Chapter 29: Good but Not Good Enough

The sun shines down on the Garden Estate as the celebration of Saz continues. I lean on a high top and munch on my Swiss, watching Dr. Fillburn take a crack at corn hole. The blue bean bag flies past the goal and an older woman pats Dr. Fillburn on the back with a laugh. Probably his wife. He stands aside as she takes a shot at it, landing her bean bag in the first hole. I smile as they both clap and cheer. I wonder what I’ll be doing when I’m that old.

“Hey there, stranger.”

Jasper puts his arm around my shoulders and kisses my cheek, his citrus cologne intoxicating. I swallow the rest of my cheese. “Hey there yourself.”

He looks around at the crowd. “Where’s your bodyguard?’

“Out mingling with the common folk,” I laugh. “I saw Zelia dragging him over to meet someone over there.”

“What are we talking about?”

He’s right behind me, the back of my neck nothing but goosebumps as Saz walks over and claps Jasper on the shoulder. “My main man. Nice of you to show up.”