The Lies you Tell

Brown Eyes

Jasper.

His blonde hair was unbelievably white in the bathroom lighting and his skin was as flawless as I imagined before. But his eyes are what really caught my attention for the second everything slowed down. His dark eyes were especially dark from the deep scowl he was wearing, aimed at the man holding my wrist in a vice. And for a moment I felt as though I was seeing an entirely different person than the one I had caught glimpses of in booth seven. 

I had never been so excited to see a stranger before. 

But just as quickly as I had felt relieved it had gone and was replaced by shock. I watched as Jasper moved forward quickly and struck Harvey in the face. I heard a nasty crunching sound echo in the bathroom and grimaced when red drops started to litter the floor. But my wrist was free and as I clutched it to my body I couldn’t help but feel a slight satisfaction in Jasper punching Harvey. But again, the feelings melting away quickly. Because Jasper didn’t stop punching Harvey. He went after the man, who looked like he was going to try to put up a fight, and punched him again. I could see the blood coming out of Harvey’s nose but I didn’t know what to do. Should I ask Jasper to stop? Did I want him to stop?

I shook my head and stepped forward which surprising balanced steps. Jasper had Harvey’s practically limp form held up by the collar of Harvey’s shirt and he was delivered one powerful blow after another. 

“Jasper,” I said in a voice that was so quiet that I even almost missed hearing it. I had never said his name before and it felt as though I shouldn’t have. It felt… as if I was breaking a rule. Like I knew that consequences would follow my actions shortly. “Jasper,” I tried again but louder. When Harvey’s eyes rolled into the back of his head I felt my throat tighten and I started to get worried. “Jasper, stop!” I grabbed Jasper’s left arm and pulled hard. He then looked at me with the same menace on his face that he had first shown Harvey. 

My breath caught in my throat at the sight of such a handsome man with human blood on his face. It was only a small amount but it was human blood nonetheless. 

“Please,” I begged. I sounded as though I was about to break down but I didn’t feel that way. If anything, I felt wired up. It must have been the adrenaline. “Please stop.” Jasper’s eyes softed before he looked back at the man in front of him who had passed out. Blood fell from Harvey’s mouth and nose and the appearance swollen eyes and bruises were starting to show up. Jasper remained still for a moment and I thought that he was just going to go back to beating the guy senseless. I was relieved when he let go of the man, allowing him to fall back on the black tiled floor. I noticed that my hand was still wrapped around Jasper’s bicep and as much as I didn’t want to let it go, I did. I looked at Harvey and the damage Jasper had done to him. 

If only I could have done that to him with my own fists, I thought. Wait. Why the hell would I think of something like that. It went against every rule I was raised to follow. Before I could think about the sudden vulgar thoughts, I sense Jasper turning and facing me. I managed to tear my eyes away from Harvey when Jasper gently took my wrist in his hands. 

“You’re hurt,” he said in a low and harsh voice. I could tell that he was still upset and I just hoped he wouldn’t change his mind about leaving Harvey alive. The thought itself reminded me of the Jasper I had seen in booth seven and the other men around him. The men that seemed like no good and something that I needed to avoid at all costs. I pulled my wrist away and attempted to cover it with my other hand, but that only revealed how red my knuckles and thumb were on my left hand. He grabbed my other hand and examined the knuckles with a glare that showed all too well that he wasn’t happy. 

“I should go tell Alexander,” I said, pulling my hand away again and looking up at Jasper’s dark brown eyes. What was I waiting for? Approval?

“No, we should get ice for your hand and wrist,” Jasper said in a more serious voice than he used in the booth. He was a completely different person than the bored boy who sprawled across the sofa under blue lights. 

I couldn’t help but not in agreement as I felt my wrist and knuckles started to throb. The adrenaline was coming down and all I could hope for was that I didn’t injure my thumb trying to punch Harvey. 

“What about him?” I asked, turning back to nod at Harvey who was still unconscious on the floor. 

“Leave that to me,” Jasper answered. But his voice wasn’t menacing like it had been before. It was caring, as though he didn’t want me to worry about it. 

I followed him to the bar where Kyle was staring at his phone and probably playing candy crush again. When he looked up his eyes first met my face before moving to Jasper and then down to my wrist that I help up gingerly in my left hand. 

“What happened?” He demanded from me. 

“That guy,” I started as the sound of oncoming tears made my voice waver. I cleared my throat and went on with a steadier voice. “That guy-Harvey, he… he went crazy. He followed me into the bathroom and grabbed me.” Kyle started working on putting some ice in a towel and twisting the towel so it sort of held the ice in place. 

“Where is he now?” Kyle demanded after handing me the towel with ice. 

