Hopeless Devotion ~ A Jasper Hale Story

Chapter Twelve - Time

Monday, June 4th

The living room was divided neatly down the middle—boys on one side, girls on the other. Jasper and Emmett were glued to the couch, locked in another Madden battle, their trash talk bouncing off the walls. Rosalie and I had claimed the armchairs, brochures and binders spread out like we were prepping for a military operation instead of a wedding.

Rosalie flipped to a page with a chandelier-filled ballroom and smirked at me. "Alice would faint if you said no to this one."

I wrinkled my nose, reaching for a photo of a mountain overlook instead—trees, sky, and endless space. "Alice doesn't get a vote. This—" I tapped the picture, my chest softening just looking at it, "—is what I want. A national park. Small. Simple. Scenic. Hiking boots and all."

Rosalie actually laughed. "You'd wear boots down the aisle?"

"Absolutely," I said, no hesitation. "Practical and cute. And if it rains, I won't ruin my shoes."

From the couch, Emmett barked a laugh. "Jazz, your girl wants to stomp down the aisle like she's leading a wilderness tour."

Jasper's mouth curved at the corner, his gaze never leaving the TV. "And she'd still look perfect doin' it."

Heat crept up my neck, but Rosalie saved me by snapping the binder shut. "Done. And before Alice got here. That's a miracle."

We packed everything away and crossed the room. I slid onto the far end of the couch, Jasper's arm stretching across the backrest, his fingers brushing my shoulder like they belonged there. Rosalie sprawled elegantly into her chair, Emmett crowing at a touchdown.

But after a few minutes of listening to the same back-and-forth, I got restless. Standing, I brushed invisible crumbs from my jeans and sauntered over to the boys. Jasper barely glanced at me, which made it all the more satisfying when I swung my leg over and plopped right into his lap.

Emmett nearly dropped his controller. "Are you kidding me? Mid-game?"

Jasper adjusted smoothly, one arm looping around my waist without missing a beat. His voice was calm, warm. "Darlin', you're not exactly heavy."

I leaned back against his chest, grinning up at him. "Consider me... a distraction."

"You'll have to do better than that." His thumb flicked across the buttons, perfectly timed.

Emmett let out a wounded roar when Jasper's team scored again. "Unbelievable! Guy's got a whole fiancée in his lap and still wipes the floor with me."

Rosalie chuckled. "That's because Jasper doesn't get rattled. Unlike you."

Smug, I tilted my chin. "Guess I really am good luck."

Jasper's chest rumbled behind me, and he murmured in my ear, "Wouldn't have it any other way."

I melted into him, my grin stretching wide, when Jack suddenly stirred by the window. His head lifted, gaze cutting sharp toward the driveway.

Rosalie groaned. "And there goes the quiet."

The door flew open, and in came Alice like a whirlwind, tote bag swinging. "Jack!" she squealed, darting straight for him. "Graduation party! I've got it all planned—streamers, lights, the perfect theme. Forks won't know what hit it!"

Jack's lips twitched as he closed the space between them with lazy grace, clearly indulgent. "I never doubted you."

She beamed, twirling into his arms, already sketching invisible decorations in the air. He listened with the kind of patience only someone completely smitten could pull off.