Page 20 of Protect My Heart
‘So there’s a reason you want to meet. It isn’t just to catch up or say goodbye before you move?’
‘Actually, I’m not moving. Not yet. I’m staying here for the summer and helping one of the professors with his research.’
‘But you’re still moving, right? To Boston?’
‘Um, yes, at the end of the summer.’
The phone is silent as I think about what to do. Why would I see her again if she’s just going to leave? It’s taken months for me to get to a point where I’m not spending all day thinking about her. If I see her again, I’ll be back where I was in January, with her consuming my thoughts.
‘Mia, I don’t think—’
‘Jason, please. It’s just dinner, and I really need to talk to you.’
‘Talk to me now. What do you want to say?’
‘Can we please just meet for dinner? I could be there tomorrow night.’
‘Tomorrow won’t work. There’s a good chance the game will be moved back a few hours if it rains, and after the game I’m meeting up with my brothers to figure out a wedding gift to give Nick.’
‘That’s right. He’s getting married soon.’
‘May 15th. So anyway, tomorrow isn’t good. I could do Sunday.’
‘That won’t work. I have counseling appointments in the afternoon. How about next Friday?’
I quickly check my calendar. ‘I could do Friday. What time are you thinking?’
‘Six? I work that afternoon, but I could be there by six.’
‘Let’s plan on that and if it doesn’t work, just let me know.’
‘Great! Just text me where to meet you. Any place youwant to go is fine with me. My next appointment just got here. She’s early, but I should probably go.’
‘Yeah, I’ll see you next Friday.’
‘Okay. Bye, Jason.’ She ends the call.
I stare at my phone, wondering what the hell just happened. I agreed to see her again, having no idea what this is about. Why wouldn’t she tell me? Is she just wanting an excuse to see me again? Why would she want that when she’s leaving in a few months? None of this makes sense, and now I have to wait another week to get answers.
I go home and change clothes, then head over to Sawyer’s to meet up with my brothers. We’re going to have a beer before they go out with their girlfriends for the night. Nick invited me to go to dinner with him and Lyndsay, but I told him no. I’m not going to be a third wheel on their date. My family thinks I’m a lonely bachelor in need of company, but the truth is, I’m totally fine on my own. It’d be nice to have a girlfriend, but it has to be the right girl and I haven’t found her yet. Or I did, but she’s moving away.
* * *
‘What are you drinking?’ Sawyer asks as I go into the brewery. He’s standing by the long high-top table where Brody and Nick are sitting.
‘Give me the stout,’ I tell him.
He takes off for the bar. It’s awesome having a brother who owns a microbrewery and even better that he has a girlfriend who owns the one outside of town. I get all the free beer I want. Personally, I think Gina’s beer is better, but I’d never tellSawyer that. His beer isn’t bad. He just needs more time to work on it.
‘You get a date for tonight?’ Nick asks as I sit across from him.
‘Yeah, a date with my TV,’ I kid. ‘There’s some good games on tonight.’
Brody laughs. ‘Couldn’t get a date, huh?’
‘I could get a date. I just didn’t want one. I need a break from dating. It’s exhausting.’
‘What about Brianna?’ Sawyer asks, setting my beer on the table. ‘Are you guys done?’