“On the bathroom floor,” Jasper said in a cool and collected voice. 

“I’ll call Alexander,” Kyle nodded before pulling his phone out and making the call. After he hung up it was only a minute or so of awkward silence until Alexander arrived at the bar with a stern faced Tony. Alexander was a muscled man with a receding hairline and if I remembered correctly he used to be a bouncer in his younger days before he moved on to managing this club. 

“What the hell happened?” Alexander demanded and he seemed to be glaring daggers at Kyle. 

“This customer attacked Esme in the bathroom. Bruised up her wrist and knuckles pretty badly,” Kyle answered with a hard tone. 

“Where is he now?” Alexander demanded.

“Passed out on the bathroom floor,” Jasper answered for the second time. I noticed how close I was standing to him but it felt weird to move away after standing so close for so long. So I swallowed my nerves and tried to focus on what Alexandar was saying and not the soft brush of Jasper’s arm against my back as he crossed his arms.

“Let me see,” Alexandar said, gesturing me forward. I moved forward and showed him my now reddening wrist of my right hand and my red knuckles and thumb of my left. Alexandar let out a curse as he gently touched my hand. “Son of a b***h. Grabbing a woman like that,” he practically growled. “You socked him one right?” Alexandar asked, gesturing at my knuckles. 

“Yeah but I think it hurt me more than him.” I pulled my hand back and covered my wrist with the ice again. 

“I call the cops so they can file a report.” My heart practically skipped a beat and science told me that was not a good thing. 

“No,” I blurted. “Please I- it’s fine. Just can you ban him from the club? I don’t want to get the police involved.” I sounded panicked to my own ears but I hoped no one else would notice. Alexander let out a sigh and looked almost relieved. 

“This is why you’re my favorite employee,” Alexandar said. I smiled despite the current circumstances. “I’ll write an incident up tonight for the injury and go over it with you when you’re free. But if you don’t want the cops involved I fully support your choice.” I knew he was happy to hear the club wouldn’t be getting any bad publicity and I was happy that no police were getting involved. “Tony,” Alexander said before nodding towards the woman’s bathroom. “I’ll get someone to close off the woman’s bathroom tonight. Kyle since it’s so close to closing time, if anyone asks about the bathroom say it’s plumbing problems. Esme, you should go home.” I nodded, not wanting to argue with him despite needing the hours. Alexander looked at Jasper with curiosity as if seeing him for the first time. He looked as if he was about to say something but his expression changed quickly and I had a feeling that Jasper was giving him a look. But with a glance at the handsome guy I noticed the usual bored expression on his face had returned. “Carry on,” Alexander said before heading to the bathroom to help Tony. 

I turned to Kyle to apologize for leaving him but before I could say anything he beat me to the punch.

“Get some rest, Esme.” And then he smirked at me. That hot ass smirk. I couldn’t do anything but nod. Like an i***t. I turned to Jasper as Kyle went back to catching up on the drink orders and noticed that Jasper was looking at my hands again. 

“I’ll give you a ride home,” he said, matter of factly. 

“I actually drove here-”

“And your wrist is hurt. Come on.” He started moving downstairs to the main floor before I could protest. Something about how final his words were told me that it would be hard to argue with him and even harder to argue if he wasn’t in earshot. I followed him down the steps and to the black door not far from the base floor. 

“How did you know where the staff room was?” I asked curiously as I pushed into the hallway behind him.

“I used to know a girl that worked here,” he answered quickly. Almost too quickly. As if he knew I’d ask. I grabbed my purse and jacket from my locker and followed him back out to the main floor. I expected we’d go back through the tunnel to exit the building but he began to lead me back to the VIP floor. I waited until we were walking on a level floor again before talking. 

“I really don’t need a ride home,” I tried. “My wrist is a little sore but I can drive. And if you give me a ride home then…” my voice trailed off as my eyes moved and landed on Tony roughly pushing Harvey forward. Harvey looked angry beyond belief and we he met my eyes, the anger only intensified. Tony pushed him along past us, at a safe distance, to throw him out of the club. I hadn’t noticed I had stopped moving until Jasper’s hand rested on my forearm and pulled me back to reality. 

“Come,” he spoke softly with a bored expression. I followed him again but I had forgotten what I was supposed to say. And then it wasn’t even until Jasper pulled back the curtain that I had realized I had followed him to a booth. Booth seven. 

I looked at his expressionless face with confusion but he only nodded for me to go in. I did as instructed, wondering if the loss of adrenaline was affecting my thinking. 

