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wanted children, and I had to take a deep breath so I wouldn’t break down.
    “Yes, I do want kids. At least two of them, maybe three. I want them sooner rather than later, too, but I don’t know if that will happen. I’m not getting any younger, you know, and being single doesn’t help. What about you?”
    “Yes, I definitely want more kids. I didn’t tell you this until now, but I have a son named Jackson. He’s two, and he’s my little buddy. I try to see him as much as I can, but I have some issues to work out with his mama. She likes to use him against me. I was afraid to tell you because I didn’t want to scare you away.”
    I was completely surprised to hear this, but then I remembered the pictures on his wall that I assumed were all of his nieces and nephews.
    “Wow, I had no idea. That’s awesome that you have a son, but sad that you have drama with his mother. What happened?”
    “I caught her in bed with one of her coworkers. In our bed. When Jackson was just a little guy. I couldn’t stand to be betrayed like that. She swore it would never happen again, but once the trust was broken, I couldn’t go back. I moved out three weeks later and she has been using Jackson to try to get me back ever since. She can’t stand to see me happy, and I’m pretty sure she talks bad about me to our son. But that little boy has my heart and I would do anything for him. It just about kills me when I have to leave him with her.”
    “So I guess your heart has been broken just as badly as mine. How sad for you and Jackson. But at least you know why your relationship ended. I don’t think I will ever know. Mason just left.”
    “Again, that man must have something wrong with him. It couldn’t have had anything to do with you. On another note, I’m so glad you’re not gonna run from me over this. I was really scared to tell you.”
    “You can’t scare me away that easily. But I have to ask you something. What is her name?”
    “Andrea. Why?”
    “Because I saw the picture on your wall. And I saw her picture come up on your phone when I was getting dressed today. I wondered about it, but I figured it was none of my business.”
    “Yeah, you probably thought I was in a relationship, huh? We were engaged when she got pregnant with Jackson, and we were so happy. I thought that was it for me. I guess I haven’t taken the picture down because I don’t want to forget what it felt like to be happy. And I haven’t had another woman in my house at all, so I didn’t think to hide it. I’m sorry if it upset you.”
    “It didn’t upset me. It just reminded me to be extra cautious. But you don’t owe me explanations. We can walk away from each other today and be happy in the fact that we shared an amazing night that made us both forget for a while.”
    His face fell when I said this, and he reached across the table to grab my hand.
    “Jamie, that is not what I want at all. I don’t just take women out for sex. I don’t take women out at all. You are the first girl that has made me feel anything since Andrea. I didn’t want you for sex. That was a bonus. I feel like there is a lot more in store for us. Please don’t walk away.”
    I looked into his eyes and could tell he was sincere. But my heart was still so fragile. How could I let anyone knowing that it could happen all over again?
    “I don’t want to walk away, but I don’t know if I am ready for more, either. It would take a lot to prove to me that you aren’t going to up and leave with no warning.”
    “That’s not the kind of man I am, Jamie, and I will prove it to you. You don’t have to promise anything now.”
    He continued to hold my hand as we finished our breakfast in a silence that was full of words that needed to be said eventually. He paid the bill before I could protest and we headed to the truck. When we were both inside, he patted the spot next to him. I slid over so that he could put his arm around me, and I lay my head on his shoulder.