, even if I have no one to give it to.”
“Maybe I can find a teacher at school to set you up with,” Harper says. “A guy like you? They’d love you.”
“Maybe,” I say, not putting much effort or commitment into my answer.
I don’t want to jinx anything. It’s still early. With both of us in the public spotlight, our relationship is going to be under a microscope the minute we’re seen together. Me? I’m not that big of a draw. It’s all Quinn.
Right now, it’s easier to let this thing grow, just the two of us. Even though the guys will be supportive, I still want to keep this to myself.
What we have is special. And I’ll protect it as long as I can.