“Michael,” Jasper said in a bored tone. “Come take a look at this.” I looked up and met the blue eyes of Michael who looked at me and then at the towel of ice I held to my wrist. Jasper gently ushered me to sit on the end of the couch where Michael met us and curiously looked over my hand. “Michael has a lot of first-aid experience. We should make sure it’s not broken,” Jasper clarified for me. 

“What happened?” It wasn’t Michael or Jasper that spoke, but the guy who still remained nameless to me. He was sitting on the couch when I walked in but now he was moving over to stand above us, looking at my wrist along with Michael. I noticed just how tall he was when I had to physically move my head to look at his dark brown eyes. His dark hair was still messy and his suit still wrinkled though now his tie was absent. His jaw was tense and his face set in a frown with his eyebrows drawn in. 

“She was attacked,” Jasper answered in a monotone. Michael gently moved the ice and started to examine my hands. 

“De’Angelo, do me a favor and come over and hold your phone light up. I can’t see a damn thing clearly with these blue lights,” Michael frowned. I had an urge to scold him for cursing but I held back. After all, I myself was trying to learn to curse more anyway. 

De’Angelo moved over to us and pulled out his phone, shining the light on my hands. The redness was apparent on the knuckles and thumb of my left hand while my right wrist was still very red. 

“Can you move all of your fingers?” Michael asked. I wiggled all of my fingers in front of them, ignoring the slight shake in my hands. I worried that it had less to do with what happened and more to do with my current setting. Sitting on a couch surrounded by four incredibly hot guys. 

Jesus, Esme, you almost get assaulted and the only thing you can think of is hot guys?

“My thumb hurts,” I admitted, “but I think it’s from punching him wrong. I don’t think anything is broken.” 

“Well I’d definitely advise to keep some ice on it and take some ibuprofen tonight to help with any swelling,” Michael suggested before covering my knuckles with the ice. It had started to melt and the wet coldness made me want to shiver. “Definitely go see a doctor if anything worsens or even just to double check. You could have sprained something.” I nodded, knowing that going to a doctor was a big no-no for me at the moment. I never knew who was watching. 

“Thank you,” I said to Michael before realizing I had never said it to Jasper either. The man saved me and I had forgotten to thank him. But if he really was taking me home then I could thank him privately and more… well more sincerely. 

“I wouldn’t suggest driving home tonight-”

“I’m taking her home.” I gave Jasper a soft smile. 

“Great! De’Angelo and I can drive behind you guys in Esme’s car-”

“Oh no that’s okay. I mean, I’ll just have my friend drive me here for it tomorrow.” 

“It’s no problem,” Michael said, rather dismissively. “Plus you might not be up to driving tomorrow either. Especially if something is sprained.” 

“Really, it’s okay.” I turned to look at Jasper with pleading eyes, hoping he would send whatever feeling I was trying to convey. 

I had experienced this feeling before. Embarrassment. I wasn’t used to it much growing up but now that I was on my own I experienced it almost every day. And the thought of one of these handsome men driving my car home for me-my old car that was about to fall apart, had me feeling warm in the cheeks. 

“Whatever makes you most comfortable,” Jasper finally said after what felt like an eternity of silence. I nodded and held in a sigh of relief. “Let’s go.” I stood up and offered the other three guys one last glance before following Jasper out of the booth with my purse and towel of ice in hand. I followed Jasper down quite a few stairs and out of the back entrance of the club that led to a private parking lot that no one really knew about. There were a few cars in the fence surrounding the lot, but all of them were nice looking. Jasper led us to a slick looking black sports car and for once I wished I had listened to my dad go on about his car obsession because maybe then I’d know what kind of car this was. And maybe that would give me insight into Jasper and his friends. 

“If we leave now, how will your friends get home?” I asked after getting into the passenger seat and buckling. 

De’Angelo and I drove separately from the others.” I nodded at the new information and wondered if I had the nerve to ask for the other guy’s name. The dark haired guy with smoldering brown eyes and a shadow on his sharp jawline. The guy that seemed so familiar…. 

I directed Jasper whenever we came to a stoplight or stopsign even as my mind was busy with coming up with a way to thank him. I didn’t really know what to say and my jumbled mind had too many things to think over. Eventually Jasper slid the sleep black car into my apartment complex and parked before I had come up with anything to say. 

“Thank you,” I decided to start. “For-well for coming to my rescue like that.” I looked over at Jasper and found he had the same usual bored facial expression. I reached for the door handle but a hand on my left wrist stopped me. I looked back at Jasper as he gently lifted my hand and started to move my fingers. 

“If you ever need to punch again,” he said before moving his eyes to my own, “make sure to keep your thumb on the outside. If it’s tucked to your palm you might break it,” he explained. I looked at the fist he had formed from my hand where my thumb was folded against my fingers. He let my hand go and I instantly felt my hand go cold in turn. 

