Losing Him (Mitchell Family #8)(52)

Jessie helped me clean up, but he continued to avoid speaking to me. If I had to guess, I’d say that he was mad at me. Nothing was new about that. Somehow I was always famous for making him angry.

I wasn’t sure if he was staying for dinner, but one of us was going to have to speak. I couldn’t let him leave without smoothing things out. He was taking Jacob and I didn’t need conflict between us. We had to remain friends. For me, it wasn’t difficult, because I was still totally in love with him. I just needed him to be my friend.

Was that so hard to ask for?

Chapter 28


Jessie


I still couldn’t believe this was happening. That accident had done something to Heather. She was different, independent, and willing to do whatever it took to get me out of her life. I hated it.

Finally, all I wanted to do was be with her and she was pushing away. It was the story of my life. How could I blame her? I’d done nothing but push her away for years. Now, when I finally get my shit together, she decided that she’d had enough.

I couldn’t be near her without wanting to give her a piece of my mind, so to keep the peace, I decided to walk away and gather my thoughts.

After stopping for breakfast, I found myself sitting outside of Amy’s salon. Conner and his son came walking up to my car. “What’s up, man?”

“I came for a haircut. Is it too early?”

“Amy actually wasn’t going to work today, but hang on. She usually says yes.” He looked down at his son. “Go ask your mom if she has time to cut a guys hair.”

The little guy went running into the house.

“Thanks. I didn’t even think about it being the weekend. My heads all messed up these days.”

“Heather knocked up or somethin?” He laughed when he said it but quickly stopped grinning when he saw the look on my face.

I shook my head. “I almost wish she was, because maybe it would make her change her mind. She says she’s moving back to her old house. She says that I’m only with her out of pity and she doesn’t want that for either of us.” I started laughing. “Sorry, man. I know you don’t want to hear about this shit.”

Conner leaned against my car. He pointed his house. “You probably don’t know this, but I wasn’t always this family man. I used to run around and have women in different towns. Hell, one time I was hittin’ two sisters at the same time. All that changed when I met my wife. You know how that all went down, so I don’t have to explain it. My point is that I almost lost Amy by not speaking my mind. I was stubborn and didn’t want to admit that the world didn’t revolve around me.” Amy started walking out of the house and coming toward us. She had a kid in her arms. “She’s everything to me and I honestly couldn’t live without her. I don’t know how you feel about Heather, and it’s none of my business, but if you love her, fight for her. It will be worth it.”

He leaned over and kissed Amy as she got close to both of us. “I hear you need a haircut?” She looked around. “Is Heather with you? She said she was having a yard sale.”

I shook my head. “She is. She’s getting everything set up. I needed to get out for a little while.”

She looked from Conner and then back to me. “One of those mornings. We all have them. Come on. Let’s get your mop fixed.”

I waved to Conner as Amy led me into her salon.

After she turned on all the lights and got me sitting, she spun me around to face her. “You know that when you sit in my chair I get free reign to ask any questions that I want.”

I let out a laugh. “Go ahead and ask.”

“What’s up? Is there trouble in paradise?”

“Paradise? It’s more like there is no paradise. Heather has decided that she wants to live here, without me.”

Amy’s eyes got huge. “You’re kidding? Why would she do that? She’s crazy about you, from what I could see.”

I shrugged and she started cutting my hair, probably to hide her grin of knowing that it was bound to happen. “She said that I’m only with her out of pity. She claims that she wants someone to want her as much as she wants them. Apparently, I’ll never be that guy.”

“Have you told her how you feel?”

“I don’t have to tell her. She knows it. I wouldn’t deny it if she asked me.” How could Heather not know something like that.

She spun me around again and I wondered why I came back to someone so nosey for a second time. “You have to tell a woman how you feel. We don’t just assume good things. We assume the worst.”

“I don’t talk about feelings. It just causes problems.”

“Well, apparently your way of doing things isn’t working very well for you if Heather wants to move back here, without you.” She had a point.

“I don’t know what to do. I thought if I gave her space she would change her mind, but she’s already gone to interviews here. She’s ready to move on.”

Amy started working on my hair again, but didn’t stop giving me her two cents. “Have you ever considered doing something drastic?”

“What do you mean?” I wasn’t going to cut off my ear.

“Jessie, if you ask me, Heather is looking for the ultimate commitment. So I’ll ask you again, are you willing to do something drastic to save your family?”