Page 42 of Creed

And now, nothing.

I stared at the screen, and regret started to sink in.

Damn it.

Maybe that was it. Maybe he would walk away when he realized I came with too much baggage. Maybe it was time to accept that this thing between us had run its course a long time ago.

I was just about to toss my phone onto the couch when it lit up.

Jameson:

Bring them.

Don’t bring them.

I don’t care—as long as I get to see you.

The relief hitme harder than I’d expected. Until then, I hadn’t realized just how much I wanted this—how much I wanted him.

Me:

Sounds good. What can I bring?

Jameson:

Just you.

And that smile you gave me at the coffee shop.

My stomach flipped,and all I could do was stare at the screen, biting back a smile like some teenager.

Me:

You’re trouble.

Jameson:

Only if you stand me up Friday night.

Me:

I’ll be there.

The restof the week was a blur. I busied myself with work, laundry, lesson planning, and chasing the kids around. I was trying to keep everything spinning. It helped, but the second I slowed down—when the chores were done and the kids were off in their rooms, I would think about seeing him again, and my stomach would take a nosedive.

And it all came rushing back.

The nerves.

The excitement.

The doubt.

I was enjoying the array of feelings, but when I asked Austin and Chrissy if they wanted to go to their dad’s for the weekend, both said they didn’t feel like going and wanted to stay home. I wasn’t sure how to feel about that. Part of me thought I should take them with me and let Jameson meet them in some casual, no-pressure kind of way. But that idea unraveled the second I played it out in my head.

It was too soon.

I didn’t even know how things would play out between us, and there was no reason to get the kids involved until I did. I told myself I’d know when it was right. So, I called my mother. As soon as she answered, I said, “I’ve got a favor to ask.”