Page 37 of Protect My Heart
‘No, I think I’ll just go to bed.’
It’s not even ten. I was hoping we could stay up and talk. We talked all through dinner but it wasn’t enough. There’s still so much I want to know about her, but it’s probably better if I don’t. It would just make me like her more.
‘Do you need extra blankets?’ I ask as I stand at the door to my room, watching Mia unzip her overnight bag.
‘I think I’ll be fine.’
‘Let me know if you need anything. I’ll keep the TV off so I don’t wake you up.’
‘Jason, I don’t want you changing your routine because of me. Go ahead and watch TV.’
‘I think I’ll just go to bed, now that we have this early morning breakfast,’ I say with a sigh.
She laughs. ‘I’m looking forward to it. Your mom sounds like a great cook.’ Mia walks up to me at the door. ‘Thanks again for letting me stay.’
‘I’m happy to.’
She pauses, her eyes on mine, then hugs me.
I’m so surprised by the hug that it takes me a moment to realize I should be hugging her back. I put my arms around her and instantly get that familiar feeling again, like she’s been with me forever. Why does that keep happening? Why does being with her feel so right when I know in my head that it’s wrong? I’m not getting involved with a girl who’s moving away.
‘It’s really good seeing you again,’ Mia says, resting her head on my shoulder. She almost sounds sad, but maybe that’s just how she sounds when she’s tired. ‘Goodnight, Jason.’
‘Goodnight.’ I kiss her forehead before letting her go. I wasn’t even thinking. I just did it, but I shouldn’t have. She’s just a friend, staying here for the night.
I close the door and grab a blanket from the hall closet. I take it to the living room and toss it on the couch.
‘Shit,’ I mutter, realizing I forgot to grab something to sleep in.
I don’t want to go back to my room. Mia might already be in bed. I take off my jeans and shirt. I’ll sleep in my boxers and put on my clothes before Mia wakes up. I lay down on the couch and set my phone alarm for six. That’ll give me plenty of time to get up and get dressed before Mia wakes up.
I can’t believe she’s here. I never thought I’d see her again and now she’s in my apartment, sleeping in my bed. I still don’t know why she’s here. Is she just saying goodbye, or is there more to it than that?
Chapter 9
Mia
No. Not now. This can’t be happening!
I sit on the side of the bed, taking deep breaths, hoping it’ll make the nausea go away. It’s been a week since I got sick. I thought my morning sickness was over. But it’s clearly back, at the worst possible moment.
Racing to the door, I swing it open and run across the hall to the bathroom, making it there just in time.
‘Mia?’ I hear Jason’s voice behind me and realize I forgot to shut the door.
This is so embarrassing. I’m kneeled in front of the toilet, feeling gross, and probably looking even worse than I feel.
‘It must’ve been something I ate,’ I say to Jason as I close the lid and flush the toilet. ‘You can go back to bed.’
He leans down to me. ‘Can I get you something? Water? Medicine? A cold washcloth?’
He’s such a nice guy. Any other guy would see me this wayand get the hell out of here. I wish he’d stop doing things that make me like him even more than I already do. On my way here yesterday, part of me was hoping I’d feel nothing for Jason when I saw him again, but instead I’m finding myself falling for him even more. Like now, when he’s acting so concerned for a girl who woke him up in the middle of the night, puking in his bathroom.
‘Jason, I’m fine.’ I rest back against the wall. ‘Go back to bed.’
‘You don’t look fine,’ he says, his eyes bouncing around my face. ‘You look like you’re going to get sick again.’
‘I’m not. I just need a minute to breathe.’
