Hopeless Devotion ~ A Jasper Hale Story

Chapter Seven ~ Girls Weekend!

Thursday, May 31st, 2006

The scent of chocolate drifted into my room before I was even fully awake.

I blinked blearily at the soft gray light slipping through the curtains, and before I could decide whether or not to pull the blanket over my head, I felt a familiar hand brush my hair back from my forehead.

"Morning, darlin'," Jasper's voice rumbled gently, warm as the mug he pressed into my hands. "Figured you might need this."

I sat up with a yawn, already cradling the mug like it was holy. "You are dangerously good at this fiancé thing."

He gave me a crooked smile and sat beside me on the bed. "Just trying to win some points before I disappear for a few days."

That pulled me out of my haze a little faster. "Disappear?"

Jasper nodded, his thumb grazing mine as he steadied my drink. "The guys are going on a camping trip—Emmett's idea, mostly, but Edward wants to blow off some steam. Carlisle's going to supervise, of course. Emmett, Jack, Edward, and me."

I blinked at him. "So you're going today?"

He kissed my temple, voice soft. "Just a few days. Alice has plans for you while we're gone. Something about movies and face masks and 'emotionally recharging your bridal core.' Her words, not mine."

I snorted. "So... a slumber party with hidden motives."

He raised an eyebrow. "Hidden?"

"Okay, thinly veiled motives," I corrected. "It's about Bella, isn't it?"

Jasper hesitated for just a beat—then nodded. "She's been unpredictable lately. Alice wants eyes on her while we're away. You being there helps keep it natural."

I sighed, then gave him a playful shove. "Great. So I'm the distraction."

"More like the glue," he said, brushing his fingers down my arm. "Alice trusts you. Bella listens to you."

Before I could respond, Jasper's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and gave me a knowing look.

"She says we have fifteen minutes," he said, standing. "I told her thirty, but you know Alice."

I groaned, dragging myself out of bed. "Why do I feel like I'm about to be abducted by a very fashionable tornado?"

"Because you are." He tossed one of my hoodies at me. "Pack light—she has everything else already waiting."

Jasper stayed with me while I packed, helping fold sweaters and slide my favorite hoodie into the overnight bag. He even tucked in the paperback I'd left face-down on the nightstand without me asking. There was something soothing about the way he moved—no rush, just steady and sure. Like he wanted to make this part easy, since the next few days wouldn't be.

We headed downstairs together, the scent of bacon still lingering faintly from Charlie's breakfast. I half-expected to see him reading the paper, but it looked like he'd already left for work.

I turned to Jasper. "So you're really leaving today? Right after Alice takes me?"

He nodded. "We'll check in—Alice is the only one getting signal out there, but you know she'll be in constant contact. Especially if anything changes."

I knew he meant Bella. I didn't say anything, just reached for his hand and squeezed it. "You better come back in one piece."

Jasper smiled, then leaned in and kissed my forehead. "Always."

The knock came exactly fifteen minutes later. No one else in Forks knocked with that much confidence.

I opened the door to find Alice already halfway inside. She wore a lemon-yellow raincoat and carried three tote bags—none of which looked light.