“And that made a difference?”
He nodded. “I was driving through town and thinking about all the things I couldn’t wait for Asher to experience—the things I grew up doing—and then I saw Ryleigh walking into the park. I saw you walking over to greet her and I knew that I needed to make things right.”
“Jamie…”
“But the biggest thing was…I got home and I was alone. I used to love that feeling—you know, coming home at the end of the day and just being able to enjoy the quiet and relax. There was nothing relaxing about it that time, though. I wanted to come home to you and Asher, Fallon. I wanted to come home to our family.” He paused, reaching up to caress her cheek. “I love you. I miss you and I need you, and I love you.”
There were still so many questions racing through her mind, but she felt like that declaration needed to be dealt with first.
“Jamie, I…”
One strong finger gently pressed against her lips. “I need to tell you the rest.”
She wanted to argue that he really didn’t—at least not right now—but he was already speaking again.
“I can’t help how I feel about Jenn,” he explained. “I don’t trust her and I’m not willing to take a risk with my son. However, she messed up and she took responsibility for it and is repentant about it. So, we’re taking things slow. For the next year, Jenn will have supervised visitation with Asher twice a week. Honestly, she’s not sure she can handle more than that. I met with her and her therapist and we all agreed that the slow and low-pressure approach is what’s best for her.”
Lowering his finger, Fallon was finally able to respond. “Wow. That’s…that’s a wonderful solution, Jamie. I’m proud of you.”
“I want you to know that you’re the reason I’m willing to try. You made me think. It just took me a while to actually do it.” He smiled slowly. “You know how stubborn I can be.”
Laughing softly, she nodded. “Yes, I do.” Looking up into his eyes, Fallon knew how sincere he was being. He was genuinely trying. “I don’t want to be the reason you’re doing something you’re so against. If anything were to happen, you’d blame me and…”
“No,” he said adamantly. “Believe me, you weren’t the only one telling me I need to give Jenn a chance. Everyone felt the same way after they heard her story. But it wasn’t until I sat with her and her therapist that I felt convinced that it was the right thing to do. The last thing I want is for anything to happen to Asher.”
“I know,” she said, stepping in a bit closer to him. Then she realized how this might look and glanced over her shoulder. “Um…”
As if reading her mind, Jamie tucked a finger under her chin and guided her to look back at him. “Jenn and I are over. We never really…it was never serious. I know that sounds callous and makes me seem like a douche, but…there it is. Neither of us is interested in anything more than co-parenting our son.” Now it was his turn to step in closer. “She knows about you—about us—and that’s why I brought her here to the park today. I wanted her to meet you so we can all move forward to take care of Asher in the best way possible.”
This was such a complete one-eighty from the man she argued with more than a week ago, and if she were being honest with herself, she was a little dazzled by the change. She knew he was capable of it—had seen other changes in him just after Asher came into his life—but this version of Jamie was possibly the best she had ever witnessed.
But…was it enough for her to get over her own insecurities? Could she simply forget the more personal aspect of their argument that night? Was she still just a convenience? Someone to make his life easier?
I love you. I miss you and I need you, and I love you.
Sure, he said that he loved her, but…was he just confused? Or was she?
I love you. I miss you and I need you, and I love you.
He was watching her intently, and she knew she was going to have to say something soon–not only because it was getting awkward, but because they couldn’t stand here in the middle of the park all day.
Letting out a long breath, she decided that honesty was always the best way to go.
“You’re not the only one with trust issues, Jamie,” she quietly explained. “I have them too and…I’m not sure where we go from here.”
Chapter Fifteen
It felt like Fallon had kicked him in the gut.
Actually, that would have hurt less.
“Oh.”
She glanced over her shoulder again toward Jenn, Tessa, and Asher, and he knew she was distracted.
Which meant he needed to think fast.
“Are you busy this afternoon?” he asked.
When she turned and looked at him, he almost smiled at the pure confusion on her face.
“I was thinking we could all walk back to the house. Tessa has a faculty meeting in an hour, Jenn has an appointment, and Asher and I are just going to hang out at home. Maybe you can come and hang out with us and we can talk.” Swallowing hard, he added, “And we seriously need to talk, Fallon.”
With a small nod, she whispered, “I know.”
So, in the most awkward moment of his life, the two of them walked back to the park bench. He saw the hopeful look on Tessa’s face and he discreetly shook his head so she wouldn’t say anything. She looked at him quizzically, but all he did was whisper, “We’re going back to the house to talk.”
Jenn pushed the stroller while the rest of them casually followed behind. He was holding Fallon’s hand and he took it as a good sign, and Tessa—bless her heart—talked the entire time so there weren’t any lulls in the conversation.
“You guys should totally come to the school next Friday night,” she was saying. “We’re having our end of the year concert—the kids are singing a bunch of classic songs about the summer, including a Beach Boys medley! I’m telling you, it’s going to be amazing!”
“I used to love to sing in the chorus,” Jenn said with a smile. “I had the solo in the sixth-grade winter concert. I sang ‘Winter Wonderland.’ We had fake snow and everything!”
Tessa shared the story about how Liam crashed the school’s holiday concert last year to sing for her, and beside him, Fallon laughed.
“I don’t remember hearing about this,” she said as they continued to walk.
“There’s even a video,” Jamie told her. “Remind me to show it to you. It was hysterical.”
“It wasn’t hysterical,” Tessa interrupted. “It was incredibly sweet and it was the reason I knew for sure that I was in love with him.” Holding up her hand, she waggled her fingers to show her engagement ring. “And for the record, he sings a lot more now because he knows how much I love it and how it always leads to a little…”
“No!” Jamie said loudly with a bark of laughter. “Just…no. We don’t need to know what it leads to, so…we’re good.”
With a devious grin, she looked over at Fallon. “Great sex,” she said proudly. “It usually leads to great sex.”