Change of Hart(25)

I got all the way through the front door before the Lindsay Inquisition started.

“What the hell is going on, Jason?” she asked, Emma skipping beside her, dark ponytail swinging from side to side.

I just shook my head. “I don’t know.”

I unlocked the doors and helped Emma climb in. That’s as far as I could get. Booster seats had too many straps so I let Lindsay buckle her in while I walked around the car.

“What do you mean you don’t know?” she asked when I opened my car door. She already had her seatbelt in hand. I have no idea how she got Emma situated so fast.

“I mean, I don’t know! One minute we were talking and having a good time. The next minute she’s running out of the room like I’m a burglar or something. I don’t know!”

I turned the ignition and pulled away from the curb, wanting to drive fast to get out the adrenaline, but very aware that there was a child in the back seat, so it wasn’t an option.

After a few seconds, Lindsay spoke up again. “How did she cut her hand?”

“We were slicing up the fruit and she cut her thumb. She’ll be alright,” I said. “It wasn’t very deep. Just bled a lot.”

She nodded but didn’t ask any more questions, which was fine by me. I didn’t really want to talk about it. I just wanted to go home and lift some weights or run. Something to get this frustration out.

“Mommy . . . ,” Emma asked from the back seat.

“Yes, sweetie,” Lindsay replied without turning around.

“Why was Jason kissing Jaxon’s mommy like that? Doesn’t Jaxon’s daddy kiss Jaxon’s mommy?”

Lindsay’s head whipped toward me, her jaw dropping open and making an “o” with her mouth. “You kissed her?” she hissed at me.

“No!” I said, glancing over at her while trying to keep my eyes on the road. “No, I kissed her back. She kissed me.”

“Oh,” she said with a look of understanding crossing her face. “I see what you mean by mixed signals.”

I shook my head and kept my eyes on the road.

Lindsay spent the rest of the ride back to her place trying to explain to Emma that Jaxon’s daddy was in heaven. I will admit, listening to Emma try to wrap her poor little brain around that huge concept was pretty humorous. They started with Jaxon’s dad and ended up discussing every single animal she had ever known that had died, including her goldfish and the road kill we passed on the street. When she asked if Jaxon’s dad had to be flushed down the toilet to get to heaven like Goldie, I’ll admit I snickered. I knew it was morbid to find that funny. But . . . well, it was.

When we pulled up into the driveway, Sam was already home, so I didn’t even bother to get out of the car. Once Lindsay got Emma out of her seatbelt and she bounded away, Lindsay turned to me.

“I’m sorry, Jason,” she said as she dragged the booster out of the back seat and dropped it on the driveway. “I know you’re not used to this type of thing. But just give her time, ok? She’s a nice woman. She just needs time.”

I turned to look at my friend. “I understand that, Lin, but that’s the thing . . . she doesn’t act like she needs time. She doesn’t act like she’s grieving. She flirts with me and glances at me when she thinks I’m not looking and all those things women do when they are interested in a guy.” I sighed. “But then when a move is made, even if she’s the one who made it, she gets a look of terror on her face and she runs away. I know we just met but I’m just . . . confused. And maybe a little frustrated.”

Lindsay smiled at me. “I’m sorry that this is hard for you, Jay. I really am. But you’re gonna have to work a little harder this time if she’s a keeper.”

“Did you just say ‘if she’s a keeper’?” I teased.

“Aaaand he’s back,” she said, pushing away from the seat and closing the door. I rolled the window down. “Thanks for the ride, Jay. I had fun.”

“See ya, Lin,” I yelled out the window as I backed out of the driveway.

I thought about the best plan of action the whole drive home and decided I just needed to clear the air. So I sent her a text.

Me: I’m not exactly sure what happened, but I wanted to touch base with you before the game next week. I don’t want things to be weird just because we kissed. It was a great kiss, Addison. I’m sorry it happened too soon for you. Let me know if we’re ok.

I waited all night for a response.

I never got one.





It was the second home game of the season. Jaxon was coming to the game this time. At least, last time I talked to Addison that was the plan.