Three's A Crowd

a couple of days ago," Cole said as he left the driveway and pulled onto the main road smoothly, driving carefully so as not to jostle the car too much. "Armaan sort of let slip his wife was in London promoting her new book and I just had to ask." He smiled and placed his hand on my thigh. "I forgot to tell you to get one of her books for an autograph. But I can get it signed through Armaan. Because I'm not sure when we'll visit them again."

"Oh she did sign my copy of 'O'Hara. It's sort of like dedicated to you as well. She was so sweet about it. Here let me read it out."

I dug for the book in my purse without switching on the light.

"Where did you buy that?" Cole asked me in surprise. "I was planning to give that to you for your birthday but the one I pre-ordered still hasn't arrived. And all the copies were sold out yesterday at the local bookstores by the time I swung by after work. Did she give it to you?"

My hands stilled inside the purse and I stared out the window without replying. There was silence from the backseat too but I sensed Jasper was wide awake, listening.

"Skye?" Cole's hand pressed on my thigh again.

I took a short breath then let it out. "No."

"Oh, so you got to the stores before me? Couldn't wait, huh?"

Again, I didn't reply. Why couldn't I just tell him the truth? Why did I feel the need to hide this? Jasper and I cared about each other. Why did my boyfriend always make that seem so wrong when it was the purest emotion in the world?

"Yeah," I said quietly and closed my eyes.

I sensed his gaze on me. Both their gazes, actually. And I just wanted to disappear. Did either of them hurt this much before I entered their lives and created a storm?

Tonight, I had told my first lie. Was this what I was going to do to Cole? Lie to cover up my feelings for Jasper when my boyfriend had done nothing but be honest with me before he made me a part of their life? And then hurt Jasper over and over by never fighting for him when it was all I wanted to do. To claim him as my own too instead of pushing him to the backseat. This was what my love life had turned into?

I blew out a breath and swallowed the lump in my throat. It's true what they say.

Three's a crowd.

I should have known this would never work out.

~~~

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter 33

Jasper

I felt the beginnings of a frown on my forehead as I made my way over to the kitchen. I did not relish what I was about to do but it was necessary. Skye was wiping down a counter several times, working quietly with a serene expression on her face. Ever since that dinner outing to Cole's partner's place four nights ago, she seemed to have retreated into herself.

She hardly showed her enjoyment for anything, I noticed more morose-themed paintings in her room, sometimes we would bump into each other while walking around the apartment and I could swear I saw bloodshot eyes. Either she was on her period or pregnant. Or heartbroken.

I never asked her. What could I do? Getting close only meant more suffering. It only served to remind us that we could never be together no matter how badly we wanted to. Did Cole even notice? Did he ever try to talk to her? I knew he took extra care of her when she seemed down but when he was with me, he never mentioned anything about how Skye felt or what she thought.

I reached the counter and cleared my throat to get her attention.

She kept wiping but a corner of her mouth twitched in what could have been a smile as she said, "What's up, Jasper?"

I waited for her to meet my eyes, knowing it was dangerous. Any sort of intimacy or contact was dangerous between us. She finally put away the sponge and looked up at me. Her face was pale and her eyes looked tired, even her body appeared so fragile in an oversized sweater and leggings. It was on the tip of my tongue to ask her what was wrong and how I could fix it but I reminded myself that she had Cole. That was his job.

Putting my hands in the pocket of my trousers, I regarded her uncertainly. "Skye, I have a gallery opening next month at Roskos."

Immediately, I watched her expression change dramatically before my very eyes. From sad and lifeless it went to ecstatic and proud.

"Oh my God, Jasper. That's wonderful news. I'm super happy for you."

As if to back up her claim, she beamed at me. I looked unseeingly towards the kitchen sink, the cabinets, the counter, anything but directly at her.

"I was wondering if I could use a couple of your photos," I said slowly.

She stared at me and licked her lips. "Oh...er...you mean the ones you took...when I was…"

"Sleeping. Yes. They're not nude. And they're faceless," I informed her tonelessly.

I never apologised for my art. She was an artist too so I knew she understood. The muse does not care about asking for permission. When inspiration strikes, you have to answer...

Skye regarded me curiously for a second and I braced myself for her refusal even as I added, "It's some of my best work."

She smiled at that, an amused and indulgent smile. "Okay, Jasper Wells," she said warmly. "I would be honoured."

I had not expected that at all.

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. "Pretty sure. Tell me the date of the opening