CHAPTER 230: I SWEAR ON CASPER’S PET

Ash’s POV

Dominic’s cab pulled up by the curb, and he turned to me one last time, his thumb brushed my cheek.

"Text me when you get there, okay?"

"I will," I promised, trying not to look as nervous as I felt.

"Be safe, babe," he said softly. Then he looked over my shoulder. "Casper....drive safe. Jasper....don’t talk too much."

Jasper gasped. "I literally breathe with my mouth, what do you want me to do?"

Dominic just shook his head, kissed my forehead, and got into the cab.

He rolled down the window as it pulled away, still waving. I waved back, heart aching a little.

Then I turned to the other two.

"Alright, I guess I’m in the hands of chaos and calmness."

"Hey, we’re the perfect combo," Jasper grinned, jumping into the front seat. "Casper drives like a retired dad, and I bring the vibes."

"Vibes and migraines," Casper muttered, starting the car.

Jasper threw both hands in the air.

"ROAD TRIPPPP!" he yelled, nearly making me drop my phone.

Casper sighed from the driver’s seat, already regretting life. "It’s literally few minutes away, not a road trip."

"Doesn’t matter!" Jasper was already connecting his phone to the Bluetooth. "If there’s wheels and vibes, it’s a road trip!"

I couldn’t help it.

I was laughing so hard I nearly choked. "You two are so different, I can’t believe you’re brothers."

Casper turned to me briefly with that calm, blank expression. "Imagine living with him every day. So where are we going first?"

"Alia’s place," I said. "It’s just a few blocks down."

Jasper twisted in his seat dramatically. "I’m nervous to meet her. I feel like she’s gonna kick me. Ash, please tell her I’m nice. I swear I never bullied you in school. Iswear on Casper’s pet."

Casper frowned. "I don’t even have a pet."

"Exactly! That’s how serious I am!"

I burst out laughing. "Sure you didn’t, Jasper. But there was that one time...."

"Oh my God, please don’t," Jasper cut me off instantly, throwing his hands up. "Whatever memory that is, I was joking, delusional, and possibly possessed by caffeine. Don’t tell Alia. I’m a golden retriever now."

Casper snorted. "You’re not a golden retriever, you’re a chihuahua."

"Cas, we need to get knee pads before we pick her up." Jasper widened his eyes.

Casper shook his head, pulling over at a light. "God, now I understand why Dominic didn’t want you driving Ash around. You talk too much."

I was crying laughing by that point, clutching my stomach. "You two are ridiculous."

It felt weird to laugh after everything, but it also felt like breathing again.

"Ridiculously hot or ridiculously funny?" Jasper asked, smirking.

"Neither," Casper said flatly, taking the next turn.

"See, this is why he’s single," Jasper muttered. "No appreciation for good humor."

Casper didn’t even look at him. "I appreciate silence."

I was still laughing, the stress finally melting off my shoulders.

Fifteen minutes.

That’s how long it took to get to Alia’s friend’s place.

And for every single one of those fifteen minutes ...Jasper. Did. Not. Shut. Up.

"Okay, start from the top," he said, twisting around in the passenger seat. "How did you and Dominic actually start talking? Like, was it love at first sight? Did he rescue you from a burning building? What’s the lore?"

Casper groaned. "Please don’t encourage him."

I was already laughing. "There’s literally no lore, Jas. We just..."

"...met in school?" he guessed. "Online? At a strip club?"

"WHAT?"

"Bro, you never know these days!"

Casper sighed, turning a corner. "Jasper, shut up before I throw you out."

"Relax, I’m just collecting information," Jasper said, dramatically typing on his phone. "For the fanfic I’m writing in my head."

I covered my face. "You’re so unserious."

"Serious question, though," he leaned closer, eyes wide like a kid. "Who kissed who first?"

"Jas!"

"Be honest! Don’t sugarcoat it!"

I groaned. "Fine! He kissed me first, okay?"

Jasper gasped like it was breaking news. "HE DID?! OMG. So romantic. Was it soft? Rough? Spontaneous? Like... ’oops we tripped and kissed’? Or ’I’ve wanted this for years’ kind of kiss?"

"Do you need therapy?" Casper muttered.

Jasper ignored him, fully committed. "Did he say anything before he kissed you? Like ’you’ve got frosting on your face’? Wait... HE DID, DIDN’T HE? OH MY GOD, IT’S ALWAYS THE FROSTING."

I burst out laughing, holding my stomach. "You seriously need to chill."

He spun around in his seat, dramatic as hell. "You think I can chill when I’m witnessing real-life Webnovel romance? You’re dating Dominic Vale! Billionaire’s heir, pretty-boy jawline, emotionally damaged, secretly soft..."

Casper cut him off flatly. "You’re describing yourself in the mirror."

Jasper gasped. "Don’t insult me like that, I don’t have daddy issues."

Casper side-eyed him. "Yes, you do. You cried when Dad forgot your birthday last year."

"That was different! I was emotionally vulnerable and there was wine involved!"

Oh God. I see why Dom didn’t want Jasper to come along.

Casper parked in front of a cute yellow house and turned off the engine with a deep sigh. "Thank God we’re here. Fifteen minutes felt like fifteen business meetings."

Jasper ignored him completely, craning his neck toward the house. "Sooo... this is where the legend lives?"

I blinked. "Legend?"

He grinned nervously. "The girl who kicked Ian in the knee. The people’s hero. The myth. The icon. Alia."

Casper smirked. "Good luck surviving her."

"Oh no, no, no," Jasper said quickly, tightening his seatbelt again. "We’re picking her up, not picking a fight. Cas, keep the engine running. If she raises that leg, we’re gone."

I laughed so hard my stomach hurt. "You’ll be fine."

"I’m prepared," Jasper corrected. "And if I die today, tell Dominic I was loyal till the end."

Casper rolled his eyes. "No one’s dying, Jas. You’re just meeting a little girl, not a dragon."

"You didn’t hear Ian’s version of the story," Jasper whispered. "She is a dragon."

I smirked, watching him fidget in the seat. "Just... don’t say anything stupid."

He grinned nervously. "No promises."