I shrugged. "It's my speciality these days. Besides, no one asked you to approach me. Your brother isn't a two year old who needs protecting. He invited me here."
She scoffed at my words. "Really?" Her tone was one of disbelief.
"It's okay, Zoya. She's telling the truth. Please let her be. She's my guest."
That voice. God, that voice.
I turned to find the source of it standing a few feet away, watching me intently. He looked as devastating as usual but I pushed down on all the emotions churning inside me. They had no right to be there anymore. He was getting married. I was happy for him. I really was. Leaving Zoya and the rest of them behind, I walked towards him slowly, still controlling all the feelings that threatened to burst to the surface. No. I wasn't going to care.
When I reached him, I said, "Last time I checked this was still my house. I should kick all of them out."
Armaan looked at me through his narrowed, blue-eyed gaze and folded his arms. "How are you?" he asked me like he really wanted to know.
Why? Why couldn't he just be mean to me like Zoya? I swallowed again; my throat felt so achy. But then, I opened my mouth and destroyed whatever charitable feelings he must be experiencing upon seeing me after so long.
"Jasper's my plus one for the evening," I told him. "Make sure he's also treated like a guest."
He didn't react at all. Maybe he had known I'd show up with Jasper. Armaan probably had spies all over the UK. I wouldn't put it past him. I hadn't even bothered to find out how he had known my address in Baltimore when I hadn't informed anybody who was remotely connected to him.
He let me pass as I left those stupid, unbearable people outside and headed towards my favourite room of the house. The library.
****
Chapter Twelve
Jasmine
The house was the same. Armaan hadn't changed anything. Not one single thing. It was surprising for me because I had thought he'd want to erase all the memories of me. But all the stuff which I had bought while living here was still in the same place. Weird. Maybe he would throw them out once this Layla chick moved into the house I had bought for him. The irony.
I entered the library a minute later and was almost at the bookshelves when I saw him.
A little boy.
He was just sitting there on the floor with some kind of toy phone in his hand. I stopped short and stared at him. He lifted his head and stared right back.
We were like two deers caught in headlights or something. I had no idea what to do with children but when I really looked at him, I realised that he seemed familiar.
"Er...hi," I said warily, half scared that he might start howling or something.
He didn't speak but just kept looking at me speechlessly in that creepy way that kids do. I sighed. He was probably lost. His parents could be searching for him at that very moment.
"What's your name?" I asked him.
The kid frowned at my question. Did he not understand me? This was awkward. And why did it feel like I'd seen him somewhere? Blond hair. Blue eyes. Then my eyes widened as recognition hit me.
"Jacob?" I said tentatively.
He stopped frowning at once and blinked at me. I almost threw up my hands in frustration. The language of children was beyond my comprehension but I still tried. Remembering the truffle in my hand, I held it out to him with a small smile.
"Here. Do you like chocolate?"
His eyebrows came together once more and he shifted away from me a few inches.
Another sigh escaped me. This was hopeless. He wouldn't even let me get near him much less hold his hand to guide him back to civilisation. This kid was suspicious as hell for a two year old. Which was great. I mean, props to him. Imagine if someone else with evil intentions towards kids had tried to give him candy. Way to go, Jacob.
Digging out my phone, I decided to give Jasper a call and let him know that Cole's kid was with me. I didn't want to interrupt their passionate reunion but this was kind of an emergency. His mother could be here as well, wondering where he'd gone off to.
"Don't worry, kid. I'm going to get you out of here," I told him, going down on my knees to get to his level instead of looming. "It's okay," I said with a grin when he retreated even further. "I don't eat children. Only men."
Okay, that was a very inappropriate thing to say to a two year old. But then, I wasn't used to kids.
"Jasper, Jasper, Jasper," I mumbled as I scrolled through my contacts. It was funny. I hardly ever called the guy. I mean, we lived together and communicated enough as it was. Whatever else I needed to say to him was done via online messaging.
"Jasper."
I paused before looking up in surprise. For some reason, my heart just skipped a beat at the way he said Jasper's name. Like it was something so precious.
I smiled at him. "You know who Jasper is?" I murmured slowly, looking into his eyes. "He's my friend. And yours too. And you know what else? Jasper. Loves. You. A lot."
That was when the smirk broke out on his face. His eyes glittered and his lips curved slightly as he regarded me a little less suspiciously.
I stared at him. I stared so hard he got uncomfortable and stopped smiling. My heart was beating so fast. Shit. When I finally dragged my eyes away and tried to dial Jasper's number again, my hands trembled.
"Hey," I said a
