He squares off with me like he expects push back. But how can I be pissed at him when everything he just said is true? Still, I’m not sure I like how protective he’s being ofmywife.
I scoff to myself when I realize just how protectiveI’mbeing of my wife. Hell, I barely even thought of her as my wife until last night.
I motion for him to follow me into the back room, not wanting Ava to see us if this turns into an argument. In the office, I don’t sit down behind the desk. Instead, I lean my ass against it. Because somehow, I feel me sitting and him standing might give him the upper hand. I don’t know this guy from Adam. All I can do is trust Ava when she says they’ve never been anything more than friends.
“Listen.” I run a hand through my hair. “I get how everyone thinks I’m the bad guy here. But it would be nice if you tried to put yourself in my position for one fucking second. I woke upone day and had this entire life I didn’t remember. Nobody could ever understand that until they’ve been through it.
“Imagine you open your eyes one day, not even knowing your name, but someone tells you you’re the assistant manager at a coffee house, you’re going to school for your masters degree, the people at your bedside are your parents, and you live in a little town where everybody knows everything about you. Everybodyexceptyou. Do you think you’d just roll over and do everything people told you to do? Show up at work and serve coffee like nothing ever happened? Do you think you’d know how to be a friend to someone you didn’t remember? Know how to be a child to parents you feel nothing for?”
I push off the desk and pace behind it, using it as a barrier between us. “It’s been two months since I woke up a stranger to myself. I’m thirty-five years old, and the extent of my memories goes back eight goddamn weeks. Have you even stopped to think about what that does to a person? So sue me if I needed to take a minute to breathe when I found out the wife I barely know is carrying a baby I didn’t know I wanted.”
He looks utterly stunned. “Ava’s pregnant?”
My head falls back and I look at the ceiling. “Ah, shit. I thought you knew.”
He sits on one of the chairs across from the desk. “Wow. I mean, I guess that explains a lot.”
I step around the desk and shut the door. “Don’t tell her I told you. I’m guessing if you didn’t know, she hasn’t told anyone else.”
“Yeah, sure. But… how? I didn’t even know you guys were sleeping together until right before you took off.”
“It happened before the accident. Embryo transfer.”
He nods, finally understanding. “And she didn’t tell you, so you skipped town when you found out.” His head shakes. “Don’t be too hard on her for keeping it a secret. Knowing Ava, shewas most likely waiting for your memory to come back. That or she just wanted to see if you were still compatible. I don’t blame her really. You came back a totally different person. Maybe she wasn’t even sure you were father material. Could be she was protecting the baby. Or her own heart. Probably a little of both.”
“I get it. Maybe I didn’t before, but I do now. So yeah, I intend to stick around.”
He stands and extends a hand. “I guess congratulations are in order.”
I shake. “Thanks. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. But don’t get me wrong, I’m happy. And I’m in this.”
“Well, actions speak louder than words, my friend.”
My friend.
“I know we got off on the wrong foot when I came back, but Ava said you and I were friendly before. Did we ever hang out?”
“Not really. But you weren’t in Calloway Creek much. When you were, you’d spend your time with Ava, or Carter Cruz. Sometimes Jaxon Calloway.”
“Well, if you think you might have room for another friend, do you want to go for a drink sometime?”
Jason smirks, but it’s a friendly one. “I think that could be arranged.”
“Great. I’ll set something up. A guys’ night at that bar down the street.”
“Pub,” he says, laughing. “Do not let Donny Donovan catch you calling his pub a bar.” He thumbs to the door. “I’d better get back out there before Ava comes looking for me. And don’t worry, I won’t say anything.”
“Thanks, man.”
After he leaves, I eat my breakfast and drink my coffee and try to start the next module in my training. But my mind is anywhere but there. It’s on what Ava said this morning. Thatinstead of everyone telling me who I should be, I need to start showing them who I am, who Iwantto be.
The problem is… do I even know?
I know I want to be a doctor again one day. Even if I hadn’t already decided, delivering that baby yesterday would have pushed me over the edge.
And I know I want her. And I want to be a good man. For her.For them.
Knowing I won’t get any studying done today, I decide to take the afternoon and go back to the cabin. I need to get the rest of my things. Wash the sheets and towels. Throw out old food. Leave the place the way I found it.
