said, startling me. I’d almost forgotten he was there.
“Yeah, sure. Jasper?”
“I’m fine, thanks.” Yeah, he clearly wasn’t. For the past three nights, he’d practically begged for a hot chocolate the minute he walked through the door.
“Just a coffee it is then.” I went back into the kitchen but didn’t pull the door all the way closed and refused to feel guilty about it.
Leaning against the worktop as the kettle boiled, I shamelessly eavesdropped on their conversation.
“Why are you really here, Dad?” Jasper asked, the resignation clear in his voice. Like he knew he wasn’t going to like it but wanted to get it out of the way.
“I spoke to your mother, yesterday. She was still a bit upset about you moving out. I must say I can’t blame her, seeing as I didn’t even know you’d left.” The accusation hung in the air for a moment and I braced myself for Jasper’s response.
“Oh, so you suddenly give a shit about where I’m living now, do you?”
“Language, Jasper.” His dad sighed. “And of course I care where you live, and who you live with,” he added in a whisper, but I still heard it loud and clear.
Wanker.
I was tempted to march in there and ask him what he was implying, but the kettle boiled, making me jump as it switched off.
“What the fuck does that mean?” Jasper yelled, his dad’s attempt at shushing him falling on deaf ears.
Another sigh and I paused, coffee in hand, waiting for his dad’s explanation. I had a pretty good idea what it would be.
“He’s a lot older than you, Jasper. And gay.”
“So?”
“I just want to make sure he’s not . . .”
Yeah, exactly what I thought he’d fucking say, even if he didn’t have the balls to complete that sentence knowing I could hear them.
“Not what?” Jasper asked, the challenge clear. Say it.
“Jasper.”
“No, Dad. If you’ve got something to say about Cole’s brother, my best fucking mate’s brother, then by all means, spit it out.” I pictured him sitting back with his arms spread, palms up.
I grinned and hoped his dad was fucking uncomfortable. I could understand him being concerned about where his son lived, but he didn’t seem to care about anything beyond the fact I was gay. And he could fuck right off with that.
I’d offered to show him round just before Cole showed up, but the only thing he’d be seeing now was the front door on his way out.
“I want to make sure he’s not taking advantage of you, all right?” Silence fell in the room, and I was sorely tempted to take his coffee in then and make him face me. But something made me stay put.
“I’m twenty-one years old, Dad. I’m an adult, not the teenager you kicked out.”
“I didn’t kick you out, I—”
“I’ve spent the last twelve months travelling, a lot of it on my own. I can take care of myself.” He blew out a breath, and I leant forward to hear better. “Ignoring the fact that Finn is Cole’s brother, not some complete stranger, if I wanted to fuck him, then there would be absolutely nothing wrong with that because, guess what? We’re both consenting adults.”
Silence.
I glanced at the coffee, probably going cold, but made no move to take it in there.
After another few seconds, Jasper’s dad spoke. “I think I should probably go.”
Music to my ears.
“Yeah, now you’ve ruined my evening and embarrassed the fuck out of me, I think your work here is done.”
“Jasper—”
“No, Dad. Just go.”
A few seconds later, the front door opened and closed. I poured the coffee down the sink and took a deep breath before opening the doors to the living room.
Jasper sat on the sofa, head in his hands, but he looked up when he heard me enter. “I’m so fucking sorry about that.”
I held up a hand as I sat down. “Hey, you have nothing to be sorry for.”
“I know, but . . .” He gestured towards the door. “He’s my dad.”
I reigned in my simmering anger and tried to be the bigger person. “He’s just worried about you.”
He raised both eyebrows. “He’s not worried about me. If he was, he’d have wanted to see my room and the rest of the house. Asked how much rent I was paying to make sure I wasn’t being ripped off.” He slumped back against the sofa cushions. “But no, it all comes down to you being gay. Of fucking course it does.”
I bit my lip, sensing this was a minefield