“Maybe I could get down with math if it means scoring sweet deals like these.” I gestured at the collection of homemade ads for everything from used laptops to bikes to rooms for rent. I stilled my fingers over a colorful piece of paper advertising a cheap room close to campus. “Join us!” it proclaimed, but it was the little rainbow in the corner that held my attention. It had a row of tags along the bottom with a name and phone number. The rent was slightly more than I paid James and Luther, but maybe…

Jasper glanced up from his phone. “Oh, that? It’s not just a math major thing. There are flyers all over campus for people renting rooms to students.”

“Students.” I moved my hand away. Not for me, and I should have known better than to unleash my hopes, even a little. “Not like a college dropout working at the online packing facility.”

“Wait.” Stepping closer, Jasper put a hand on my arm. “You’re thinking of moving?”

“Nah. It was just a thought. Probably not possible.” I tried to keep my voice even, but somehow my resignation came out more. I couldn’t seem to hide my deepest wishes and the worst of my truths from Jasper. “Most places want a credit check and have that have-you-ever-been-arrested question. Stupid of me to think—”

“No, no, it’s a good thought.” Jasper’s tone was too bright, words coming too fast. However, his enthusiasm was cute, not fake. “And yeah, these sorts of deals tend to want students. But…” His tongue darted out again, as if he was back to doing hard math. “An aspiring art student with a steady part-time job at the packing place might work as well as a math major.”

Oh. I exhaled hard because I’d never thought about being a student again. I’d assumed I’d lost my shot at college, hadn’t dared let myself dream of anything else. Frankly, I hadn’t thought I deserved it, but the light in Jasper’s eyes and his voice made me want to dream again, made those hopes surge.

“I need to hire you to be my hype person.” I laughed nervously. “You really think I could do something with art?”

“I know you could.” Jasper squeezed my arm, his grip warm and steadying, even through my coat. “You’ve got a special talent. And even if it’s classes at the community college or something like that, you should pursue it. And explore the housing situation.”

“Maybe.” It was almost too much to take, the sudden infusion of hope dizzying. And daunting. Jasper might be ready to dream big on my behalf, but I had reality tethering me in place. I might want, but could I truly outrun my past? I wasn’t so sure. I looked away. “How’s the math problem coming?”