Attraction, I corrected myself. Attraction, nothing more.

We left Giovanni’s a few moments later. On some unspoken agreement, we made our way to the park we’d been to with Evelyn last time we were in town together, only stopping at the same little shop as last time to buy a cheap bottle of wine with the loose change from the restaurant.

“Comes in handy that you’re eighteen, old man.” Jasper chuckled as he opened the bottle.

“Shut up.”

“God.” Jasper grimaced after his first two sips. He was propped up on one elbow in the grass, facing me. “This tastes horrible.

My French parents would be appalled.”

Laughing, I took the bottle out of his grasp. It really did taste like it cost exactly three pounds, flat and acidic.

“You know,” Jasper suddenly said. “I was thinking that I could come out to my parents when they come here for the Winter Banquet. If they actually come for once, that is.”

“That sounds good,” I said. “Why wouldn’t they come?”

Jasper shrugged. In the dark, his eyes were bottomless pools with depths the light of the streetlamps behind the wall a few feet away couldn’t reach. “There’s always something stopping them. They’re both surgeons, so they don’t have a ton of time.

My sisters will definitely be there though, so I can at least introduce you to some of my family.”

I almost choked on the sip of three-pound wine at that. “You want your family to meet me?”

He sat up at that. “Would you not want that?”

“N-no . . . I mean, yes, I would love that, I just didn’t think you’d want that.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t know,” I said, plucking at the grass with my fingers instead of looking at him. “I just . . . didn’t think this was that serious to you.”

There was a moment of silence. A heartbeat later, Jasper’s hand curled around my chin and gently made me look at him.

“How many times do I have to tell you I like you until you believe me?” he asked. “I want to be with you. Actual y be with you, not like the thing I had with Sammy. Which is terrifying because I’ve felt that way only one other time and that ended in flames.”

“Why?”

“It was back in France.” His voice was so quiet I could barely hear it over the whispering of the leaves. “This girl and I had been dating for almost a year when I found out she was cheating on me with one of my best friends. After that, I didn’t want to get into anything serious.”

“I’m sorry that happened.” Jasper’s hand was still cradling my chin; I turned my head to press a kiss to the inside of his wrist.

Over his surprised inhale, I whispered, “I promise I won’t be like them. I won’t hurt you.”

“I know you won’t.” Jasper’s lips curved into a small smile.

I matched it when he pulled me in for a kiss, his warm hands sliding from my chin to the back of my neck.