Out of Character by Annabeth Albert

Chapter Sixteen

Milo

“Back to regular me.” Jasper’s smile seemed a little down as he met me in the bathroom after we finished changing. We stowed the costumes and headed to the hall.

“You sound sad about getting changed,” I teased him. We’d been in a light, good place all afternoon, and I wanted to keep it going.

“The Frog Wizard is more fun than me.” Jasper’s tone was still a little mournful, and I couldn’t tell how serious he was. I liked him in costume a lot more than I’d thought I would, but I also liked him like this, in his scruffy jeans and a sweatshirt with a twenty-sided die on it. I tried to decide how sincere a compliment to give him as we approached the cafeteria.

“I wouldn’t say that. You’re—”

Jasper cut me off as he pulled up short. “What’s that smell?”

“Ugh.” It was truly rank. Not at all the coffee and roasted-meat smell of the week prior. My stomach gave a precarious lurch. “Burned cabbage? Flaming kale? Whatever it is, my stomach is seriously rebelling.”

“Hot-dog machine malfunction,” the bored cashier standing near us supplied.

“We can’t work here.” Groaning, Jasper adjusted his bags. “Which sucks because I had ideas for you I wanted to go over.”

I had plans, too, plans to enjoy his company. I had…thoughts on him not telling his mom that we were going to hang out, but I had no room to complain. Besides, she’d glared my way more than once that afternoon. I couldn’t blame Jasper for not wanting to hear her opinion on us being…whatever this was. I didn’t know what to call someone who sent me pics of sexy drawings and who teased me almost like flirting but who might still hate me with good reason. And even with all that uncertainty, I’d still been looking forward to this.

“Dang it. Maybe—” I was about to propose sucking it up and working here anyway, but then a fresh wave of the stench hit my nose. My stomach had definite opinions about this smell, and none of them were good. Sighing, I shuffled my feet. “Nah, I guess you’re right.”

Instead of heading for the exit like I’d expected, Jasper stood there, head tilted and mouth pursed. Damn, he was cute when he was thinking.

“Hey. You still like pizza?”

“Is the sun yellow?” When I was younger, I was pretty convinced the only food better than pizza was my grandmother’s ravioli. And damn was I tired of various variations on canned soup.

“There’s a new place near the university. Hipster vibe. Lots of California-type flavor combos. If I’m running you home anyway, maybe we could split a pie first?”

“Uh…” Was he asking me out? And if so, how did I feel about that? Also, what if we ran into some of his fancy college friends? The questions racing through my brain must have taken longer than a split second because Jasper frowned.

“Never mind. Forgot you need to keep our…association on the down low.”

“I don’t,” I said quickly because somehow I knew this chance might never come again. I’d made that mistake once before, and no way was I doing it again. “We can go. The pause was me doing mental math. You know how it goes.”

It was a little white lie, and not that far from the truth because there was always more week than cash lately.

“Oh, that I can relate to. I get paid Friday and it was my idea. I’ll treat you.”

Now that was even closer to a date. But I’d kind of backed myself into a corner. “Okay, but next time’s on me.”

“It’s a plan.” Jasper’s smile was worth any nervousness on my part. And I’d pretty much sealed the deal on not one but two outings. He marched toward the exit with purposeful strides. “Come on. Let’s find my car. You’ve seen it before, right? Don’t go expecting too much.”

“What? You think I’m some sort of car snob?” I faked offense, letting his answering laugh warm me even as the chilly air greeted us outside.

“Ha. Not only is mine tiny, old, and in dubious repair, but it’s also messy.” Jasper headed to the parking garage at a fast clip, then slowed, glancing down at my leg. “Oops. Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” I hated slowing him down, but there was also no denying that my earlier trot from the bus stop already had the surgically repaired leg aching. “And no surprises there on you being messy.”

“Yeah, much to my mom’s frustration, I never did figure out the whole clean-as-you-go philosophy of hers.” Jasper stopped by a little compact that had probably started life white but was now dingy and dusty with more dents than I could count and an assortment of bumper stickers.

I didn’t miss the two with little rainbows on them, but I wasn’t repeating my earlier mistake and making him think I was uncomfortable to be seen with someone who was proudly out. Forcing my eyes away from the bumper stickers, I slipped into the passenger seat as soon as he unlocked the door, moving aside an assortment of soda bottles, textbooks, and gaming supplies. I hefted my bag onto my lap while he stowed his collection of stuff in the back seat.

“You want to put your bag back here?”

“Nah. I’m okay. I’m used to more cramped spaces on the bus.” My pulse sped up as I remembered what I’d finished up while waiting for the bus. I wasn’t ready to have Jasper poring over my sketchbooks, but I’d done something specifically to show him. As he got in the driver’s seat, I opened my bag. “You still want to see one of my drawings?”

