"Everyone came over to help," Owen said. "It would be rude to leave now. Plus, I feel like I haven't partied in forever and I've never really partied with you. Don't you want to have a few drinks and a good time?"
"Yes, but this just doesn't feel like the best place to do it," I said.
"Now who’s the one being paranoid?" he asked. He hip-checked me.
I pushed him back and had to admit that I was looking at everyone as if they were suspects. "Fine. I'd love another beer."
Owen opened the refrigerator and handed me one before a few of Jasper's friends asked for drinks too.
"How do you know Jasper?" I asked as we all stood around the kitchen island.
"Um, through work?" one said.
"Really?" I asked. "He designed your website? Jasper's kind of secretive about his work. I'd love to see what he did for you."
"Website design? Isn't that like super brainy? That's what J does?" the other friend, a lanky heavy-lidded young man asked his friend. "That's cool."
Owen was too busy brainstorming a new mission with two of his clan members to notice the strange conversation.
"When did you meet Jasper?" I asked.
"
A while back," the first one said. He was noticeably more sober than his friend.
"Yeah, like last week at the grocery store," the lanky one said.
#
It took a few long conversations about Dark Flag and one awkward explanation of how we met before I was able to pull Owen aside for a private conversation.
"Have you ever seen any of Jasper's work?" I asked.
"Oh, Quinn, please. Do I have to think about this now?" He looked over to where Jasper was loudly entertaining a knot of women with his imitation of a Vegas showgirl he once met. "He's just one of those guys that talks himself up. So what if he doesn't want people to see his work? It’s probably all boring corporate stuff."
"Do any of these people look like corporate clients?"
Owen shook his head. "You don't invite those kind of clients to a party like this. These are probably the IT guys and computer geeks he met while on the job."
I hated to admit how much sense that made. "Alright, fine. But you have to admit something feels off about your roommate."
Owen slammed back the rest of his beer. "Oh my God, I think I know what it is," he said. "Jasper reminds you of Trent. Think about it. He's the life of the party, he's always meeting new people and bringing them along, and his stories are always just a bit over the top."
Again, it was impossible to admit how much sense that made. "What made you think of that wild theory?"
"They actually met the other day. Remember that awful dinner party at your parents’?" Owen asked. "Jasper met him out at the club that night. How's that for insane coincidence?"
"Sick is more like it," I said.
"I know a cure for that," Owen said. He gave me a smacking kiss and got us two more beers. He really was not kidding about wanting to drink and party.
My only consolation was that Anya appeared to be captivated by Jasper. Owen told me they had flirted very heavily the night she stayed over and it seemed like they were picking up right where they left off.
"Wouldn't that be a good couple? Then they could both go off to wherever his new job is and leave us in peace," Owen said.
"I like the sound of that. But I wouldn't want to break up your clan," I said.
"Quinn, it’s a game," he said. "I know it’s my job, but it’s also just a game. This is real life." He slipped his hand around my waist and squeezed.