59. Jasmine

It was nice to make peace with Edgar.

Jasmine didn"t like being angry at people, not even disappointing boyfriends. She preferred to forgive, forget, and move on.

Why spend life harboring resentment and pain? It was so much better just to let it go. None of her other partners had had nefarious intentions except for Alberto, and she didn"t fault them for being less than she"d wanted. So yeah, there was always the sense of disappointment when things didn"t work out, but she chose not to dwell on it.

Still, as nice as it was to have sorted out things between them, she knew there was no going back.

She and Edgar just weren"t meant for each other, and since the time of fun and games was over, there was no point in dragging out the death of their relationship.

The problem was that she hated hurting people, and delivering that final cut was extremely difficult. That was why the cowards and the selfish just ghosted partners who they didn"t want to be with anymore instead of doing the right thing and ending the relationship properly. It required courage and sensitivity, which many lacked.

Hand in hand, she and Edgar made their way back into the restaurant. As they settled into their seats and placed their orders, Edgar looked so relieved and hopeful that Jasmine"s gut clenched at the prospect of shattering his illusions that they could move past this and find their way back to each other.

Julian regarded her from across the table. "I hear that your ankle is much better. I want to take a look at it later."

The last thing Jasmine needed was another male accusing her of improprieties.

She shook her head. "It will have to wait for tomorrow. I"m exhausted and need to take a long shower before I let anyone near my bare feet. When I took my boots off last night in the tiny tent the guys erected for me, I almost died from the toxic fumes."

Frankie snorted, covering her mouth with the back of her hand. "I would have never believed you are such a tomboy, Jasmine. You look so feminine and refined."

"I"m not a tomboy and spending a night in a tent is not my idea of fun. But it is what it is, right? And no one"s feet smell like roses after being stuck in boots for a whole day of hiking."

Thankfully, Ella had heard all about the healed ankle and Edgar"s accusations before, and she distracted Julian by telling him stories about her little brother and his stinky feet.

Leaning toward Jasmine, Margo whispered in her ear. "It seems like you and Edgar had a good talk."

"We did," Jasmine said.

"So, everything is back to normal?" Margo asked.

Jasmine cast a sidelong glance at Edgar, ensuring he was still talking with Negal and Julian, before shaking her head.

"Why?" Margo whispered. "Are you still mad at him?"

Jasmine shook her head again. "It"s complicated. I need to think."

She"d done all her thinking already, but it was wrong to talk to Margo about Edgar when he was sitting right next to her. He should be the first one she told, not the last one to find out.

Getting the hint, Margo let it go and started asking questions about the pod and the other stasis chambers instead.

Jasmine didn"t say much throughout dinner, letting the others talk and only adding a word here and there. She"d eaten with her usual healthy appetite, though, so she wasn"t conflicted about her decision anymore.

After dinner, everyone said their good nights even though it wasn"t particularly late. There was nothing to do in the small town, so they all headed to their bedrooms.

As Edgar opened the door, Jasmine was taken aback by the sight of the large stasis chamber that was taking up most of the available floor space in the room. The extra blanket she"d used when it got cold at night was draped over the chamber, making it look even larger. "It didn"t look that big when it was out in the open."

Edgar chuckled. "That"s what she said."

It took her a moment to get the joke, and she snorted. "It"s not funny, but I"m glad you can still find humor in the situation."

Edgar pulled her into his arms, holding her gently against his body. "Sometimes humor is all we"ve got. I don"t like having this thing in here, and I"m angry at myself for not suggesting it be placed in Aru"s room."

Jasmine shuddered. "I don"t know if Gabi would have been okay with that. It"s kind of spooky."

"It is," he agreed. "That"s why I don"t like it here."

Casting a sidelong glance at the chamber, Jasmine wondered for the umpteenth time if the prince was aware of what was happening around him. She hoped he wasn"t because that would mean seven thousand years of having been locked inside his brain, which was a horrible fate she wouldn"t wish even on Alberto or the Modana brothers.

She pushed on Edgar"s chest. "I should take a shower before I fall on my face."

Thankfully, he didn"t offer to join her, which, given the accommodations, would have been stupid even if they weren"t on the brink of a breakup. The water pressure was so weak that it was like showering in raindrops, and the tiny electrical heater could only heat the water to lukewarm. It was best to get it over with as quickly as possible.

Later, as Jasmine lay next to Edgar in bed, he reached for her, his hands skimming over the soft curves of her hips and breasts. There was a slight spark of desire, but her heart wasn"t in it, not just because of the eerie presence of the stasis chamber and its occupant.

"I"m tired," she murmured. "I just want to sleep."

"Of course," Edgar said, pressing a chaste kiss to her forehead. "You need the rest."

She curled into his side and rested her head on his chest. As her breathing slowly evened out and she was drifting off, she thought about how good it felt to have Edgar in her bed even when she wasn"t interested in sex. He could be a wonderful partner, someone she could lean on, someone who always respected her wishes.

Why the heck was she thinking about leaving him?