He sighs, and his eyes reflect conflict. “I know what you’ve said, Elyse. And I do respect that. I promise I will try, because I truly do respect and honor where you’re coming from.” He doesn’t look away, and his eyes are intense, direct. “But just in the name of honesty, I’m not sure I can totally forget what we’re like together. I’m not sure I can forget how it felt to kiss you…how great it feels to be around you—I can’t just turn off how I feel about you.”
“That’s going to seriously complicate things, Jamie.”
He nods, shrugging. “I know. I wish Icouldshut it down, because that’d honestly be a lot easier—it’d sure as hell hurt less. But I can’t. What I can do is promise to try my best.”
“Your best, huh?”
“Yeah. And, for the record, I don’t believe you really want it to be like this, but you’re scared. I think we could be great together. I think it would be something amazing, something truly lasting. I have to say that—you have to know that.”
I swallow hard. “God…Jamie. I hate you, sometimes.”
“I’m sorry, I’m just—”
“AIDEN!” I call, cutting him off. “We have to go!”
“Elyse—”
I shake my head. “No more, Jamie. Please, I can’t.”
He sighs, holding his hands up palms out. “Okay, okay. I won’t say I’m sorry, because I’m not—you have to know my truth. But I will respect your stated desires, even if I disagree with them and think you’re making a mistake for both of us.” He clamps his jaws together a moment, and then speaks again. “Iwantyou, Elyse Thomas. I want to bewithyou. I’m not going to just…stop, or forget. I’ll keep my peace, and keep my distance after this out of respect, but I’m going to hold out hope that you’ll change your mind someday. And if you do, I’ll be there.”
“You should move on, Jamie,” I whisper.
He shakes his head. “Not a chance. I know a good and perfect thing when I see it and feel it, and I’m not the type to just let it go without a fight.”
Aiden jogs over, then, and I take his hand and walk away.
“Mom?” he asks, as he gets in. “What’s wrong?”
I shake my head. “Nothing,” I whisper.
“Mom—”
I hold up my hand to stop him. “Don’t,please, okay?”
He sighs. “Okay, Mama.”
And this time, he listens.
