Page 21 of Epidermis

Hiyori’s voice startled him and he took a quick step away from Konrad. He wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of thinking her little plan to push them together had worked. “Hey,” Jasper said evenly.

“We’re all going to dinner, you guys should come with us.”

She was already dressed for it, in a shimmery red dress, her hair all scooped up into a messy bun.

Jasper forced a smile. His social battery was very nearly empty for the day, after the airport and then the hours they’d already been at the casino. Going to dinner with everyone from the shop sounded exhausting. But she looked so excited, and though he had a bone to pick with her, he still hated disappointing her.

He opened his mouth, but it was Konrad’s voice that answered her. “Forgive me, but I’ve already commandeered him to introduce me to the simple pleasures of takeout this evening,” Konrad said, his hands once more clasped behind his back.

Jasper remembered pulling away from him as soon as Hiyori showed up and felt a twinge of guilt, especially since Konrad was saving him yet again.

“Prepare to have your mind blown,” Hiyori told Konrad, then waved to River, who seemed to be looking for her. “There’s nothing like cozying up in your room with food that’s going to take a year off your life. You guys have a blast. Jasper, we’re going to the convention center at two tomorrow. It’s just a couple of blocks down.”

Jasper nodded, and when she melted into the crowd to meet River halfway, he let out a long breath. “Thanks,” he said under his breath.

He wasn’t sure if Konrad would even hear him over the buzz of conversation and machines around them, but Konrad nodded toward the exit that led to the elevators. “Let’s return to our room. There were a great many menus in the kitchen, and it would seem we’re having takeout for dinner.”

“I can’t believe you’re actually going to eat normal people food.”

“When in Rome,” Konrad reminded him.

Jasper was terrible with chopsticks. Konrad was trying not to laugh, but he cracked once Jasper started laughing at himself. He accepted defeat and also the plastic fork Konrad offered him. They’d ordered Chinese food, and he found that the fork allowed him to actually eat his noodles rather than chasing them around with his chopsticks. Konrad hadn’t uttered a word of complaint and had finished his meal as thoroughly as the ones he prepared himself.

They were on the couch, and it reminded Jasper of how many times they’d sat this way, at Konrad’s restaurant, in Jasper’s living room, and of course the catastrophic night at Konrad’s home. Jasper didn’t want to think about that. If Konrad was willing to pretend it never happened, so was he.

“I believe I will shower and prepare for bed,” Konrad said when they’d put all their empty containers in the trash.

Jasper nodded and waited for him to close the bathroom door before changing in his absence. He usually slept in just his boxers, but he was not about to do that when he was sharing a bed, so he put on a black tank top and black sweatpants.

The bed seemed to be a great beast lying in wait to strike. There was ample space, but Jasper couldn’t shake the fact they were sleeping in the same bed. He sat on the edge on his side, plugging his phone in to charge and setting an alarm for the morning. The convention was only open for a few hours on the first day but he still wanted time to mentally prepare before he faced it. The awards ceremony was tomorrow night.

The bathroom door opened and Konrad came out with damp hair, wearing a matching set of silk pajamas—pants and a button-down sleep shirt, both in a deep shade of burgundy.

Jasper couldn’t help but stare. He had entertained before that maybe part of Konrad’s allure was his tailored suits, but he was just as striking now, in pajamas that didn’t even slightly conform to his body. It was infuriating, and something else that Jasper didn’t care to give a name to.

Konrad sat on the edge of the bed on the opposite side, his back to Jasper. “The night you left, I felt I should have apologized for pushing you. But I suppose that apology would ring rather false now that I’ve come here without your consent.”

“It would,” Jasper agreed. He pulled the blankets back and got under them. “But I wouldn’t want you to apologize. That night was a me problem, not a you problem.”

Konrad turned off the lights and slid beneath the blankets on his side. “Still. I never meant for my pursuit of deeper connection to tarnish the one we shared already.”

“It didn’t.”

I did.

Like I tarnish everything.

“I’m glad,” Konrad said. Jasper heard the rustling of fabric, felt the blanket shift as Konrad turned onto his side. “Good night, Jasper.”

Jasper remained on his back, his mind loud in the silence. “Good night.”

seven

Images and sounds came in fragments, embedding in Jasper’s consciousness, disappearing just as quickly. He didn’t know if any of it was real. The pieces of memory felt different than his nightmares but didn’t quite feel like reality either.

Nightmares, then waking. Sweating and gasping.

There was a hand pushing his soaked curls back off his face. “Shh, you’re alright. Just breathe.”