Page 27 of Protect My Heart
That’s what I want to say, but instead I say, ‘I’m just not interested in dating right now. I have to focus on finding a job for after the summer.’
‘A job in Boston,’ he says. ‘So you’re definitely moving back.’
‘I have to. My father had a bad fall back in March and then hip surgery. He walks much slower now and has difficulty doing the things he used to. He’s going to physical therapy and my mom is helping him, but if he gets worse, she’ll need me there to help out.’
Jason nods. ‘Yeah, I understand.’
He sounds disappointed. Did he think I’d changed my mind? Is that why he thinks I’m here? To tell him I’m staying? If so, I didn’t mean to get his hopes up. I didn’t think he wanted to see me anymore. I assumed he’d moved on by now. But maybe he thought my coming here meant I wanted us to have a second chance.
I need to tell him the truth and end any confusion about why I’m here.
‘Jason, I need to tell you something.’
‘Go ahead.’
Chapter 7
Mia
Just as I’m about to tell Jason my news, Andrea returns with our meals.
‘The chicken,’ she says, setting the plate down in front of me. ‘And the steak.’ She sets Jason’s plate down and smiles at him. ‘Can I get you anything else?’
Jason looks at me to answer.
‘I think we’re good,’ I say to Andrea.
I wait until she leaves, then try again to tell Jason my news, but before I can, Jason starts talking.
‘Do you work tomorrow?’ he asks.
‘No, but I need to finish a paper that’s due next week. Why?’
‘I was just thinking maybe you could stick around.’
‘You mean stay in Haydon Falls?’
He shrugs. ‘Just for the day. I could show you around. Maybe take you to the orchard.’
‘I’d love that. But I don’t know if—’ I stop, deciding not tofinish that thought. I was going to say he may not want to take me around town once he finds out my news.
What if I didn’t tell him? What if I waited until tomorrow? Would it really be that bad to wait?
I want more time with Jason. I want to see what he’s like when he’s here, living his regular life. I want to see where he lives and what his family is like. If Jason decides to be in our child’s life, I should know more about him. Spending a night with him in a hotel room isn’t enough to tell me who this man is and what he’s really like.
‘I’ll stay,’ I tell him. ‘I’d love to see more of the town.’
‘But you hesitated. Why?’
‘I was just rearranging my schedule in my head. I can get back Sunday and still have time to get everything done.’
‘Great!’ He cuts into his steak, but then stops. ‘Oh, shit. I have a game tomorrow.’
‘Could I go?’
‘You want to go to a high school baseball game?’
‘Sure! It sounds fun!’ I’m not really into sports, but I’d like to see Jason coaching the game. I want to see how he is with the kids.