Jasper’s eyes went wide and bright. “Totally. Did any of my picture spam inspire you?”

“Sort of. I’ve been working on this one. I tried Neptune all sexy, but that was just weird—”

“I’d still like to see that.” Jasper winked.

“Not now.” It was hard enough getting up the courage to show him this one thing. I held out the page I’d already removed from the sketchbook. “So, this is kinda crap, but it’s my version of Neptune as a Disney prince.”

“Oh. My. God.” Jasper did a fake swoon, which was pretty fucking gratifying, even as my heart still pounded. “This is incredible. I had no idea you’d kept working on your art and become this good. Have you been in shows? Were you an art major?”

“Slow down.” I gave a shaky laugh. “Like this right here? This is the first I’ve shown something to someone since my dad had opinions on why I wanted to take art instead of shop in high school.”

“Uh, because you’re good at it? Seriously, you’re way too good at this not to show it off.”

“Feels weird,” I admitted. “And I’m not that good. Watching some tutorial videos isn’t the same as being art-major talented. It’s just something I do when I’ve got restless energy.”

“Well, I disagree. Keep doing it.” Jasper nodded like he’d made a royal proclamation as he turned on the car. “And maybe some time you’ll let me see more?”

“Maybe.” After I purged all my doodles of him from my sketchbooks, perhaps then I could find the courage to show him more. He did seem to like it at least and wasn’t actively laughing at me.

We headed back downtown toward the university and the little shops that lined the streets closest to campus. Jasper drove like zombies were chasing us.

“I’m reconsidering teaching you to drive a stick.” I chuckled as my teeth rattled. “Where did you learn to drive, anyway?”

“My mom.”

“Explains a lot.” For a nice lady who drove a minivan, Jasper’s mother tended to drive like she was going for a personal best. “And I’m kidding. I’ll teach you, but my baby doesn’t like rough handling.”

“Oh?” Jasper’s voice dropped. Fuck. I hadn’t meant to make a dirty joke, but now here I was with more thoughts about his hands and where I’d like them.

I made a choking sound right as he parked—an adventure in and of itself. “Careful.”

“You forget I’m a math genius. Estimation and rapid calculations are strengths of mine.”

“Maybe so, but I saw the dings on your bumper,” I retorted, laughing again. I’d forgotten how fun he could be to joke with.

“Those were there when I got the car.” His eyebrow wag made my face heat, and I wasn’t entirely sure why. “Come on. Let’s get some food.”

The small pizza place was between a barbershop and a coffee shop packed with students.

“Almost forgot to ask. What’s your test in?” I asked as we walked up the sidewalk from where we’d had to park.

“Stochastic processes. It looks at mathematical modeling including discrete and continuous-time Markov chains and Poisson processes.”

“I don’t understand a word you said,” I admitted as we entered the pizza parlor. It had more of a hippie vibe than Italian, with light wood decor, beachy colors, and bold fonts on a giant wall menu.

“Oh, it’s fun,” he said and launched into a detailed explanation as we got in line to give our orders. I tried to follow along with his mini-math class as I surveyed the potential places for us to sit.

As in the coffee shop, clumps of students dominated the tables, many with books and laptops out. Most were in groups of three or four, but the smaller tables along the far wall were all occupied by twosomes. Some were clearly friends, but others were probably couples. Trying to guess which were which was a fun game. Two guys with ball caps at the back of the room were deep in conversation. Probably frat bros. Then one touched the other’s hand, holding it as he smiled. Okay. Not bros.

And now I was back to wondering if people would assume Jasper and I were on a date. And if we were, how did I feel about that? Like, part of me definitely wanted this to be a date, preferably one that ended in another try to be not-terrible at kissing. The other part wanted it, too, but that part was a little seasick at the idea of all those eyeballs on me.

“See anything you want?” Jasper smiled at me, wide and unrestrained, hair still wild from his quick costume change, light reflecting in his summer-sky eyes. I’d suffer more than a little discomfort to earn more of those smiles.

“Yeah.” My voice came out too husky.

“And? Which flavor?”

Oops. He’d meant pizza. “You know me. More meat the better. Anything from the carnivore section of the board would work. Or whatever you want. You’re the one who’s been here before.”

“I am.” He nodded solemnly, and I still wasn’t entirely sure we were talking about pizza. “Trust me?”

“Absolutely.” That much was never in doubt.

“Good. Go snag us that table over there. I need room for the laptop. I’m going to surprise you with something delicious.”

“I can’t wait.” My steps were almost Jasper-level bouncy as I hurried to claim the table. I liked him giving me orders and didn’t want to dwell on why that was. And it was true. I couldn’t wait for whatever came next.