13. Aspen

"Whelp, big guy, it seems like you and I are going to be parents," I announce as I stroll back into the room Jasper's in for the night, something I know he loathes. It's not like they're going to let anyone stay with him either, which means Ruthie and I will stay in his camper. We'll probably pack it up too. A few months sitting empty in the camp site will piss Jasper off even more, so we'll get it ready and I'll see if Hank and Marge wouldn't mind keeping it at their house for the time being.

"Fuck, yes!" Jasper bellows out. I'm so glad they let me out of the wheelchair. The doctor seems to think everything is okay. The stress of what was going on with Jasper, the tiredness, and the pregnancy, it all just caught up to me.

"Jasper," I admonish as I walk to him. I want his scent surrounding me even with the use of only one arm. I need him.

"Come here, little mama." God, this man, he moves me.

"Hi." I sit beside him, lean down so our foreheads are touching.

"You've made me the happiest man alive. The minute I'm out of here, I'm going to make you my wife," he states.

"While I'm all on board with that, we aren't having some shotgun wedding. I want a real wedding," I tell him.

"You'll get it. The only thing we need to figure out is if it's okay for you to fly and when it'll happen. I already know it'll take place in Lodgeview, even though I'd marry you tomorrow." Jasper knows I want my dad to walk me down the aisle and to be surrounded by family.

"I'll ask the doctor when I make my first appointment, then we'll go from there. Our next set of business is getting you home. I'll drive your truck, and Ruthie can drive the Tahoe, or vice versa. Do you think Hank will let you store the RV at his house?"

"You've been thinking a lot, huh?" he jokes.

"What else was I going to do while driving, then sitting, and sitting some more?" I sass back.

"True enough. Hank will take care of the trailer. You think you and Mom can clean it up, grab my clothes, and take out the food? Other than that, Hank will disconnect everything. Don't even attempt it, you hear me?"

I roll my eyes. "If you think for a minute I'm going to mess with sewer and power connections, you're crazy." Ruthie must have dozed off at some point because she starts laughing after I finish my tirade.

"I don't think I can blame you," she says, chuckling.

"Good, at least there's something I know you won't do. I don't care which vehicle we take, both are comfortable. It's going to suck either way because I won't be driving. I think this might be worse than when I broke my collarbone in high school." I see Jasper is trying to mask the pain.

"You're older now." I wink.

"I think you know I'm not old." He has no shame, even with his mom around.

"Yeah, you get some rest. We'll be back bright and early to bail you out." I kiss his lips lightly. Jasper isn't having any of that though—he deepens the kiss, setting off a fire deep inside me that only he can put out. Unfortunately, that won't be happening for a while now.

"I hate like hell we're together yet you're not next to me," he grouses.

"We'll be together tomorrow night. The question will be, at whose house?" I arch my eyebrows already knowing his place is nothing but a bachelor pad with nothing more than bare necessities. Heck, he probably has more of his personal belongings in the RV.

"Your place. Mine probably needs more shit than it's worth to deal with."

"I figured you'd say that. We might have Berkley to contend with at some point?" I state it more like a question because who knows if she'll stay down here permanently or just for the time being.

"I'm not worried about that. I'm more worried about making sure you and our peanut are healthy, putting a ring on your finger, and eventually finding a house to make a home," Jasper states.

"I can't wait. Now, off to sleep. I'm ready for a shower in a cramped space, but at least I can steal a shirt of yours tonight." I think back on how many I've stolen in the past couple of months. They're slowly piling up. Anytime I'd come down to see him, a couple would be packed in my bag. So, I can't even say that I've stolen from him, except for that one time.

"If my mom weren't here, I'd be saying so much more. Get your ass to bed, woman. I'll see you tomorrow." I give him another peck on the lips, then slip out, letting him and Ruthie have a few moments. I know firsthand how much it sucks to see someone you love in a hospital, and if I never have to come back to another one, apart from our peanut being born, I'll be all too happy.

"You ready?" Ruthie says, stepping out of the room. I feel bad that we didn't have a better way of telling her she'll be a grandma, but it is what it is.

"I am. Are you?"

"Absolutely. I'm so proud of you and Jasper. This isn't an easy life to live. You two remind me so much of Keelan and myself. We would have fought till the ends of this earth to make it work. I hate like hell he was taken away from us too soon, but I'll cherish those memories we made together. Just like I know you and Jasper will. I love you like you're my own, Aspen." The waterworks seem to come on at her words. Not when Jasper was lying in a hospital bed sleeping, not when I saw the fear in his eyes after I woke up from fainting, no, it's when Ruthie gave me the greatest compliment of all compliments.

"I love you, Ruthie. I promise with everything I have to give to always make him happy and love him forever." She hugs me as we're standing by the hospital exit, crying because, well, that's what women do sometimes, and now seems as good a time as any.