“You were saying you were rudely interrupted?” Jackson asks,eagerly.
I glance down at our intertwined hands, noting once again, how fast everything is moving in my life. “Evidently, Mike had spent the better half of his day hunting me down,” I tell him, worried about the reaction he mighthave.
He looks upset rather than angry. “Really? What did he want?” There’s a sense of apprehension laced between his words, but I’m sure he’s smart enough to know I wouldn’t be here with him if Mike was able to work meover.
“He wants things to work out with us,” I tellhim.
“And what do youwant?”
I appreciate his question and can’t stop the small smile from stretching across my mouth. “Well, I would like…to see how things work out between you andme.”
As much as I thought Jackson would eat up my words, he doesn’t smile in return. There’s a serious concern wavering through his mesmerizing eyes. “Take me out of the picture for a minute. If you hadn’t met me, would you have broken up with him, and if you had, would you have been persuaded to go back to himtoday?”
His questions cause me to consider the truth. “I can’t lie and tell you I know I would have been strong enough to do what needed to be done, but I can say that after knowing you for the short time I have, you gave me enough reason to see that there are people who are worth spending my time with, and people who are not.” I don’t know how I would feel if I were in Jackson’s shoes, or what I’d think if his ex-wife just showed up out of nowhere, begging for him to take her back, but I can’t lie about this. He knew this just happened, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who has gone through the trials and tribulations of abreakup.
“So, what you’re saying is, you’re not going back to him because ofme?”
I’m not sure there’s any other way to put it. “Would it cause you to get up and walk away if I saidyes?”
“No,” he says with the slightest hint of accomplishment written into his grin. “It makes me want to pat myself on the back. I can now say I’ve saved over two hundred sick patients—and one healthy woman—from destructive heartconditions.”
“Aw, another doctor joke?” Ijest.
“Kind of cheesy,huh?”
“Kind of adorable,” I tell him. I feel like I need to fan myself, but I settle for nervously brushing my hair behind myshoulder.
“So, after dinner, would you agree to come back to my place so we can—” he clears his throat,and my gosh that’s forward. I’m not complaining—not even a little—but wow. I wasn’t expecting him to just come right out and suggest it. “—read a little more of the diary. I can’t stop thinking aboutit.”
With even more of a need to fan myself now, I struggle to catch my breath as uneasy laughter sings like an injured bird from my throat. “Yeah, wow, I—definitely.”
“Sorry, was that rude of me toask?”
“No,” I reply in a high-pitched squeak, which only comes out when I’m uncomfortable about a topic or when I’m lying. “It’s way better reading it with someone than doing soalone.”
“You sure now?” heasks.
“I’d love to see where you live. Actually, where do you live?” Why has this question not come up yet? We started talking about it, and then we never finished thatconversation.
“Brighton,” he says. “Andyou?”
“My mom lives in Needham, but it’s only temporary until I find my ownplace.”
“Oh nice, only a few minutes down theroad.”
The small talk ensues, and I have a rough time eating while trying to get the food past the bundle of nerves expanding throughout my body. I forgot how awkward this dating thing could be. I know his intentions are true, but I suspect there’s more than my grandmother’s diary on his mind. There’s certainly more onmine.
Once our plates are cleared, the bill arrives, and Jackson snatches it up faster than I can reach for it. The time seemed to disappear, and I’m feeling a little panicky. I’m going to his apartment. I’ve only been with two men, and the first one was twelve years ago in college—not much to brag about there—then there was Mike, and I’d rather forget about him completely. I could be getting ahead of myself, though. Jackson might just be lonely and want a little female companionship, or maybe he is just interested in Grams’s diary, and I’m reading way too much intoit.
The moment we leave the restaurant, Jackson’s hand finds mine. It’s easy with him. There’s no thinking or planning. Everything just flows smoothly. He walks me to my car and leans over to kiss my cheek before I slide in. “Can I have your phone for asecond?”
I reach for my phone, knocking over my sunglasses and lip gloss that are sitting on my middle console. He has me so flustered, and it’s making me clumsy. I hand him the phone, watching as he struggles not to laugh at me. “I’m just putting my number in here and plugging my address into your GPS in case you lose me intraffic.”
“You’re spoiling me,” I tellhim.
“What in the world are you talking about, crazygirl?”
I realize how pathetic I just made myself sound, but I might have never known there was a thoughtful, decent man on this earth if I hadn’t met Jackson. Up until now, I have only met up with the ones who are clueless about life and being gentlemen. “Not everyone is as considerate as you are,” I tellhim.
