Page 138 of The Manny

“I’m glad you did. If you decide to leave, that impacts Mia and me.”

“Yes.” He hesitated. “Is it… okay if I stay here tonight? Even though Mia is gone?”

He wasn’t going to Crispin’s? “Uh, of course.”

“Thanks. I’m emotionally exhausted. I’ve been stressing out about telling you for days.” He gave a humorless laugh.

I frowned. “How long have you known?”

“About a week.” He stood. “Worst week of my life.”

I studied him, feeling confused. Even if I had the courage to ask him to stay, realistically, was that the right thing to do? He was scared about his future, and I had nothing really valuable to offer him. The chance to work for a diplomat had to trump staying here and attempting a dysfunctional relationship with me, right?

“You look tired. You should get some rest,” I forced myself to say. “We can talk about this tomorrow.”

“Okay.” There was a sad tilt to his mouth. “Will we really talk though?”

“Sure.”

“Sometimes you like to avoid anything uncomfortable.”

“I said we’d talk, so we’ll talk,” I said gruffly. “There’s a lot to mull over, and I’m not sure how I feel about all of this yet.”

“Yes.” He watched me a few moments longer, as if he wanted to say something else, but then he turned and moved toward the door. “Night, Jack.”

“Goodnight, Thomas.” I pressed my lips tight, ignoring the pain in my chest. I needed to give him the space to make the right decision. The logical decision. He should probably take that job because it would ultimately bring him what would make him happiest in life.

And odds were that wasn’t me.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Thomas

As expected, Jack was gone when I rose in the morning. I’d figured he’d do his best to avoid me, but it was still frustrating. All he had to do was give me some small sign he wanted me to stay, and I’d turn that overseas position down in a heartbeat.

Because I was in love with Jack.

I’d tried so hard not to fall for him. I’d really thought I could sleep with him and not get emotionally involved, but that had been naive. As if our physical connection hadn’t sucked me in already, watching him with Mia made me love him more. He was unbelievably gentle with her now. If he’d just take a chance, and stop trying to protect himself so fiercely, there was a lot of joy in the world that he could experience. I suspected part of Jack’s problem was he didn’t think he deserved to be happy. He had it in his head that happiness was something only other people were allowed to experience.

Those confused thoughts swirled in my mind as I drove to pick up Mia from her sleepover. I parked in front of Aiden’s house and climbed tiredly from the car. As I neared the home, I could hear Mia and Percy giggling inside. I was thrilled that Mia had found such a good friend in Percy. He’d been instrumental in how well she’d assimilated into her new life.

I rang the doorbell, and a sleepy-looking Aiden answered the door. “I’m here to pick up Mia,” I said cheerfully, pushing through my gloomy mood.

Aiden frowned. “Didn’t you get the memo?”

“Memo?”

“Mia wants to stay another night. She said she’d call you.”

I frowned and checked my phone. “There are no missed calls.”

Aiden sighed and turned. “Mia, did you forget to call Thomas?”

Mia came crawling over the back of the couch, Percy hot on her heels. “Oops.” Her eyes were wide. “I did forgot.”

Looking sheepish, Aiden said, “I’m sorry. I should have texted you myself. What was I thinking leaving it up to her?”

“It’s okay.” I grimaced. “I’m glad she’s having a good time.”

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