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We both asked for beer and Jason took off. Lucy gave me a tight-lipped smile and leaned her head a bit. “You okay?”
“Yeah, long day, so Randy suggested we grab a drink before heading home.”
She nodded and looked to Randy then me again. “Well, I have some work to do, so I’ll head back to the office but maybe I’ll see ya around in a bit. If not, well, I’d say we’re here if you need us but that’s weird, so I’ll just say Jason is.” She turned and headed to one of the offices.
Great. Everyone knew.
Jason came back with our beers.
“Have a seat man.” I motioned to one of the open chairs.
He sat down and leaned on the table. “What’s up? How was work?”
“As good as it could be today.” I sipped from the ice-cold bottle.
Randy finished a sip and chimed in, “Well, you’ll figure it out, man. Wasn’t she your high school sweetheart or something?”
Jason’s eyes darted between us. “What? Did something happen with Jaz?”
My brows furrowed. “I figured you heard. Lucy seemed to know something was up.” He shook his head and looked at Randy, then to me. “I finally figured out what happened.”
His scowl melted away and he leaned in closer. “Oh, you asked her?”
“Not really. I think I got the ball rolling though, but I put a stop to it. She was pretty hammered last night. So, she ended up telling me anyway.”
Jason waved me on for more. I looked over at Randy, not wanting to kick him out of the conversation but still not sure I wanted him to know my private misfortunes. He was an astute man, though, and stood up. “I think I’ll check this place out if you guys don’t mind. Haven’t been in ages.” We both nodded and he took his beer and made his way around.
Jason scooted closer. “So, he doesn’t know the details?”
“No, he’s a good guy, but I’m not that close with him yet.”
“I was starting to worry.”
My mouth fell open. “Worried? About what?”
“Well, he knew something was up before I did. I guess I figured you being back in town we’d be close again. I dunno.” He shrugged and leaned back in his chair.
“We were still close when I was gone.”
He shot his eyes at me. “Maybe. Not like old times, though.”
I picked up my bottle and took a long pull. “I guess I just let everyone down.”
“Hey, man, I’m just saying. Distance is hard. It wasn’t the same without you here. I’m not trying to make you feel bad. What happened with Jaz?”
I tried to shake off the feeling of regret that kept washing over me every time it was brought up that I left. “Apparently, she found out she was pregnant right after I left and never told me. And that’s why she broke it off.”
He let out a low whistle. “Damn. But wait, she never, well, ya know.”
“Had a baby? It didn’t make it, could have been a life-or-death situation for her so she was lucky to have gone to the ER.”
Jason wrung his hands on the table. “Was it…yours?”
“Don’t say that to her!” I said sarcastically. “She got mad. I wasn’t sure of the timeline and details until I asked. But yeah. It was mine.”
Jason shook his head and ran his hand down his beard. “But why did she break it off? I don’t get it.”
“Your guess is as good as mine, brother. She said she was scared to tell me and freaked out and broke up with me instead. She was worried I’d fuck up my scholarship or something.”
