Page 79 of Read With Your Heart

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“Where are you going?” she questions as I roll out of bed early the next morning.

“Work, baby. Dixon gave me my job back after I explained what happened.” I’m grateful the man understood a bump in the road. I told him about my sister running off, my parents’ deportation, and then stalling to settle a score before coming back to Elk Lake City.

“Did you settle it?”

“Decided against it.” I sighed. “Picked something bigger than revenge.”

Dixon eyed me a bit. “What’s that?”

“Hoping to make my girl love me again.”

His brows rose high at that one, and then he barked at me to get dressed.

As much as I want to stay in this bed all day and assure Tricia that she’s safe, I cannot let Dixon down again. A second chance is all I get. I don’t want to push for a third.

“I want you to call in sick. Stay home. Stay in bed. I’ll be back later,” I assure her. I’m not going anywhere. I need to check out of that miserable motel I’ve been at because I’m not leaving this house unless she plans to move. Then I’ll be following her wherever she goes.

Tricia shifts on her bed. She slept in one of my large T-shirts while I slipped into my sweats. I miss her silky nighties.

“It’s too much of a hassle to make lesson plans. I’ll just go into work.” She sits up, but I gently try to push her back.

“You should rest. Give yourself a break.”

“It’ll be better for my head if I’m busy,” she says, and I get that. I so get that. Her eyes meet mine, and I take in this precious moment. Her in her bed. Me sitting next to her. I’m happy she’s speaking to me and even happier to be in this position. I’ve missed seeing her first thing in the morning. I want to start every day like this, minus the weight of her ex lingering over us.

“Okay, pretty lady. Then I’ll see you here later.” There’s a question in my statement, but I’m not taking no for an answer. Without giving her a chance to reply, I lean in to kiss her temple and then stand.

“Wait,” she calls out, reaching out a hand for my arm. “You missed your meeting with Dixon before. Is he giving you a second chance to show him your drawing skills?”

“I haven’t brought it up again. I don’t want to push him. He’s already giving me a second chance, but someday . . .” I say with a shrug. Someday, I might feel better about my job, making it more about art and a secret passion than just a place to work.

“You should still show him soon,” she pushes, and my lip curls into a half smile.

“Okay, baby. Now go back to sleep for a bit.”

“No, I’m up. Is it safe to take your bike?” It snowed again late in the night.

“It’s all I have. I’m saving up for a truck. I’ll get there soon.” I tease her with the word. And I will. I’ll get where I want to be soon enough.

For right now, the most important thing to me is getting back into her heart.

Lesson 25

In a manner of life or death, choose life.

[Tricia]

“So Leon’s back?” Emily teases me through the phone later that evening.

“What were you thinking?” I reply, realizing when Leon gave his statement that Jess and Emily were trying to set us up.

“I was thinking you needed to see each other. You just needed to talk.”

“How did you even know he was back?” I ask with a laugh. It’s a small town, but it’s only been days since Leon returned.

“He came to see Jess.”