Page 39 of Power Play

“Moving in together, silly.” She laughed and tossed her hair back.

I adjusted my hat and fought to keep from laughing. Never, in a hundred million years, was that something I would even remotely consider with her.

“Actually, when I said I wanted to take things slow and needed space, I meant something else.”

She cocked her head. “What is it, baby?”

Ugh. The pet names were making me gag. “I told you from the beginning that I wasn’t looking for a relationship.”

“And look how we turned out.” She winked at me over her cup.

I ignored her. “When I said I needed space, I meant like a break. I needed space from you to … think.” That seemed valid. “I needed to reevaluate things and make sure I was doing what was right for both of us.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh my gosh. Babe! Are you talking about …?” She looked around the table for something that clearly wasn’t there. She lowered her voice. “Are you talking about getting married?”

“What?” She was insane. “Not at all.”

She grinned. “Oh, good, cause I think it’s really important for a couple to live together first. I want to make sure I really know you before we get married.”

I’d be sure to let the next guy know.

“Carmen,” I paused. Clear, concise language. No room for misinterpretation. “I want to break up.”

There. She couldn’t twist that.

Her brows bunched together. “What?”

“I don’t think we’re right for each other.”

“But––”

“You’re very nice.” I slowly picked each word. “And beautiful. And you’ll make a man very happy someday. I’m just not that man.”

Her mouth gaped open. “But we’re perfect together.”

Not true. “I’m not in a place to be in a relationship. I’m sorry.”

“I’ve given you everything, Jason. For the past two months!”

So, she was aware we’d only been together for seven or eight weeks? Huh. She always talked like we’d been together for years.

“I wish you all the best.” I quickly stood and walked to the door before she could say anything else.

The knot in my stomach released as soon as I hit the sidewalk. I pulled out my phone and blocked her number so any attempts she made to contact me wouldn’t even enter my mind. I was free.

I should have done it sooner, but I really didn’t think about her that often. It wasn’t until the last couple of weeks that she turned things up to the crazy level. She went from someone I enjoyed hanging out with to someone who’d break into my apartment. I warned Frank to not even let her in the building from now on.

When I arrived at the restaurant for lunch, my family was already seated and waiting for me. I checked my watch, but I was thirty minutes early.

“Hey, I thought we said noon?” I sat next to Joey and took a sip of the water in front of me.

“We finished early and thought we’d come save a table. Your mom thought there would be a longer wait,” Dad answered.

I glanced around the fairly busy dining room. “Good idea.”

“Did you take care of that errand?” Mom asked.

I rubbed my palms on my shorts. “Yeah, I met up with Carmen and told her it was over.”