Page 163 of Holding On

"My dad's the same as always. He'll never change. I decided to stop worrying about him. But he IS a good agent so I'll probably let him work for me when the time comes."

"So you've decided to play professionally?"

"I have." His eyes go to mine. "What do you think about that?"

I shrug. "If it's what you want to do, then I think it's good."

"It's a lot of travel. I'll be on the road a lot."

"Yeah? So? Why is that a problem?"

He doesn't answer. Maybe he has a girlfriend, and being on the road he'll miss her. It must be serious if he's already thinking about that. It pains me to think of him with someone else. It shouldn't, but it does. A lot.

"So what's new with you?" Ethan asks, wiping his hands on his napkin and sliding his plate aside.

"I'm going back to nursing school."

"Oh, yeah? When?"

"In January. Mike's medical disability got approved so he's getting checks from the military now which help cover our bills."

"So you can quit one of your jobs?"

"I could, but I'm not going to. I want to save up money for school so I won't have to work a lot of hours once classes start."

"And it's what you want to do? Nursing?"

"Truthfully?" I sigh. "Not really. But don't tell Mike that. Or anyone else. Actually, forget I said it. It's what I'm going to do. I'm sure I'll learn to like it."

"You know," he leans toward me across the table, "someone once told me I should do what I love. Maybe you should take her advice."

I swallow, trying not to react to his close proximity. "That advice was for people who have money."

"Why should only people with money be happy in what they do for a living?"

"That's just how it works. It's life."

"Doesn't have to be."

"Miss!" The old man at table two waves at me. "We need the check."

"I'll get it!" Tina says, winking at me as she hurries over to table two.

"Guess you need to get back to work," Ethan says. "Tell Max the chicken was awesome, as always." He takes his wallet out and drops a fifty on the table.

I take it and stand up. "I'll get your change."

"Keep it." He flashes his sexy smile. "I liked the service."

His meal was only ten dollars, making it a forty dollar tip. I'll give it to Tina. This is her table and she needs the money more than I do.

"Good seeing you." Ethan gets up and leaves.

Back in the kitchen, Tina practically shouts, "What did he say? Did he beg you to come back?"

"No. Just the opposite," I say, trying not to sound disappointed. But a part of me is. I thought Ethan wanted me back. Even though I said we were over, deep-down, I didn't want it to be true.

I still love him. I still want to be with him. But we're headed in different directions and I have to accept that.

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