Jason’s successful. He became the talented businessman he talked about being, despite some of his hesitancy toward graduation. In a way, I’m proud of him, proud of what he became.
Jason lifts his eyes from his paperwork, catching me staring at him. I inhale sharply, turning my eyes away. I keep my focus on the pile of paper and notes in front of me for the rest of the meeting.
“Fallon, do you have anything you need to add?” Isaac asks.
I shake my head, glancing down at the papers in front of me again. “Nope, I don’t think so. Just…” I clear my throat, for some reason anxious about this next part. “I need to exchange contact information with Jason and the team members working out here so we can be in touch if need be.”
I push a piece of hair out of my face, looking at Jason briefly. He’s nodding to himself, finishing up a note. We finish the meeting, and Jason’s employee, Laila, andI exchange information. She leaves the room, followed by one of our other employees who helps me out when I need. Isaac exits as well, heading off to another meeting.
I have a venue tour in an hour with a bride and groom, so I need to head out and type up my notes before they get here.
I clear my throat softly. Jason is still sitting at the large round table, clearing up his papers. He lifts his head. “Sorry, got lost in my notes for a second,” he says, standing up.
Jason hovers over me. In my flats, I’m not as tall as I would be in my normal attire of heels. Even in heels, Jason would still be taller than me. If I remember right, he was probably six-foot-one or two, from his baseball stats, much taller than my five-foot-six. He steps over to me, pulling his phone from his pocket.
He passes his phone over, and I type my number in. Only, instead of going to add myself as a new contact card, my name pops up. A surprised gasp falls from my lips, but I’m quick to disguise it as clearing my throat. I didn’t expect that, and it makes my heart flip flop into my stomach.
He still has my phone number saved. I don’t know what to feel. Somehow, I haven’t had to change my number ever, so it makes sense he would still have my number, especially if he hasn’t changed his. It’s listed under my maiden name, Fallon Vosk, and I wonder if I should update it. I never changed my name back after the divorce. I change it quickly, not telling him that that’s what I’m doing.
When I hand him back his phone, I open my contacts, and search his name. My slight intuition was right, and I still have his number saved.
I swallow thickly. “I guess I still have your number saved. Do you want to check and see if it’s the same?”
I offer him my phone, and he takes it into his large palm. “I haven’t changed my number, so I’m sure it’s still the same.” He glances at the contact card briefly, nodding. “Yep, the same.”
“Cool,” I say, taking my phone back, and offering him an awkward thumbs up.Good god, Fallon. You’re thirty-two years old. There’s no reason to get all flustered over a man you knew when you were nineteen.
Jason turns, heading toward the conference room door, holding it open for me. “So, what have you been up to all these years?” I ask, trying to fill the awkward silence. I get the idea he doesn’t want to talk to me any more than he has to, but selfishly, I want to know him again. I still need to apologize, and I hope he lets me.
He looks down, an almost confused look on his face. “Well, the last five have been spent wrangling my daughter. She’s like a little tornado.”
“I know the feeling,” I reply. I got that impression during the wedding weekend, so I can totally understand that. “Presley is a little ball of chaos. I love her with more than I am, though.”
Jason nods, leading us down the hall. My office is in the opposite direction, and yet I don’t correct him, or leave the conversation early to go separate ways.
“You recently moved here, right? What brought you to the area?” Jason asks, and I’m a bit surprised he’s leading the conversation.
“Well, my mom is a few towns over, and Megan, Isaac’s wife, is my best friend. She was my roommate my sophomore year of college, and the rest is history. After…” I trail off. “After my husband,ex-husband left, I wanted a fresh start. My daughter and I moved in with my mom, and after I got the job here, we found a little place in town. It’s been an adjustment, but I’m really happy here.”
Jason nods. “I’m glad you’re happy here.”
“Have you been back here since graduation?” I ask, curious about his whereabouts.
“Yeah. I moved home right away. My grandma passed not long after I moved home, and I decided I wanted to stay close to my family.”
“Sorry to hear about your grandma,” I reply. I can’t believe I never put it together that he lived here. I mean I’m sure he mentioned it in the time we were friends, I just didn’t connect the dots.
He shrugs. “Part of life.”
We walk in comfortable silence for a bit longer, only stopping when we reach the main event center. “Can I ask you something?” I ask.
Jason’s brows lift. “Of course.”
“Do you think our girls could get together for a playdate someday?” I take a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. “Presley has been hounding me, pretty much non-stop since Josie and Andrew’s wedding.”
“Lennie would love that,” he says.
“I think they’re close enough in age that they could become really close friends,” I explain.
