Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
JASPER
“Hey, Jasper?” Quinn’s voice calls out.
Grabbing the plates and napkins, I walk back into the living room. Instead of seeing Quinn setting up the pizza boxes on the coffee table, Dax is at the door, holding five pizza boxes and standing beside Noah and Graham.
Fuck.
Fuck, fuck, fuck.
Noah has a shit-eating grin on his face, Graham looks gobsmacked, but not entirely surprised, but Dax? He looks clueless. Likely because he’s been so loved up with Chloe lately.
“I’m sorry, do you know who you are?” Dax asks.
Noah smacks him on the back of his head. “Where are your manners?”
“Why aren’t you freaking out about this?” Dax swings his look of shock to Noah. “That’s Genevieve.”
“Actually, it’s Quinn to my friends,” she says.
“Is he your friend?” Dax questions.
“Why don’t you get your asses inside and I’ll fill you in.” I sidle up behind Quinn and wave them in.
This is not a conversation to be having in the hallway in my building. I’ve got good neighbors, but I don’t need to be airing my private life for all of them to hear.
“Do you want me to leave?” Quinn asks, dropping her voice.
I stare down at her. Her gaze is flitting back and forth between me and the guys.
“I think it’ll be easier if you’re here for this.”
“We’ve been pestering him for months about if he’s been dating someone. You’re staying,” Graham says.
I guess we’re not as quiet as we thought.
“Can we at least eat while we talk about this?” I ask. My stomach gives a loud rumble. “Otherwise, I’m liable to eat one of you three and I won’t be sorry.”
“Works for me. I’m starving.” Noah shrugs a shoulder and takes the pizza boxes from Dax and sets them on the counter. “We brought pizza over because we figured you’d be at home by yourself and want some company.”
“That’s nice of you,” I say.
“Why are you not freaking out about this?” Dax interrupts, grabbing a beer from the six-pack Graham sets down next to the pizza. “Jasper is…dating the world’s biggest pop star?”
“You say it like that’s a question,” I fire back at him, grabbing a slice and tearing off the end.
“I don’t actually know what this is.” Dax waves a finger between the two of us. “And back to why am I the only one freaking out about this?”
Noah and Graham exchange a look.
“I might have already known about it,” Noah says.
“And I know because he knows,” Graham confirms. “Boyfriend privileges and all that.”
“Technically, I told you about Quinn. I never actually got around to telling you we were dating.”
Noah shrugs before taking his plate into the living room. “The fact that you asked me for advice when you normally would have ignored me? I knew you were going to start dating.”
“Wait, you knew?” Dax asks Noah. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
He shrugs, kicking his feet up on my coffee table. Zucchini takes it as an invitation to curl up next to him.
“Honestly? I told Graham and then Jasper got injured and I kind of forgot.”
“You kind of forgot.” Dax rolls his eyes, indignation washing over his face. “I can’t believe you.”
“You know, if Bode were here, he’d murder you,” Graham says.
“Would you really let that happen?” Noah asks.
Graham shrugs. “Depends on the day.”
“Wow. Love you too, babe.”
Graham blows a kiss his way as Quinn burrows into my side. “I kind of like them.”
“Only kind of,” I agree. “I wish I could say they’re not always like this, but I’d be lying.”
“It’s only because they love you.”
Noah perks up from the couch, where Zucchini is curling into his side, wanting all the attention. “When you tell the other guys, can I be there?”
“I should just text them and get it over with,” I say, pulling out my phone.
“You are not going to text them.” Quinn grabs my device from my hand. “You can tell them in person.”
“Why do you have to be the adult in the relationship?”
“Because you’re not?” Graham jokes.
“Careful.” I flip him the bird. “I’ll still kick you out.”
“How did you two meet?” Dax asks. “Because it seems like these two are in the know and I know nothing.”
“We met on a dating app,” Quinn says.
“Which one?” Dax asks.
“Does it matter?” Graham fires back. “They met online. End of story.”
Dax shakes his head. “You really need to learn how stories are told. We need details. I mean, he’s dating Genevieve.”
“You can call me Quinn,” she says. “Jasper won me over with a cat joke.”
“Jasper knows jokes?” Noah laughs. “Damn, I’m impressed.”
“You’re such a dick.” I flip him off this time.
“That’d be the only way this guy could find someone,” Noah snickers.
Graham smacks him on the back of the head. “I’m sorry, Quinn. I can’t take him anywhere.”
