Page 100 of Protect My Heart
Nora’s eyes bounce back and forth between Jason and me. ‘What’s going on? Why aren’t you saying anything? The engagement is fake.’ She pauses. ‘Right?’
Jason looks at me. ‘I meant what I said yesterday. To me, this engagement is real.’
I’m too shocked to say anything. I wanted his proposal to be real, but I didn’t think it actually was.
‘I’m going to go use the restroom,’ Nora says, getting up. ‘Let you two talk.’
Jason waits for her to leave, then turns to me. ‘I know we’re not ready to get married, and I know it may never happen, but I’m committed to this, Mia. I’m committed to trying to see if this could work.’
‘But what does that mean? You said you wouldn’t move.’
‘We’ll talk about that when it’s time. For now, I want to focus on us. We need to figure out if we actuallywantto be together, but we can’t do that if we’re just pretending, or telling ourselves that’s all it is. We need to give this a real chance, with a real engagement. We need to stop playing games and take this seriously.’ He pauses. ‘Mia, say something. Anything.’
‘I agree. With everything you just said. I just can’t believe you said it. I didn’t think you wanted this. The way you kept going back and forth—’
‘Forget all that. I was just scared. I still am. But fuck, I’m going to be a dad soon. I need to grow the hell up and stop running from things that may not work out. We have one chance here, Mia, and I’m not letting it slip away.’
‘So we’re really engaged,’ I say, gazing down at my ring.
‘The engagement is real, but the ring’s not. I don’t have the money right now to get you a real ring.’
Nora returns, sitting across from us. ‘So? What’d you decide? Should I be ordering champagne?’
‘If I wasn’t pregnant, then yes,’ I say.
‘Are you serious? This is real?’
‘It’s real,’ Jason says, holding my hand.
‘Congratulations!’ Nora pops up from her chair and comes around the table to give me a hug.
We have breakfast, and as we’re waiting for the check, Jason leaves to answer a call from Brody.
‘You’re really getting married?’ Nora says in a hushed tone, even though Jason’s nowhere near us. ‘You barely know him.’
‘I feel like I know him better than guys I’ve dated for months. There’s something about Jason that feels so familiar, like I’ve known him forever.’
‘Yeah, but still. Are you really going to marry him?’
‘We don’t know if we’re getting married, but the engagement is real. We’re going to live together this summer and see if this is really what we want to do.’
‘All this from a one-night stand?’ She sighs. ‘I don’t even get a text the next day and you get a proposal.’
‘But I’m also pregnant. I don’t think you’d want that part.’
‘Not yet. Kids are few years off.’ She reaches across the table and puts her hand on mine. ‘As crazy as this is, you look really happy.’
‘I am. I’m also scared it won’t work out.’
‘If it doesn’t, you’ll be okay. You know that, right? You’re strong, smart, and more than capable of doing this on your own.’
I smile. ‘Remind me of that if it doesn’t work out.’
‘I really hope it does. He seems like a good guy. And damn, he’s hot. I was not expecting that. Hey, didn’t you say he had brothers?’
‘Yes, three, and they’re all taken.’
‘Of course they are,’ she says, rolling her eyes.
