asked you what you thought we were doing. And then you paused.”
“Oh, right.” And then she paused again. Only this time she wasn’t saved by a fish.
Jason decided to let her talk whenever she was ready, but he wasn’t going to say anything until she did. He was content to watch the sun come up over the lake like a big orange fireball, sending streaks of red across the lower horizon and a shimmering glow skimming across the surface of the water.
“I don’t know what’s happening with us, Jason. You know I’m not looking for a relationship. I just want to have some fun.”
“Which we are. At least I am. You’re having fun, aren’t you?”
Her lips curved. “Yes.”
“We’re going out and doing things together, right?”
“Yes.”
“Are you seeing anyone else?”
She frowned. “Of course not.”
“And I’m pretty sure we’re having sex.”
He watched her sharp inhale, followed by her very satisfied smile. “We sure are.”
He grabbed his sunglasses from the front of his baseball cap and slid them on, then looked over at her and shot her a grin. “Then I’d call that dating. It’s not a big deal, Erin. No promises are being made here.”
“You’re right. I just don’t want you to think I’m stringing you along.”
He laughed. “I don’t feel strung. Relax, okay?”
“Okay.”
They went quiet and let their lines do the talking in the water, and Jason had time to think. Of course he had feelings for Erin. He’d always had feelings for Erin. But after Owen had stepped in and things had gotten serious between the two of them, Jason had buried those feelings deep. He’d thought they were gone.
They weren’t. Now that she and Owen had broken up and the two of them were doing . . . whatever it was they were doing, those feelings had resurfaced. And every minute he spent with Erin made how he felt for her even stronger. But if that wasn’t how she felt, he was going to have to give her some space, let things between them develop slowly, and see how it went. He knew she was still raw over the breakup with Owen. What woman wouldn’t be after that disaster?
All he wanted to do was be there for her, to show her that he wasn’t going to leave her when she needed him, that he was the kind of guy who was always going to be by her side, no matter what.
And if all she wanted from him was some fun and sex, and then she ended up moving on, then . . .
Then what?
Then he’d deal with it.
“Hey, you know what?” she asked.
He turned to look at her. “What?”
“You’re right about having this quiet time.”
He smiled. “Nice, right?”
“Yes. Though don’t you get into your head too much?”
“Not really. I don’t think too hard about things I can’t do anything about.” Which was a good reminder to himself that he couldn’t change how Erin felt. That was going to be up to her. So he needed to relax and join Erin in the “have some fun” camp, and let whatever was going to happen between them just happen.
“Good advice.”
He looked over at her. “Wanna talk about what you’re thinking about?”
“It wasn’t Owen, if that’s what you were wondering.”
“I wasn’t, but if you want to talk about him you can.”
She inhaled, let it out and got up to check her line, then came back. “I feel like I need to talk to him. At the same time I don’t ever want to talk to him again. What could he say to me that would make a difference? He left me. Without talking to me about why he didn’t want to get married. It’s unforgivable.”
“Maybe you need to talk to him so you can hear what he has to say, if only to close that chapter of your life and move forward.”
“Hmm. Maybe. But I’m not ready yet.”
“Only you know when you will be. Don’t let anyone else push you into doing something you’re not ready for.”
“Thanks for that. I feel like I should woman up and just go talk to him and get it over with.”
“Why? Is there some timeline?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess it’s this axe hanging over me. I know it’s there, following me around.”
“I get that. Something left unfinished.”
“Yes. I just don’t feel like finishing it just yet. Which is so unlike me, because checking things off my to-do list is what I live for.”
He laughed. “I can see that. But this is a big-ticket item,