Rising Stars

Chapter 3

Chapter 3Shock washes over Ryan, sending his heart rate through the roof and his mouth dry. “Whoa, what are you doing?”

Jasper pulls a golden key from his pocket. “Ryan Kurtis, will you move in with me?” he grins, holding up the key.

Ryan relaxes, placing a hand over his heart and taking a few deep breaths, relieved. “God, I thought you were proposing.”

“Wow, I guess I won’t take the engagement ring from my other pocket then,” Jasper says in his usual sarcastic tone.

“Oh, it’s just, if you had proposed, that would’ve been a bit early,” Ryan says, now feeling guilty for being so relieved. The insecure part of him loves the idea of Jasper proposing. He’d always imagined being the person dropping to one knee, tears in his eyes and asking the love of his life to spend forever with him, but it’s sweet to think someone else could be that sure of their love for him, that they would beat him to it.

“I agree, but what about this? Is this too fast?” Jasper asks, waving the key around to get them back on topic.

“No. I guess I didn’t expect this. I know how pathetic this will sound, but I feel like I have to talk to my mom about it first. Only because she’s expecting us back tonight and is preparing dinner for us.”

“Not pathetic, I totally get that and if it helps at all, I already asked and she was fine with it,” Jasper says with a sweet smile.

Ryan can’t process how much his feelings for Jasper just grew. “You asked her?” he says, choking back the emotions that are climbing his throat.

“Yes.”

“Before you asked me?”

Jasper laughs. “Obviously. And for the record, she took less time to give me her answer than you have. If you’re not ready, then say it. I won’t be mad. But take this key anyway, because I want this to be our place, not just mine. I don’t want you visiting me. I want you coming home to me.” Jasper stands up, slipping the key in Ryan’s pocket smoothly.

Ryan has never felt the way he is feeling right now. The moment he kissed Jasper on stage last night, he knew he was inescapably in love with this man, but now he’s wondering if he was wrong. Because now he’s even more in love, and he’s not sure how that’s possible. Ryan lifts Jasper’s chin, staring into his gorgeous blue eyes. “I am going to love living with you,” he whispers as he sweeps his arm behind Jasper’s lower back and holds him tight.

“Is that a yes?” Jasper’s eyes seem to sparkle as he asks.

“It’s a hell yes. Let’s do it. Let’s start the rest of our lives together,” Ryan says, leaning in to kiss him.

Jasper pulls away. “Oh, no.”

“Oh no?” Ryan’s heart drops. “You asked me. What do you mean, Oh no?”

“I had it in my head that if you said yes, then we would celebrate, like celebrate. And I really want to see that through, but now I’m psyching myself out.” Jasper bites back an embarrassed smile. He and Ryan just stare at each other for a few long moments, then both give a shy laugh and look away from each other.

“Oh.” Ryan’s so caught off guard at Jasper jumping to the suggestion of s*x that he can’t think of anything else to say.

“Did I just make things weird?”

“No. I can’t read your mind, so I wouldn’t know when you’re ready without you telling me. But.” Ryan looks around the empty apartment. Part of him wants to just say what he’s thinking. That he knows Jasper isn’t as ready as he wants to be. They’ve barely started exploring their physical relationship, and Jasper hasn’t been comfortable with the idea of Ryan touching him yet. It’s been very one sided at Jasper’s insistence, so there’s no way s*x is even close to happening. Luckily, the empty apartment is serving up some equally valid reasons to delay that step. “How were you picturing that playing out, though? There’s no bed.”

“I have an air mattress.” Jasper shrugs.

“An air mattress.” Ryan can’t hold in the smile as he repeats it back.

After a moment of staring at each other, Jasper cracks and gives a shy laugh as he looks away. “Well, if you’re not a fan of the bedding for the night, look around. This place is ours. It’s not like we’re restricted to a bed. I’d let you take me against the floor to ceiling windows, honestly.” Jasper’s sudden blunt tone leaves Ryan speechless.

Jasper’s phone rings on the bench, interrupting the silence. Ryan glances at it. “It’s Blake. Wait, does this have anything to do with him having you saved as virgin sacrifice on his phone?”

“Yes, because taking that step with you is more about how my best friend sees me and less about feeling like our relationship is at that point. Why do you never assume my motives are because of how I feel about you?” Jasper crosses his arms, letting the phone ring out.

Jasper’s words sting with truth. “Sorry. It probably has something to do with that thing we promised we wouldn’t talk about.”

“Referring to him as that thing is very reassuring.”

Ryan passes Jasper his phone as it rings again. “Maybe it’s important. There was a lot going on today while you were out.”

Jasper doesn’t seem the slightest bit interested in the police investigation that went on in his absence. Ryan expected he’d at least ask about it, but apparently Jasper’s mind has well and truly moved on from this morning’s drama.

“I buy myself a place, ask you to move in, you say yes, and still we don’t get any privacy.”

“Privacy?” Ryan raises his eyebrows. “Says the guy who not two minutes ago suggested I take him against floor to ceiling windows in clear view of the entire city, right after photos of us innocently snuggling in a bed causes a scandal on the internet. I don’t think you actually want privacy. I think you like this,” Ryan says with an amused laugh.

Jasper winks and answers the phone. “Impeccable timing. This better be more important than me having any kind of s*x life. Yes, Ryan is with me. Shut up. What do you want? And this has to happen right now, does it? Fine, we will meet you guys there. Text me the address.” Jasper hangs up with an annoyed groan, running his fingers through his hair and shaking his head as his gaze meets Ryan’s. “I’m never getting laid, am I?”

Ryan can’t help but laugh at the overdramatic statement. “Something important?” he asks.

“We’re meeting with a potential new manager.”