I look up at the popcorn ceiling, blinking my vision clear. Out of all the days, all the places for this to happen, it had to happen here, with Jasper? What god is working so hard to smite me? I need someone to make it make sense.

“Okay, thank you.” I nod when I’m convinced I’m not going to cry or punch the wall. “Could you give us a minute to figure out what we’re going to do?”

“Course, darling.” Titus’s voice goes soft and wet hits my eyes again.

Dammit, Titus.

He heads back into the garage and Jasper steps in front of me when the door slams shut.

“Jasper. I am so—”

“Nope. Do not even think about apologizing to me.” He cuts me off. “If you need to go back to Denver tonight, we can figure it out. But I don’t have anything to be back for and am fine staying here for the night.”

It’s a struggle, but I try to think rationally.

As much as I want to throw my car away, I can’t afford to buy a new one. I also can’t blow the money on a tow from Salida to Denver on top of repairs. The Book Nook is closed on Sundays, so it isn’t like I’ll need to find somebody to cover for me if I’m not back tomorrow. As big of a pain in the ass as it’s going to be, staying for the night will be the best in the end.

“Are you sure?” I feel terrible. He’s already taken so much time out of his writing schedule for me, I don’t want to take more of it. “I can stay and find you a car service to get you back to Denver.”

“Do you really think I’d just leave you up here alone?” His eyes narrow, and for the first time since all this went down, he looks irritated.

“I mean, I’ve stayed in Salida alone before. It’s not that, it’s—” I stop and take a breath as I try to gather my thoughts. “I know you’re busy. I don’t want you to lose more time when you have deadlines and work to do.”

“Don’t worry about that. For once, I’m actually ahead of schedule.” He steps in closer so I’m forced to look up at him. “But even if I wasn’t, I’d choose spending extra time with you over that any day of the week.”

Wow.

That was sweet.

“Okay, if you’re sure.” I reach out and take his hand, lacing our fingers together. “Let’s go tell Titus we’ll be back tomorrow.”

He nods and his eyes soften in a way I don’t understand, but like. “Sounds good to me.”