HEAT |OMEGAVERSE|

When Honesty Sparks Heat 🔞

ALEX'S POV

"So—are you gonna tell me what happened at dinner with your father?" Jasper asks, taking my plate and placing it in the sink. I knew eventually after waking up this morning he'd get to asking me that question.

"Where do I even start?" I reply, letting out a long sigh.

"The beginning?" Jasper looks at me with a small smile, and I fail to return it.

"My father's dying," I spit out bluntly, almost like I'm talking about someone else's father. If I sit and think about it for too long, the words may start to stick, to mean something.

"Oh—uh—wow." He says in shock. "I wasn't really expecting that." Jasper takes a seat next to me at the counter.

"Me neither." I scratch at the back of my head, wondering if it's weird that I'm not feeling much of anything. Shouldn't there be... more? But all that's left for me is this anger at Veronica, almost as if it's swallowing up any other emotions I can feel.

"Are you going to be alright?" Concern slowly makes itself known on his features, and he places a soft hand on my knee.

"I don't know," I admit, my voice coming out more quiet than intended. "Maybe? I guess I just... don't really feel anything." I whisper as I stare at the counter, wishing I could give him a better answer.

Jasper's hand stays firm, yet gently on my knee, his thumb brushing small circles. "It's okay not to have it all figured out," he says quietly. "If you need to talk... or even if you just need to sit here, I'm not going anywhere."

I swallow, feeling the weight of what I haven't told him press down on my chest. There's so much more, things I haven't figured out how to say yet. My dad's dying wish—wanting me to patch things up with Veronica. God she's so toxic, manipulative, and definitely the last person I want back in my life. But he's still convinced she's some kind of saint. And if that wasn't enough, now I have the damn company to take over.

I glance at Jasper, guilt pooling in my stomach. There's... there's more, but how can I dump all of this on him? We've barely started this thing between us, and I'm already a mess he didn't ask for.

"I appreciate you being here," I say, trying to sound more assured than I feel. "It's just...there's a lot I haven't figured out yet. My dad wants me to fix things with Veronica." I shake my head, frustration bubbling up. "I don't want to. She's so fucking toxic, and quite possibly a demon wearing human skin," I joke weakly, a frown tugging at my lips. "But now I feel like I have this responsibility hanging over me, this guilt that I'm not even sure why I have." My eyes fail to look up at Jasper, unsure of how he is going to respond to such a pathetic response.

Jasper leans in slightly, and my focus finally sets on his face. "You're not obligated to do what your dad wants just because he's dying, Alex," he says gently. "You've never had a good relationship with him, so why should you feel pressured to do something that doesn't sit right with you? You get to decide what's best for your life—for you. Veronica is toxic...I know that you definitely know that...so walk away. You don't owe her or him anything."

Jasper sits silently for a moment as I take in the weight of his words, thinking of a way to respond. "You deserve to put yourself first, to let go of the guilt your father has programmed you to have if you somehow 'fail' him. It's okay to feel what you feel, and it's okay to say no."

I nod slowly, feeling the tension in my chest ease slightly. It's hard to shake off years of conditioning, but Jasper's support makes it a little easier to imagine a different path—one where I can be happy, be myself. "I know you're right," I finally say, my voice quieter now. "But it's tough to ignore this relentless voice in my head...putting me down, draining me."