“It’s okay. I think the two of us will be friends.” Quinn takes the empty seat next to him on the couch.
“Yes!” Noah pumps his fist. “I’ve won over Twatopotamus here and Quinn. Maybe one day Jasper will like me.”
“Don’t hold your breath,” I mutter.
“He secretly loves you,” Quinn whispers.
“I know he does,” Noah agrees.
“Okay, I don’t want you two ganging up on me.” I cast a wary look between them.
“But we’d have so much fun!” Quinn says.
“Yeah.” Noah looks equally delighted. “I like her. She gives you shit and likes me.”
“Great.” I roll my eyes. “I guess it was fun while it lasted.”
I take the seat next to Quinn and she moves onto my lap. “Aww. I know you secretly love that we’re all going to become friends.”
I couldn’t stay mad at Quinn if I tried. Not that I was actually mad. I kiss the tip of her nose. “I’m glad they like you.”
“I like them too.”
“I guess that means it’s time you meet the rest of the guys. Maybe we’ll have them over one night for dinner.”
“Brussels sprouts must be had. I have to impress them.”
I groan, dropping my head into her shoulder. “If you insist.”
“It’s like we’re not even here,” Noah says, interrupting us.
“Wait.” Dax looks between the two of us. “Did you know it was Chloe’s store when you posted about it?”
“I really wanted to go with Jasper because I love jewelry.” She nods, holding up her hands to show the rings she never goes without now. “But since no one knew about us at the time, I stayed home.”
“Wow.” A look of gratitude comes over his face. “I can’t tell you what you posting about it meant to Chloe. She loves you, and her business has exploded since then.”
A shy look washes over Quinn’s face. “Well, she deserves it. I love her stuff.”
Dax gives me an annoyed look. “Am I allowed to tell her, or do I have to wait?”
“If I say you have to wait, will you listen to me?”
“Yes,” Noah answers for him. “Because Dax doesn’t want to get on anyone’s bad side.”
“You’re on my bad side,” Dax tells him.
“Why? It wasn’t my news to tell,” Noah says. “Be mad at Jasper.”
The horn sounds again from the TV and we all look, seeing Bode celebrating a goal.
“At least we can tell them we watched the game,” I say.
“They might be more upset they aren’t here,” Noah says. “This is a pretty good night.”
Even if I wasn’t planning on telling the guys about Quinn and me, I don’t think it could have gone better. Dax is still in shock, but honestly? The fact that they’re being their normal selves around her? I love it. They aren’t starstruck. That means more than I could ever say.
It’s more joking around as we eat dinner and watch the game. I remember my first All-Star game. I had the best time getting to play with some of the greatest stars in the game. But as the years went on, it was harder on my body to keep playing.
Now? I couldn’t imagine spending the night any other way. With my teammates and Quinn as we support our brothers in the game.
It’s perfect.
“Chloe’s getting off soon. I’m going to head over there and go home with her,” Dax says, taking his plate and empty beer bottle into the kitchen.
“I’d say thanks for stopping by, but this was not how I planned tonight going,” I say.
“Well, I’m glad we finally know what’s going on in your life,” Dax replies. “You deserve to be happy.”
I give him a grateful smile before pulling him in for a hug. “Thanks, man. We both do.”
He says his goodbyes before heading out.
“I think that might be our cue to leave too,” Graham says.
“You don’t want to stay and watch the end of the game?” Noah asks.
Graham shakes his head. “Let’s leave these two lovebirds be. They’ve had a big night.”
“Think I can take Twatopotamus with me?” He gives my cat a kiss on the head.
“Take her and I will hurt you,” I deadpan.
“Get your own cat.” Quinn laughs.
“Ugh. Fine.”
“We’ll have to do this again some time.” Quinn gives Noah a hug before he leaves.
Noah looks over the top of her head, smiling. “She’s a keeper, Jasper. Don’t fuck this up.”
“I don’t plan on it.”
“Good.”
With that, the guys head out and leave me and Quinn alone.
“So that happened.” Quinn laughs. “I love them.”
I smile at her. “I knew they would love you.”
“I am lovable.” She smiles up at me.
“The most lovable person there is.”
“Does that mean you’re going to let me meet the rest of them?” she asks.
“I guess. Maybe after I teach you to skate, we can grab dinner and come back here and have them over.”
“I’d like that.”
“Good. Now, can we pick up where we left off earlier?”
Quinn wraps her arms around me, a playful look on her face. “Where exactly did we leave off earlier?”
“Let me remind you.”