"Tell me what happened between you and Cole," I implored. "I might be able to help you guys."
He snorted and bent down to put something in the fridge, making the denim of his jeans stretch across his taut backside. I stopped talking for a second to gawk at him, even after he straightened and placed some items inside the cabinets. Then I quickly pulled myself together.
"Please, Jasper. Before you tell me this is none of my business, just talk to me. I really want to help fix things."
He slammed a can of soup on the counter suddenly, making me jump. "You've done enough already, little girl," he growled at me, trying on his intimidation tactics yet again. I did not care. He didn't scare me anymore.
"I haven't done anything to you!" I protested angrily.
He stalked towards me then and stood really, really close, looming over me in all his tall glory. So tall. So big. Jesus.
"You're the reason my boyfriend doesn't want to fuck me anymore," he stated in a deadly calm voice.
I scoffed. "Oh my God. We're seriously going there, Jasper? I mean, really? I'm not so naive that I'm just going to believe this is all about sex and how I'm somehow cock-blocking you-"
I stopped talking because he had stopped glaring at me and was watching my lips now as I said words like 'sex' and 'cock'.
I took a step back from him and he watched me as though he wanted to tie me up and eat me alive or something. But that was crazy. He hated me.
"You wanted to fix things," he pointed out in his hard voice. "I've told you my problem."
My eyes widened at his meaning. "Wha- What? I meant fix things with you and...and C-Cole," I stammered.
He shrugged his broad shoulders in response. "I'm not sure what Cole's problem is but that's what I want and he's not giving it to me so..." He trailed off and looked me up and down expectantly.
No.
I shook my head absently and backed away some more. "You're...you're messing with me, right? This is a joke to you. I'm here trying to help you-"
"Then help me, Skye," he interrupted, starting to follow me. "I'm only human. I have needs. If Cole can't take care of them, maybe you could. Maybe then I'll be in a better mood and feel more motivated to win back his affections while my problem is being solved by his perfect little girlfriend."
"I hate you!" I burst out and quickly went inside my room and banged the door shut, making sure to lock it. Psycho.
~~~
Chapter 18
Jasper
I could not keep the smirk off my face as I finished unpacking the groceries and tidying up the kitchen. Skye still had not come out of her room. It felt good to know I had effectively scared her into staying away from me and my business. Fix things, my ass.
Who needed her? Cole and I were fine. It was all going to be okay and we did not need an arbitrator when we had been resolving our differences all by ourselves for years now.
I had to get ready for my flight and it sucked to have to leave before seeing him and saying a proper goodbye. Even if it was only for a few days.
Back in my room, I dialled his number and waited for him to pick up as I undressed and wrapped a towel around my hips. Usually, I would not bother with it but Little Miss. Perfect could walk out any second and I didn't want her to go around thinking I enjoyed flashing her or something.
"Wells." Cole sounded winded and unhappy. "What can I do for you?"
I rolled my eyes. The fucker. He got all formal and detached on my ass every time we had an argument but the thing that made me love him even more was that he never ignored me. He never could.
"I'm leaving in a couple of hours," I told him, heading towards the bathroom. "You sure you don't want to join me?"
"I can't. I have to work and I don't want Skye to feel alone when I leave the country."
Upon entering the bathroom, I tossed the towel on a rack. "She's not a little girl, Cole. She can handle herself."
He laughed humourlessly. "Oh, I know. Believe me, I know she ain't little." He paused. "I guess you would know too since you must have been thinking something along those lines when you took those pictures."
A growl rumbled in my chest. "I told you that meant nothing. Cole, stop being an ass. I love you, damn it. Say goodbye to me properly. I could drop by at work before going to the airport."
Come on, give me a little something. I have been starving for love for two weeks now.
"I'm sorry but I'm really busy. Have a safe flight though," was his flippant reply.
My fingers tightened around the phone. "Don't do this. I fucking miss you. You think I deserve to be treated like this?" I demanded, my voice growing hoarse.
He remained silent and it made me angry. Fucking hell.
"I let you have her," I continued in a tight voice. "I let you have whatever you wanted. Fucking handed you to her when it damn near killed me. And you can't even forgive me for something so insignificant?"
"I don't view you keeping my girlfriend's half naked pictures in your personal porn stash as insignificant."
"You're blowing this way out of
