Page 102 of Protect My Heart
‘I might need a nap after that,’ Mia says as she lies in my arms.
‘Go ahead and sleep.’ I kiss her forehead. ‘You did all the work that time. You need a nap. I’ll take one too.’
She turns on her side and kisses me. ‘I already want you again.’
I laugh. ‘Are you serious? Because I’m totally up for it. I just need a few minutes.’
‘I can’t help it.’ She runs her hand up and down my chest. ‘You really turn me on.’
‘All I have to do is look at you and I’m turned on.’ I kiss her.
‘I love that we’re so good together.’
‘I love it too.’ I look at her. ‘I love everything about us. These past few weeks have been great.’
She rests her head on my shoulder. ‘I think so too.’
‘I love you, Mia.’
She lifts up to look at me. ‘You what?’
‘I love you.’ I smile. ‘Why do you look surprised? I thought you knew this.’
‘I wasn’t sure. I still find myself trying to figure out what’s real and what’s not.’
‘It’s all real. We talked about this when we moved in together. No more fake relationship. This is real.’
She slowly smiles. ‘So you really love me?’
‘I really do.’
‘I really love you too.’
I wrap my hand around her face and press my lips to hers, feeling even closer to her after telling her that and hearing her say it back. We make love again, then fall asleep. When we wake up, I make dinner while she reads off more crazy baby names.
This is the life I’ve always wanted. Living with the girl I love, planning for the baby we’re about to have, sleeping next to her every night. On weekends, we hang out with my family, having breakfast with them on Saturday morning and dinner with them on Sunday. Sometimes during the week, Mia and I will go hang out with Brody and Kate or we’ll meet up with Sawyer and Gina for dinner. Nick and Lyndsay are always at the orchard, which is less than a mile away, so we see them all the time, along with Mom and Dad.
I have everything I ever wanted. My family. The girl I love. And a baby on the way. But it’s all going to change soon and I’m still not ready. I don’t want to leave all this and move away.
* * *
Friday night, Mia and I are lying on the couch watching a movie when she says the words I’ve been dreading to hear.
‘I applied for a job. I know I said I’d wait, but the deadline to apply was today.’
I don’t say anything. I’m not sure how to react. Do I pretendto be happy even though I’m not? I love her, so I should support her, but if I’m being honest, I don’t want her to get the job. I know it’s wrong of me to think that, but I don’t want her getting a job and leaving. We’ve only had a few weeks together. We need more time. We agreed to live here for the summer and the summer just started.
‘Jason, say something.’
‘What do you want me to say?’
She sits up. ‘You could at least ask me about it.’
‘What kind of job?’
‘Director of a youth center.’
‘You said you wanted to work at a school.’
