Hopeless Devotion ~ A Jasper Hale Story

Chapter Eleven ~ Bonfire

June 3rd (Sunday Evening)

The bike's engine ticked as it cooled, filling the silence between borders. Jasper steadied me as I slid off, his hands lingering at my waist before finally falling away.

I tipped my face up to him, memorizing the gold in his eyes, the way the last strands of daylight caught in his hair. "Don't start a war without me," I teased, but my voice wavered around the edges.

His smile was soft, the kind that only ever belonged to me. "Not a chance, darlin'."

I rose on my toes and kissed him, quick but sure, letting it say everything I couldn't. He kissed me back with the same promise he always carried — that he'd come back. Always.

When we broke apart, I caught the sharp sound of someone clearing their throat. Leah Clearwater stood a few yards away, one brow raised like she'd walked in on something both obvious and mildly annoying.

"Guess I'll leave you in good company," Jasper murmured, his drawl slipping softer as he brushed one last kiss against my temple. Then he swung back onto the bike, gave me that crooked grin, and roared away into the trees.

I watched until the sound faded, the quiet stretching, before turning to Leah. Her arms were folded, her face its usual shield of cool detachment — but her eyes betrayed a flicker of something else. Curiosity, maybe. Or recognition.

"Boyfriends," she muttered at last. "Always so dramatic."

A laugh bubbled out of me before I could stop it. "You have no idea."

Her lips twitched, like she wasn't sure if she wanted to smile or roll her eyes. "Oh, I think I do."

We fell into step together without really planning it, our strides matching as we made our way down toward the beach. Bella and Jacob had already disappeared somewhere quieter — their voices trailing off in the distance, leaving the two of us with the crash of the waves and the smell of woodsmoke starting to build.

"You don't have to babysit me," I said after a moment.

"Wasn't planning on it," she shot back. Then, softer, "Just figured... you'd rather not sit around alone."

I glanced sideways at her, surprised by the honesty tucked under her sharp edges. "You're right," I admitted. "I'd rather not."

Something eased in her shoulders, just slightly.

We drifted along the shoreline, the pebbles crunching under our shoes, the surf whispering against the sand. Leah kept her gaze on the horizon, but she didn't seem to mind me filling the quiet.

"Things have been... tense at the house," I admitted. "Someone's been coming around — an unwanted visitor. We don't know who yet. Bella's caught in the middle of Jacob, Edward... all of it. It's a lot."

Leah's jaw tightened. "Figures."

"Yeah." I let the waves rush in for a moment before softening the edge of the conversation. "But... you know, I've been meaning to ask you something."

Her eyes flicked to mine, wary.

"I want you at my wedding."

That startled her — just enough that I caught it before she masked it.

"You sure about that?"

I grinned. "Positive. You, Seth — both of you. No way am I letting you miss it."

A puff of air escaped her, almost a laugh. Almost.

We reached the clearing before the others. The logs for the bonfire were stacked high, the scattered wood waiting. Leah bent immediately, hefting logs like kindling. I joined in, awkward by comparison but determined not to drop any.