Page 85 of My Song for You
“Nothing.”
She blinked. Twice. “He seriously said nothing?”
“Well, he might have said something, but I was too busy running to my car to hear what it was.” I took a quick gulp of my drink. “Anyway, I’ve been giving what Jared said last week some thought. Maybe he’s right. Maybe I should return to San Francisco and finish my animation degree. Maybe everything that has happened is for the best. One day Jared will fall in love with someone who will become Logan’s mother, and I’ll have nothing. I’ll just be the aunt who’s no longer needed. The question is, do I want to be the aunt who has no future other than working full-time in a diner?” At least if I moved back to San Francisco, I could begin my life over again. It was the only way my heart would have a chance to heal. I couldn’t do that if I was still around Logan. It had been hard before, knowing how much he resembled his father. Things would only get worse when he was older and looked even more like Jared. Then I’d have a far tougher time moving on.
“So you won’t be here for Logan while the guys are on tour?” Hailey asked.
“It depends on how long they’ll be gone. I’m going to check if I can transfer back into the program for the fall. That will give me plenty of time to get Logan used to the idea of staying with his grandparents while Jared is touring.” My voice cracked at the idea of losing them both, but it was for the best. For everyone concerned.
I finished my second drink and ordered a third. Since I didn’t want to talk about it anymore, I switched topics. At one point Hailey went to the bathroom. I guarded the table and the drinks. No one was getting past me. No way.
She returned and we laughed, we joked, we shared. Not once did she mention Jared, Nolan, or the band, and for that I was grateful.
I continued drinking. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d drunk alcohol. Probably not since I’d been living in San Francisco and partied with my friends or boyfriend. Back when the only thing I had to worry about were my assignments and exams. Back before I had to worry about being a good parent.
A glass of clear liquid was deposited in front of me, along with a plate of cheesy potato wedges. “What’s this?” I asked, pointing to the glass.
“Water,” the hot waiter said. “Your friend ordered them when she was on her way to the bathroom.”
Hailey flashed me a smile and grabbed a wedge.
“Oh. Okay.” The water did look good. I drank some of it and bit into a potato. “Mmm, these are good.” Hailey sampled a bite and nodded in agreement.
“Callie?” a male voice said not far from where I was sitting.
I peered up at the blurry image of a familiar-looking guy. His voice was equally familiar. My brain sluggishly catalogued where I knew him from.
“Chris?” My ex-boyfriend.
Chapter 37
Jared
From my hiding spot in the tree house, I peered through the crack between the wooden floorboards. Mom was searching for Dad, Logan, and me. All of us were well hidden around the backyard, although you couldn’t miss Logan’s giggles coming from behind the bush. If I could hear them, then Mom certainly could. Plus it wasn’t like Mom didn’t already know the prime hiding spots. Kristen, Callie, and I had played hide-and-seek all the time here when we were kids.
My phone pinged. A grin appeared on Mom’s face as she looked up at the tree house. Busted. Since she already knew where I was, I checked who had texted me. Disappointment kicked me in the groin. It was Nolan, not Callie.
Call me ASAP. It’s about Callie.
I speed-dialed his number. “What about Callie?” Fortunately Logan was too far away to hear me. I didn’t want him wondering what was going on. “I thought she was with Hailey.”
“You wanna explain why you proposed to her?”
“Why do you think I did it, dumbass? I love her and want to spend the rest of my life with her.” Too bad she hadn’t felt the same way about me.
“Doessheknow you love her? Or does she believe you just want to marry her to make everyone’s life easier when it comes to Logan?”
I cringed. That was exactly what she believed. “I don’t know why she would think that,” I said.
“Did you tell her that you love her?”
I cringed again. “Not in so many words. I figured the proposal and engagement ring would show her how much I love her.” Okay, maybeIwas the dumbass.
“No, it has to be bigger than that.”
“Says the guy who has no experience when it comes to proposing to his girlfriend. Unless there’s something you haven’t told me yet.”
“That’s because I don’t feel the urge to rush out and propose to Hailey before she and I are ready. What in Christ’s name possessed you to even do that?”