“Thank you,” I repeated. What else was I supposed to say in an instance like this? I started to get out of the car but before I could shut the door I heard Jasper’s soft yet hard tone again. 

“Esme… I never did get your last name.” I shuddered at the question even though I had gotten used to it over the years. 

“Beaumont,” I admitted. “Esme Beaumont. Good night, Jasper,” I said almost too softly.

“Good night, Esme,” he returned.

And with that, I went inside my small apartment and he drove off in his sleek car.

The next morning when I awoke I took a tylenol for the pain and texted Sophie.

What’s the update girl? She had texted yesterday. I shot her back at text, saying that nothing happened with Kyle and I but decided to keep the other details until I saw her in person. I needed coffee before anything else and I was outside before I remembered that my car wasn’t at the apartment. 

But it was. 

It was right in front of me. 

I moved to my car and looked through the passenger window, recognizing my phone charger, the empty water bottle in my cup holder, and other little tell tales that convinced me it was my car. I noticed a piece of paper on the dashboard and after unlocking my car and retrieving the paper I read it. 

Thought this might make your morning easier

-I

His phone number was scribbled on the bottom of the paper with another message that said to call or text if I needed anything. I couldn’t help the smirk that broke across my face at the thought of someone as hot as Jasper giving me his number. Maybe I was reading too much into it, but he did have my car towed here. At least that’s what I’m guessing, since I still had the keys. I shoved the note in my purse and got into my car, ready to hit the nearest cafe and grab a much needed coffee. 

Nothing exciting happened for most of the following week. I met up with Sophie before one of my classes Tuesday and told her everything that happened. I could tell she was hanging onto every word I said and I swear her eyes doubled size when I told her about Jasper leaving me his phone number. After telling her everything she prompted me on sending Jasper a thank you text, which was actually a good idea. He responded a few minutes later and Sophie squealed so loudly that a passing group of girls looked over alarmed. I continued to text him until I checked my watch and saw I should slip into class. But even during class all I could think about was our conversation. After class I reviewed the messages again.

Thank you so much I really don’t know how to pay you 

It was no bother. Hope you feel better

Yeah I do! And I’d like to pay for the tow if that’s okay?

It was a favor someone owed so don’t worry about it

Oh, well is there anything else I can do to show my gratitude?

I grimaced at the line, wondering if it came off seductive in his mind despite my pure intention. But his new text made me grow warm in my cheeks. 

Let me take you on date

I’m pretty sure him taking me on a date didn’t count as me repaying him. I didn’t know what to say so I slipped my phone in my pocket until after my next class. Only then did I come up with a response. 

Are you asking me on a date? I bit my lip, nervous about what his response might be. 

Yes

Well then in that case, yes

How about this Friday?

I prayed for a moment while I checked the calendar on my phone. s**t, this Friday was Sophie’s birthday. How could I almost forget? We were going out for sushi and then to some bars. 

It’s my friend’s birthday this friday :(

Well what days work for you

I thought of the phone call I received from my boss Monday, detailing that I was given some paid hours off for the incident. 

I can do Saturday or Sunday night

I’ll pick you up Saturday night. 8 oclock

I had to stop myself from squealing as I stood up and made my way to the student parking lot to head back home and change for work. 

And then nothing much happened. I went to work Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday, and Thursday at Jitters coffee shop. When Friday rolled around I worked out before grabbing my stuff and taking an uber to Sophie’s apartment to get ready. 

“Which dress should I wear?” Sophie asked while holding up a short but tight red dress in one hand and a short, blue velvet dress in the other hand. 

“Oh jeez,” I said while looking between the two dresses. Both would look amazing with contrast against Sophie’s paler white skin and light brown hair. “I really can’t choose.” 

“I think the red one looks sexy,” Alicia said. Alicia was a friend Sophie met while working on the dance marathon board. And seeing as though Alicia and I got along really well too, I didn’t mind hanging out with her. We were going to meet up with some more friends for dinner and then drinks later, but it was just us three getting ready at Sophie’s. 

“That’s a valid point,” I agreed. “I’d say red.” Sophie nodded with a satisfied smile before moving to the bathroom. I grabbed my phone as it buzzed on Sophie’s bed before resisting the urge to drop my jaw at the name that popped up on my screen. After waiting a few moments I answered the phone but quickly realized what was happening. 

Jasper had butt dialed me. I couldn’t hear anything aside from what I assumed was his phone moving around in his pocket so I hung up. 

Hey I think you butt dialed me 

Before I could wait impatiently for a reply, Sophie came out of the bathroom in her dress. She looked absolutely adorable and I was so excited to take cute pictures later that night with her.