Page 71 of Protect My Heart
‘I know. I messed up. I got the dates wrong. Jason, I really need to get ready. I told them I’d meet them for breakfast.’
‘Where?’
‘I don’t know. What’s a place that serves breakfast around here?’
‘Maury’s Chicken Roost.’
I start to text my mom, but stop and look at Jason. ‘Did you say Chicken Roost?’
‘Yeah. Maury’s. They have the best breakfast in town.’
I text the restaurant name to my mom.
‘Would you care if I came with?’ Jason asks. ‘I’d like to meet your parents.’
‘No!’ I yell it, then smile. ‘I mean, I told them it would just be me joining them.’
‘Do they know about me?’
‘No.’
‘And you don’t want them to. Is that why you’re acting so strange?’
‘I’m not acting strange. I’m just in a hurry.’ I go into the bathroom and shut the door.
When I’m in the shower, I try to think how to handle this. Do I go to the restaurant and tell my parents I have to go back toMadison? I could say I have to work, although that would be lying since my job doesn’t start for another week.
I’m conflicted. I thought my parents wanted to have this time to themselves. I didn’t think they wanted me tagging along. But now they’re all excited about me being here with them. I hate disappointing them, but how can I be here without running into Jason and his family? It’s not possible, and if I see them, I can’t just pretend not to know them.
Maybe I should do it. This could be the last vacation I’ll have with my parents. But if I do this, I’ll have to introduce them to Jason, which means explaining who he is and telling them I’m pregnant. I don’t know if I can do that. Telling them I’m pregnant and not even dating the father is going to ruin their trip. It’ll ruin the whole week, which was supposed to be a celebration for my graduation.
When I get out of the shower, I get dressed and go to the kitchen where Jason is pouring himself some orange juice.
‘You want some?’ he asks.
‘No, thanks.’ I walk up to him. ‘Remember how you said you owed me a favor for going to the wedding?’
‘Yeah. What about it?’
I can’t believe I’m doing this. I’m still not sure I can.
‘You said you’d do anything, right?’
‘Within reason. Why?’
‘You didn’t say within reason. You can’t add that part now.’
He laughs. ‘Mia, what is this about?’
‘My parents don’t know that I’m pregnant. I was going to tell them after my graduation, but I don’t think I can wait. They’ll want to know who the father is and since you’re here,and they’re here, and I’m here, I thought I’d introduce you to them.’
‘Okay. But that’s not doing you a favor. I’m happy to meet your parents. I want to.’
‘Yeah, um, that’s not really the favor part.’
‘Then what is it? What do you want me to do?’
‘I need you to pretend to be my fiancé.’
