Page 61 of Single Dad's Second Chance

MIA

Henry was quiet on the walk back to his place. Laura was there, distraught, but she let me and Henry handle Jason. She gave him a quick frown and said she’d see him tomorrow.

Jason also didn’t talk, perhaps knowing he was in trouble for that stunt. Or maybe he was just too damn happy that I was back here.

He changed and got in bed, and as I promised, I tucked him in.

“Jason, you can’t ever run away like that again.”

“I didn’t run away. I just looked for you.”

I tilted my head to the side and narrowed my eyes. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

He lowered his head. “I’m sorry. I won’t do that again.”

“It’s dangerous. I don’t want to ever think about you being on your own and getting hurt. No matter how upset you are about something, you can’t run off.”

“I won’t do it again.” He tentatively smiled. “Will you stay, Mia? Forever? I wish you could.”

Oh, be still my heart.I wished I could too. “Sometimes, things aren’t that simple. I bet you want a mommy. I can tell you do. Some days, I wish I still had my mom too.”

He nodded.

“I am sure your daddy will find a good woman to be your mommy.” It broke my heart to say this. “But it won’t be me.” Tears clogged in my throat. It was killing me to be honest with him, but he deserved the truth. Henry and I came from two different sides of life, and there wouldn’t be a way to make us work. He’d proven that with his harsh words.

“I love you, Jason, and I always will. Even if I don’t work in the office anymore, I’ll stay in touch with you. Okay?” I didn’t want to commit to seeing Henry anymore, not when it would continue to chip away at my heart, but Jason deserved stability. He’d latched on to me, as I had him. No matter how things fell apart between me and Henry, I had to keep Jason in mind.

“Will you read me a story?” he asked, pointing at a book about a wishing well.

“Sure, kiddo.” I snuggled in to sit and read to him. He fell asleep halfway through the story, and I kissed his forehead before I got up.

I wasn’t sure I could stand this heartache. I wanted to be the one to comfort him, to show him that the world could be full of love and support.

I was vulnerable and upset, genuinely worried about that sweet boy. So when I walked out of the room and ran into Henry, I tried to stay strong. He clearly had been waiting out here, listening in to it all with the door cracked open.

My heart was too raw to care about his opinions. I’d spoken the truth in there, at any rate. I hadn’t lied to Jason, so he couldn’t jump at me for more lies.

“Can we talk?”

With a heavy heart, I nodded. “Okay. But then it’s goodbye, Henry.”

He frowned, walking alongside me as he led me to his room. I wasn’t sure we needed this much privacy, especially after I said this would be it between us. This would be goodbye. Then again, he likely didn’t want Jason to hear what we’d say.

“Did you hear me?” I asked as he closed the door. “This has to be goodbye. I can’t suffer through loving you like this anymore.”

He stopped mid-step, raising his brows. I’d stunned him. “What?”

My timing was crappy, but I supposed it was better late than never to spill my heart. “I love you, Henry. I have since the first time we worked together at the office, arguing about margins and fonts of a document.” I shook my head, wishing it could be funny, but it sounded so pathetic. I’d spent years pining for him, and this was what it got me—heartbreak. “But it’ll never matter to you. It will never be enough for you.”

“You love me.” He stated it instead of asking it.

I nodded. “Sorry.”

“Sorry? For loving me?”

I hung my head for a moment. “For being the wrong person to love you.” I cleared my throat, determined to at least clear the air once and for all. “I’m sorry I didn’t come clean and tell you that I was the dancer you saw at Danger. The dancer you contacted Gina about over and over to hire for your new club. I never wanted anyone at the office to know that I was an exotic dancer. I was ashamed, afraid that people would…” I swallowed hard, struggling to get the words out as he stood there and watched me. “Would judge me. I only got into dancing because I needed the money. My pay at the office wasn’t enough to live on, not with my debts. I was desperate to survive, so I started dancing for extra money.”

“You were the star on the stage,” he said softly as I drew in a deep breath after talking for so long, even if I didn’t ramble without pause.

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