Chapter 63
One of the soldiers said shyly to her, “By the way, why are you all standing outside? Aren’t you here to see Captain Locke?”
Natalied replied, “There are four of us, and two family members have already gone in.”
The soldiers knew the rules. Bennett scratched his head and offered, “Why don’t you come in with us? We can take two family members with us.” Natalie was eager not to go in, so she quickly declined. “No, thanks. We’ll just come back another time.”
Bennett nodded. “Alright, then we’ll head in first. See you next time.”
The other two soldiers also waved at Natalie as they followed, and one of them said, “Come visit us at the base any time. If Captain Locke’s busy, we’ll be here to take you in.”
Natalie smiled sweetly at the three of them and quickly agreed, “Sure, see you next time!”
Yvette and Phoebe finally met Jasper in the lounge downstairs at the dormitory.
It was Saturday, and there was nothing scheduled in the squadron. Jasper was dressed casually in white shirt and black slacks, standing by the lounge entrance with his hands at his sides. His handsome face was as cold as ice.
The moment Yvette saw him, her eyes lit up. She stood up with no pretense and greeted him affectionately. “Jasper!”
“What are you doing here?” Jasper wore an expression of displeasure as he spoke in a voice that could’ve frozen others over.
Yvette was ready with her excuse and nudged Phoebe forward. “Jasper, you haven’t been home for a month. Mrs. Locke thought it’d be nice for Phoebe to come and meet you.”
“Jasper, I… I’m Phoebe,” Phoebe said as she stood up. She was the intended shield for Yvette.
She was intimated by Jasper’s imposing and icy aura. Despite finding him tall and handsome, she dared not show it and meekly kept her head down, looking almost timid.
Jasper glanced briefly at her, his gaze far less cold and impatient than the one he’d given Yvette. “So, are you adjusting well to Kingston?”
Phoebe nodded, then remembered something and gathered her courage to say it. “Thank you for the fountain pen you sent me, Jasper. It was so valuable that I didn’t even want to use it. I’ve kept it well in the drawer.”
“Fountain pen? Jasper, why didn’t you ever give me a fountain pen?” Yvette pouted immediately in dissatisfaction, putting on a coquettish demeanor. Jasper ignored Yvette entirely, only replying to Phoebe, “Pens are meant to be used. Use it as needed.”
Yvette didn’t mind Jasper’s attitude at all and didn’t give Phoebe another chance to speak.
She shoved the lunchbox she had brought toward him. “Jasper, I specially brought you some herbed beef roast. It’s your favorite. Here…”
But Jasper didn’t even lift a hand, and his tone was indifferent. “I don’t like it anymore.”
Stunned by his response, Yvette struggled to find another topic, and the expression on his face was so cold that she felt she couldn’t keep up her self- directed act.
Phoebe observed Yvette’s expression, and she was secretly pleased. She’d never expected the arrogant Yvette to be so humbled around Jasper. Since Jasper clearly disliked Yvette, she thought she could help by getting Yvette to leave, maybe then he would think she was considerate. Phoebe chimed in timely, “Jasper, we’ll be heading back then. James and Natalie are still waiting at the gate for us.”
