Page 62 of Protect My Heart
‘It’s delayed until we find the rings.’
‘Don’t you want to help look for them?’
‘My brothers can handle it. Come on.’ I take her hand, something I haven’t done since she got here. She glances at me, like she’s not sure what’s going on or what I’m going to say. I haven’t figured that out myself, but I’m hoping it’ll come to me when we get inside.
We go into the house and I take her to the kitchen.
‘Mia, I need to apologize.’
‘For what?’
‘For how I’ve been acting. You did a really nice thing for me coming to the wedding and making the drive here and I’ve been treating you like shit.’
‘Jason, I don’t expect you to treat me like we’re dating. I know you just want us to be friends.’
‘That’s not what I want.’ I look her in the eye. ‘When I said that, I wasn’t being honest. I want us to be more than friends. But we can’t. And that’s the part I’m struggling with. I finally find the perfect girl and I can’t be with her.’
She looks down. ‘I’m not perfect.’
‘You’re perfect for me. You’re smart. Kind. Beautiful.’ I pause. ‘I’ve been pulling away from you because I don’t know how else to deal with these feelings I have for you, how to make them stop.’
‘Oh God.’ She holds her stomach and runs to the sink.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘I think I’m going to be sick. Could I get some water?’
I race to the cupboard, grab a glass, and meet her at the sink. I fill the glass with water and hand it to her.
‘Was it because of what I said?’ I ask as she drinks the water.
‘No.’ She shuts her eyes and takes some deep breaths.
‘This is the second time this has happened in a week. Maybe you should go see a doctor.’
‘I’ll be fine. I just have to wait for it to pass.’ She was leaning over the sink but slowly straightens up. She grabs hold of the counter and takes another deep breath.
‘Are you okay?’
‘Yes. I just felt lightheaded for a moment.’
‘Mia, I’m worried. I think I need to take you to a doctor.’
‘I don’t need a doctor. Just go. Go back to your family.’
‘After you almost passed out? Yeah, I don’t think so.’
She looks at me. ‘Jason, I’m fine. I promise. Just go.’
‘I’m not leaving you. Not when you’re sick.’
‘The wedding’s about to start. You have to get out there.’
‘Stop worrying about the wedding. Something could be seriously wrong here. When’s the last time you felt like this?’
‘Jason, please. I don’t want to do this now.’
‘Do what?’
