Page 54 of Epidermis

“May I call you this evening?” Konrad asked, opening Jasper’s car door for him.

Jasper’s lips twitched in a losing battle against a smile as he got in. He closed the door but rolled the window down. “Sure.”

He was worried seeing so much of each other and talking so often would only expedite Konrad getting tired of him, but at least it was a quiet thought, rather than a piercing shriek at the front of his mind. It was progress.

“Let me know when you get home safe, darling.”

“Okay.”

Konrad leaned down and Jasper leaned partially out the window to kiss him goodbye. It felt like something he could get used to.

The next day, Hiyori descended on him as soon as he walked through the door. It was like she could smell the potential gossip on him. Of course, her interest caught James’s and River’s attention, but she waved them off as she sidled into Jasper’s booth and watched him set up for the day. Jasper turned the music up in full expectation of James and River trying to eavesdrop. Shariah was still close enough to hear, since her booth was on the other side of Hiyori’s and closest to the front of the shop, but she was the only one in the whole building other than Jasper who believed in minding her business.

“You’re wearing the scarf he gave you,” Hiyori said.

“It was cold this morning.”

“That isn’t a warm scarf.”

Jasper took it off and folded it neatly beside his laptop. “I spent the night with him Friday.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “He cooked breakfast for me and the dogs.”

“If you don’t marry that man, I will.”

He shrugged out of his coat, leaving him in a loose black T-shirt and black sweatpants. He had way too many appointments that day to not be comfortable. “People get bored once they get what they want. Once the newness wears off, he might be a totally different person.”

“Even you don’t sound like you believe that.”

“I believe it’s possible.”

“But not likely.” Hiyori grinned, practically kicking her feet. “Is Jasper Hayes giving someone the benefit of the doubt?”

Jasper rolled his eyes but didn’t deny it. He was putting more trust in Konrad than he’d given anyone since Maya. And while he didn’t regret trusting her, exactly, it had still hurt to not be enough for her. She may not have been right for him either, but she would have been enough. He didn’t need much. All he really wanted out of a relationship was to be accepted and not be alone, and anything beyond that was just extra that he could live without.

Konrad’s words echoed back to him. That’s something I would very much like for you to get used to. Konrad didn’t want him to settle. He wanted Jasper to want things, and he wanted to be the one to give them to him. It was strange. Jasper had never known anyone who wanted him to take up more space in a relationship.

He didn’t realize he’d started smiling until he spoke. “I really like him, Hiyori.”

“Good for you, baby.” She bent down and hugged him, rocking him a little from side to side. “I’m so fucking proud of you, you know that? You should stay after work. Let me play with my new eyeshadow palette and tell me all about it.”

He did. Sometimes he was hard to convince, since he’d grow restless after she’d been prodding at him with her makeup brushes for a while, but it was the least he could do when she’d been such a rock for him while he’d worked through his own bullshit after Vegas.

So, after they closed up shop for the night, he let her wipe his face down with cleanser while Shariah poured them all drinks from the fifth of vodka she kept in her drawer. Shariah didn’t ever drink while she worked, but it wasn’t uncommon for her and Hiyori to have a nightcap after a long day.

“So, you guys cooked together? That’s so cute. I love that he’s sharing his interests with you,” Hiyori said after they all took a shot. “Close your eyes.”

“It was nice,” Jasper admitted, doing as she told him so she could dab primer onto his eyelids. Next came the soft bristles of her eyeshadow brush.

“This metallic blue is so good on you,” Hiyori said happily. She let him open his eyes while she picked an eyeliner. “Oh my god. Can I dress you up for your next date with Konrad? Clothes, makeup, the works. Please?”

“Only if you don’t go too flashy.”

Hiyori squeaked with excitement, then pointed her chosen eyeliner at Shariah. “And speaking of Lawrence.”

“We weren’t,” Shariah said with a raised eyebrow.

“We are now. How’s that going?”

Shariah giggled, tossing her braids over her shoulder, and Jasper knew he was about to hear way too much information.