Powerless (Chestnut Springs, #3)(98)



“Of course I brought you a birthday present. What kind of asshole shows up to his girlfriend’s birthday dinner without a gift?”

She quirks an eyebrow at me and we both smile. “Girlfriend?”

“Of course.”

Then from within my pocket, I press the button on the key fob and the SUV behind me blinks to life with a soft beeping noise.

Sloane’s gaze hits the white Volvo and then slices back to me. “You bought me a car?”

“Safest one I could find. They’ve done the crash tests and—”

“Jasper,” she giggles my name. “I trust you. I’ll take your word for it. I . . . I love it.”

“I know you mostly walk everywhere in the city.” I clear my throat, feeling suddenly bashful. “But I want you to have something safe for your commute.”

“My commute, huh?” She’s grinning now. It’s infectious.

“Yeah. From our house in Chestnut Springs. You’ll need a safe car to get into the city for work. And you need your freedom to go wherever you want. Do whatever you want.”

At that, her eyes fill. She blinks, and a lone tear rolls down over her cheek.

“You just get me, you know that?” Her head wags gently. “You always have.”

Everything aches—my heart, my throat, my chest—so I do the only thing that I can think of to make it hurt less. “I love you, Sloane Winthrop. I always have. I love you so damn hard I don’t even know what to do with it. You’re my person. And I think I’m yours too.”

“You have always been my person,” she chokes out. “I love you so much.”

I don’t pause. I don’t think twice. I tilt her head up and I kiss her.

In the middle of a busy street for the whole damn world to see while snow falls around us. In the exact spot she walked away from me once before.

But this time, it’s us.

Together.





39

Sloane


Sloane: Get your asses to the rink!

Willa: I’m not playing hockey.

Summer: Why?

Willa: It’s not safe. Hard ice. Sharp blades. A bunch of men trying to prove that they aren’t past their primes. Fuck that noise. I’m going to sit on my ass and cheer for Luke.

Winter: I think show jumping is probably more dangerous. Medically speaking.

Sloane: Winter, are you coming?

Winter: Can’t. I’m sick.

Willa: Yeah. Me too. I’m sick. cough cough

Summer: Well, you’re all boring. I’m on team Sloane! Merry Christmas! Let’s fucking goooo!




I thought my best Christmases came when I was child. When the magic was still alive and thrumming. But somehow this Christmas takes the cake. It takes all the cake. And all the magic is thrumming.

I woke up in Jasper’s arms. In our perfect, cozy little house. The home we’ve slowly made together. We made love while snow fell outside the window before we even got out of bed. And then we hopped into one of our very safe SUVs and headed straight for Wishing Well Ranch.

My mom and Harvey met us at the door with welcoming hugs and kisses as they ushered us into the bustling ranch house. Everyone was there.

We’ve all been together all day long, and my heart has never felt fuller. Every time I get too far, Jasper reaches for me. I barely go for five minutes at a time without feeling him touch me in some way. Without him pressing a kiss to my hair for everyone to see.

It’s . . . Well, it’s magical.

Almost as magical as this new tradition. The first of many Christmas traditions I plan to make with Jasper.

Christmas shinny.

“I thought skating was supposed to be easy? You assholes all make it look so easy!” Rhett complains as he clomps around like Bambi on the ice, all long legs and awkward motions.

“Bad word, Uncle Rhett!” Luke, his six-year-old nephew, calls while skating speedy circles around his uncle.

Summer laughs before getting up off the log where she’s been sitting with Willa. “I can help you, babe!” she calls as she skates effortlessly over to Rhett.

He rolls his eyes. “Seriously? You’re good at this too?”

Summer just shrugs, acting all saucy as she winks at him. “I’m good at everything.”

I laugh from where I’m leaning against Jasper’s net, taking it all in. Soaking it all up.

“It’s just proof that you’re overachieving!” Jasper’s voice draws my head up to the path that leads down to the ice. Cade laughs, each of them pulling a plastic sled loaded with snacks and thermoses filled with hot drinks. Harvey and my mom come after them, carrying blankets and even a couple of lawn chairs.

“You’re overachieving too, Gervais!” Rhett shouts as Summer takes his hands, skating backwards in an attempt to teach him how to skate.

Jasper shrugs, eyes finding mine almost instantly. “Yeah, the difference is I know it.”

I shake my head at him because I don’t feel like he’s overachieving at all. I feel like everything is just right.

We play the world’s most ridiculous hockey game. Summer, my mom, Luke, and me against everyone else. People sub in and out willy-nilly. Cade constantly leaves the game to check on Willa and refill her hot chocolate. My mom and Harvey argue over whether she needs to wear a helmet. She says no; he says yes. Rhett falls on his ass multiple times. Everyone makes fun of him. Jasper stops every single shot on net and laughs at every person who tries to make a play against him.

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