Free Love Today by Delia Delaney Page B

it up . Yep, it was mad e especially for nose hanging—l ightweight and shaped to stick.
    “What do you tell Jared?” I asked her quietly.
    She turned around and said a very happy, “Thank you.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    Maggie frowned and said, “I wanna show Abigail.”
    “Oh. Well, we’ll have Abby over again.”
    “Okay,” she nodded, and then she hung the spoon back on her nose and went back to her other toys.
    So only Jared could hear I murmured , “Give me time to recover from today first.”
    He laughed silently and then asked, “Hey Maggie, what are you gonna be for Halloween? Did you decide?”
    She seriously considered that, especially because she now had a few more costume ideas to choose from. “Mmm, maybe a fairy ballerina,” she said, touching the tutu and a fairy wand set.
    “Sounds good,” he nodded. “But what about the tiara? You could be a princess fairy ballerina.”
    I had to laugh at that, especially because Maggie was totally interested in the idea. She went to work on the costume, and while she was distracted, Jared turned his attention to me.
    “So,” he smiled. “How have you been?” He actually got up and moved to the couch I was sitting on, and even though he didn’t sit directly by me, he was closer in proximity and it made me nervous.
    “I’ve been pretty good,” I tried to say evenly. “ How about you?”
    He slightly nodded. “Mm, so-so.”
    “Just so-so?” I smiled.
    He returned the smile but didn’t say anything for a few seconds. Then he kind of glanced around the empty house and asked, “So where’s your boyfriend? Couldn’t make it?”
    “He’s in Canada.”
    “Vacation?”
    “Work.”
    “ What’s he do ?”
    I looked at him warily for the inquiry, but he just shrugged, letting me know it wasn’t a big deal to ask.
    “He’s a former pro snowboarder, ” I finally replied.
    He considered that, seeming a little surprised. “Former, huh? So what’s he doing in Canada?”
    “He works with other up-and-coming pros.”
    “Oh? Like training them?”
    “Yes.”
    “Hmm, so how often is he gone?”
    I smiled, realizing where the conversation was h eaded. But I did answer, “A few times a month.”
    “Hmm,” he said. “So have you considered going out with me sometime?”
    I was taken by surprise with that, but he seemed serious. Well I knew he wasn’t going to joke around about it, but I was a little intimidated by the fact that he truly expected an answer. Jared was a little more up front with me than I was used to when it came to guys .
    “I don’t think it’s a good idea,” I answered .
    “Why not?”
    I took a moment to gather my thoughts. “Because I enjoy what I have with Zack , and I’m comfortable with it.”
    “And you wouldn’t be comfortable with me?”
    “That’s not what I said. It means that when something is good, it would be foolish to change it.”
    “Why change what already works, huh,” he stated. “Well, why are you okay with just ‘settling’ with what works? What if you could have ‘amazing’ instead of just ‘good’? ”
    “Why do you think you can be persuasive enough to change my mind?”
    “Well…because I’m just going with my instincts. I feel like you’re worth the effort.”
    I sighed. He was going to keep being forward, wasn’t he? And really, just because he was a famous rock star, I was supposed to succumb to his charm?
    You do succumb , you idiot , I told myself. He would only break your heart.
    “Jared, the more you do this the more hesitant I become to be around you .”
    I wished I hadn’t said that, but there was no taking it back.
    “Hesitant? Because you really have considered it?”
    “No, I haven’t.”
    “Yes you have,” he laughed accusingly. “ Taryn , what the—” He stopped short because Maggie was still in the room, but he didn’t finish his thought. Instead he just stood and I knew he was going to leave.
    “I’m sorry,” I told him, standing up with