Chapter 5 – Otis #2
Turning, I head back to the showers, when I have a brain wave. Looking back over my shoulder, I make sure that Marcus isn’t anywhere near me, and I pull out my phone. Pulling up the contact, I find Lars’s number and hit call.
“Hey Otis.” Lars’s voice sounds down the line. “How was the session with Jasper? He’s good isn’t he?”
“So good,” I mumble. “Look, is there any chance you can forward me his number? I meant to ask him something but forgot.”
“You aren’t trying to steal him from me?” Lars adds with a chuckle.
“As I said, I’m happy with Daniel,” I tell him again, but I have no idea how to word it so that Lars doesn’t ask any questions.
“You sure?” Lars adds, and I know that he’s teasing me, but I really need to get this conversation moving on.
“One hundred percent,” I confirm.
“How come you haven’t got his number already?” Lars asks.
“No idea. Just never got around to it, so are you able to text it over to me?” I ask, trying not to sound desperate.
“Sure. Give me two minutes and I will get it over to you,” Lars replies, and I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Jasper is going to be pissed that I got his number, but I needed it.
“Thanks Lars, you’re a lifesaver,” I tell him.
“Just don’t do anything stupid with it,” Lars chuckles.
“Like what?” I demand, wondering why Lars would say that.
“Oh, I don’t know, declare your undying love for him,” Lars adds, now full on laughing at his joke.
“I won’t. Well not on the first phone call,” I add, then quickly thank him again before hanging up the phone.
When my phone beeps with a text message a few minutes later, I open the message to see Jasper’s number, and quickly save it into my phone.
My fingers hover over the call button, needing to call him.
But wherever he was going, he’s most likely driving, and I don’t want to have this conversation if he’s driving.
The best thing that I can do is shower, head home, and try to call him then.
An hour later I’m finally leaving HQ, which is a lot later than I’d intended.
But people kept wanting to talk to me. Asking me if I was looking forward to the new season.
What I thought about the car changes. It was like dealing with the press, but these were people on my team.
I maybe could’ve brushed them off, but I didn’t want to come across as rude, so I had stayed and chatted, but home is still a thirty-minute drive away.
I’m going to have to find a place closer, and soon.
Traffic seems to be on my side, and I get home without too much delay.
I live in a flat that’s not bad for someone my age, F2 wages are still better than most guys my age.
I know that I will probably be able to get a house soon with what I’m making now, but first, I need to clear Mum’s mortgage.
Plus, this flat isn’t too bad. Walking in, you are faced with a huge room that is both the kitchen and living room, and a window that looks out over some fields.
With a door on the right that leads to a bathroom and bedroom.
Going over to the settee, I throw my bag on the end of it before pulling out my mobile and sitting down.
I put my feet on the coffee table in front of me, and stare at my phone.
Now that some time has passed, I’m no longer sure of what to say.
I should’ve called Jasper the moment that I got his number.
Has too much time passed? What the hell is he going to be thinking?
Suddenly, I’m nervous. What if Jasper won’t talk to me? What if he hangs up when he hears my voice? I need to find out why he ran away from me. He was having a good time, there was no mistaking that, and I know that I want a repeat of what happened.
Taking a deep breath, I open up the contacts, scroll to Jasper’s number, and hit call.
“Hello?” Jasper’s voice sounds down the line.
“Hey,” I reply.
The line goes dead, which I’m not surprised about, all I can do is try the number again and hope that he doesn’t hang up on me, again.
I hit the call button and take a deep breath, the mobile rings and doesn’t go straight through to voicemail, and I mentally cross my fingers that he answers, but he doesn’t.
Shit. This is not good.
I know that I shouldn’t call again. That I should leave Jasper alone, but I can’t, and hit call one more time.
“Otis,” Jasper’s voice sounds down the line.
“Please don’t hang up.” The words rush out of my mouth.
“How did you get this number?”
“Lars,” I tell him, honestly.
“What do you want?” Jasper asks, and his voice doesn’t hold any of the usual jovial tones. Is that because of me? Because of our kiss?
“I just want to talk.” Which isn’t a lie. “I would prefer to do it in person. Can we meet up?”
“I’m not sure about that,” Jasper replies.
“Jasper, please. I know that you want some space. Marcus told me, but I can’t,” I tell him.
“I’m not sure we have anything to say to each other.”
“I think we do. We kissed,” I tell him.
“Which I’m sure you are regretting right now,” Jasper adds.
“Jasper. Please, can I talk to you face to face?” I beg. What happened between us isn’t something to be talked about over a phone call. I need to know what I did wrong. I need to fix whatever is going on with us. I need to make sure that Jasper understands I want him to kiss me again.
“Otis, I’m not sure about that.”
“Look Jasper, I’m not regretting kissing you or you kissing me. What I am regretting is that I didn’t shove Marcus out of the way and chase after you.”
“Oh,” is the only response I get.
“So, can you please tell me where the fuck you are so I can come talk to you?” I demand.
“Oh, I like him.” I hear a female voice in the background, and then Jasper’s telling them to shut up, which makes me smile.
“I’m at my sister’s,” Jasper finally tells me.
“Am I able to come there and see you or do I need to book a room?” I’m hoping he will take the room booking as a joke. I want to do anything to ease any tension we have.
“You can come here,” Jasper says, quietly.
“Will your sister be there?” I ask.
“Yeah.”
“Oh, that’s good. It will be nice to meet her,” I say. “Can you text me the address? Do I need to be careful where I park? I don’t want to cause any issues for your sister.”
“There is an entrance at the back of the building. Call when you’re outside and we will let you in.”
“Thanks Jasper. I’ll see you soon.” Hanging up the call, I stare at my mobile. Wondering if he will actually send me the address. It would be his get out clause. If he doesn’t give it to me then there is no way that I’m going to be able to resolve this.
I jump out of my skin when my mobile beeps and it’s a text from Jasper, with an address that is surprisingly not too far away. Suddenly, nerves race through my body again. I’m going to see Jasper again.
Pulling my bag over to me, I pull out my car keys and race out the door.
I probably should’ve got changed out of my Montague Racing polo, but the need to sort things with Jasper was too great.
But as I’m driving to his sister’s place, another voice pops into my head.
A voice I think sounds like a mixture of Lars and David.
A voice that is telling me that they’re not going to understand what is happening with Jasper and me.
Hell, if I’m being honest, I’m not sure what is happening with Jasper and me, but God I want to explore it.
I want to explore everything with Jasper. I want him to show me his world.
But I want to be able to explore it on my own.
I don’t need Lars or David getting involved.
Will Jasper understand that I want to explore my sexuality with him in private?
Marcus knows, there is no escaping that now, but would Jasper be okay with not telling anyone else?
With keeping whatever we have, because I know that there is something there, a secret?