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chapter twenty-eight

“It’s easy to get caught up in the moment — hard to actually stop, process, and decide if that moment is going to change you forever, or ruin you for life. Enter Jason Caro. Tweets encouraged and welcome!”

~From Max Emory’s Guide to Dating and Other Important Life Lessons

Maddy

“That boy, Jason, climbed into your daughter’s window last night,” Daddy announced over breakfast, earning a giggle from Annabelle and a worried glance from my mom.

My parents knew how hard it had been for me to leave, and Mom understood more than anyone how much I’d loved him, how much I still loved him.

The day I found out he was engaged to Jane, I called my mom, sobbing.

The day of their wedding, I had a bottle of wine and Netflix for companions, only to find out that the wedding was off.

Bittersweet was how that felt. I was sad that he was probably upset, but happy for myself. Even though I knew I’d messed up too much with Jason, I still felt like I had hope.

I shook myself from my memories. And after last night, I had more than just hope.

I had a real reason to think things could be different between us again.

I had the whole weekend off and a whole lot of time to think about what that meant for both of us.

I ignored my parents and helped Annabelle get dressed and ready for the day. A knock sounded on the door shortly after.

“Officer Caro,” Daddy snorted. “Come on in. You want some coffee?”

Jason’s green eyes latched onto mine with such intensity, it felt as if our lips were already touching as we breathed each other in.

“No, I was just coming to pick up Maddy.”

He held out his hand.

A sense of déjà vu washed over me as I took it and left the house with a kiss to my dad and a wave to my mom and Annabelle.

“Your dad…” Jason shuddered as he walked me toward his house, “…still terrifying.”

“He’s harmless.” I rolled my eyes.

Jason just stared me down. “The man’s tried to shoot me twice, hardly harmless.”

“Protective?” I offered.

“A little.” Jason snorted. “All right, I think I have everything ready to go.”

I frowned, “Everything?”

“Yeah…” He looked suddenly uncomfortable, “…and before you say anything, know that this is Max’s idea. He thinks it’s going to help us get over the whole you-leaving thing, me being pissed, and all of that.” Jason chewed his lip, apparently nervous, as we walked into the house. “He said to just bring you here and get over it.”

Food had been placed buffet-style in the kitchen, and everyone was gathered around the TV.

Max pressed play.

I sucked in a breath as Jason and I appeared on screen, he in his graduation gown, me, in mine.

People were walking around us, celebrating our accomplishment of finishing twelve years of school. But not everyone.

No, Jason was busy getting down on one knee.