“Yeah.” For the first time since he walked in, the tension falls off his face and the lines around his eyes deepen as his smile grows wide. “My magic skills aren’t that good yet.”

I stop and turn to him, preparing to ask a question I’m not sure I want the answer to.

“Does that mean you do have some magic skills?”

I once dated a guy whose hobby was magic, and it wasn’t great for me. But admittedly, it also wasn’t terrible? He was a hit at parties and it was cute how excited he was when he learned a new trick. I might be a little bitter because his best act happened to be how he disappeared at the end of our relationship.

Not that Jasper and I are dating or anything.

“Unfortunately, no. My only talent is writing, though if you go on the internet you’ll see that even that is debatable.”

I have gone on the internet and that is not what I found. I don’t tell him that though. Gotta keep my creepin’ ways to myself.

“You’re ridiculous.” I laugh, appreciating the way he’s trying to lighten the mood before I remember something. “Hey, what’s with you and Connor? You didn’t seem yourself around him.”

I might’ve been pretty focused on my own mess, but Jasper is always so confident, it was strange to see him falter.

“It’s nothing.” He brushes off the question. “We worked together a long time ago. I was surprised to see him.”

His words tell one story, but his body tells another. The lines of his shoulders go rigid and his eyes avoid mine. I can’t put a finger on it, but something about his casual tone is off.

“Wow, such a small world.” As a person with many sore spots in my life, I understand when someone doesn’t want to talk about something. So I drop it even if I’m more curious than before. “Let’s go free Dani. She’s been in the office this entire time.”

His relief is palpable at the change of subject. I lead the way to my office, navigating bookshelves and customers while trying to ignore the tingling feeling wrapped around my spine, knowing Jasper’s following so close behind.

“He’s gone,” I tell Dani when I push the door open. “I hope he won’t be back anytime soon, but if you do see him, don’t interact with him. Come get me and I’ll deal with him.”

Dani pulls the Blow Pop she grabbed from my candy stash out of her mouth. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know he was your dad. I feel terrible.”