“Cool,” Jamie says, his mouth a little tight.
I know I should stop mentioning Zach every time I see Jamie, but that’s hard to do when he’s been such a force in her life.
Thankfully, Ella’s class serves as a good distraction from the tension going on between us. Ella leaps and twirls with varying degrees of success, and when she catches sight of Jamie through the window, she waves so enthusiastically she nearly knocks the girl next to her over.
Jamie waves back, his knee bouncing slightly, and when he clasps his hands back together, he starts to crack his knuckles.
“She’s incredible,” he murmurs.
“She is.” I fidget with the strap of my bag. I’m happy he’s here, but equally, I feel anxious knowing we still haven’t talked about everything.
“Jamie, I—”
“You don't have to explain,” he says quickly, still watching Ella. “I get it. I pushed too fast. Crossed a line. You were right to pull back because I sure as hell wouldn’t have. I’ve learned my lesson. No more silent treatments needed.”
My breath catches.
He knew what I was going to say before I even got the words out. Does that mean it was on his mind as much as it was on mine?
“That's not—” I stop, trying to find the right words. “I wasn't giving you the silent treatment. I’m sorry I took so long to text you back,” I continue, the words tumbling out now that I've started. “That wasn't fair. You've been nothing but respectful, and I repaid that by ghosting you like we're strangers instead of—” I gesture vaguely between us. “Whatever we are.”
“Co-parents,” he offers quietly. “Friends, maybe. If you'll let me.”
“Is that what you want? To be friends?”
He's quiet for a long moment, watching Ella attempt a pirouette through the window. “I want whatever you're comfortable with,” he finally says. “Even if that's just seeing each other at ballet class and birthday parties. I meant what I said,Tiff. I'm here for Ella. Everything else—” he trails off—”—will work itself out.”
How can he be so sure? Why does it all suddenly feel like a rush when I’ve been preparing for this?
Through the window, Ella does another twirl, and this time she doesn’t falter. Her face lights up with pride, and she looks over at us immediately. We both give her an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
“I saw an apartment yesterday,” Jamie says, changing the subject. “Two bedrooms. It's not much, but it's close to campus and the landlord doesn't require my father's references, which is good since I'm pretty sure I'm blacklisted everywhere that does.”
“You found a place?” He's really doing this. Really staying… why does that make me so surprised?
“Yeah. Had to give six months rent up front, so it made a pretty big dent in the savings I have, but it’s worth it, and I’m sure I can get a job in that time. I have a second interview at the campus bookstore in a couple of days. Manager position.”He scratches his jaw, a nervous gesture I’m starting to recognize. “Apparently my 'extensive experience in customer service' impressed them.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Extensive experience?”
“I may have exaggerated my time helping customers at my father's firm.” His grin is sheepish. “Technically, I was there. That counts.”
“You're terrible,” I laugh, shaking my head.
“I prefer 'creatively qualified.'“ His smile fades slightly as he turns back to the window. “But yeah, if I get it, I can start building something real here. It’s not the job I want forever, but it will work for now.”
A buzz from my bag breaks the moment, and I pull out my phone just to give me something to do other than look at Jamie.
When I see the message, I frown.
Reese:Hey! Zach mentioned you were thinking about the salsa classes on campus. He also made a comment about me needing help with my hip action, so… want to come prove him wrong with me? ??
Zach mentioned the salsa classes to Reese? Of course he did. He just wants me to get out more. I just wished he’d asked me before telling Reese about it.
“You should go,” Jamie says, making me jump.
“Uh.” I quickly stuff my phone in my bag, and zip it up as though that message never happened. “What?”
“To the classes.” Jamie shrugs. “With Reese.”