Home is Where the Heart is(51)

Nick knew Jordan didn’t like or know how to express his real feelings very well, especially when it came to a member of the opposite sex, which was probably why he and Jordan had been friends for as long as they had.

“I honestly don’t know. Considering Cassie and I didn’t end on the best of terms, and given our complicated history, I think there will be a part of me that will always love her. She was my first real love; not to mention, she’s also the mother of my son, so we will always be connected to each other.”

Jordan didn’t exactly answer the question though. Truth be told, he didn’t even know what he was feeling, so how could he answer Nick’s question if he wasn’t even sure of the answer. He’d been feeling this way since his return to Yellow Valley, and his late night of cookie baking with Cassie hadn’t helped the situation. His feelings for her were all over the place now more than ever, especially after Brielle assumed he was still in love with Cassie. Was it really as obvious as everyone seemed to think? He knew how crappy their relationship ended last time, and he didn’t want to break Cassie’s heart all over again. He couldn’t do that to her, especially when they couldn’t just think about themselves anymore. Jake needed to be taken into consideration, and even if he and Cassie decided to rekindle their relationship and it went sour again, they would still be a part of each other’s lives.

“Do you want to know what I think?” Nick asked.

Jordan had mixed fillings, but he knew it wouldn’t stop his best friend from stating his opinion anyway.

“Because I’m going to tell you whether you want my opinion or not. I think you do love Cassie, but you’re too scared to admit how you really feel. You don’t want to get hurt, and you care for Cassie too much to break her heart again.”

Yep. Nick was right. Jordan knew that. He hit the nail on the head.

“The same goes for Cassie,” Nick continued, his eyes carefully studying his friend’s face. “I think she’s still in love with you, but she’s too scared to admit the truth, because she doesn’t want her heart to be broken all over again like it was six year ago.”

Jordan was amazed by his friend’s prudent thoughts, but at the same time, he screwed up his nose, rubbing his chin. “When did we start talking about our feelings? I don’t ever remember doing that before.”

Nick laughed. “I know. Maybe it’s because we’ve gotten older and more grown up than the two kids we used to be in high school, when all we cared about was football, what we saw for our futures, and which girls we wanted to hook up with.”

Jordan nudged Nick in the shoulder as they neared the elevators, pressing the down button and waiting for the doors to open so it could take them downstairs to the cafeteria.

“Speak for yourself. I didn’t care so much about the girls.”

“Oh, that’s right. You only had eyes for one girl. And still do now, if I’m not mistaken.”

Nick searched Jordan’s face for clarity, but came up with nothing.

“Or maybe I hang out too much with Cassie and Gabby and they’re beginning to rub off on me.”

Nick slapped Jordan on the back.

“Either way, you and I need to start hanging out more and start discussing manly topics while you’re still here, and you need to really figure out where the hell you stand with Cassie, because you’ll never be truly happy with anyone until you do so.”

The doors slid open, halting the conversation when two people got off and they stepped in. Jordan knew Nick had a point. He would never be truly happy with someone until he and Cassie figured out what they wanted from each other. It was something they would simply have to work out together, or risk being totally miserable, and that was a risk he wasn’t willing to take.



Almost an hour-and-a-half later, Cassie was beginning to feel the effects of sitting for such a long period of time in the hospital. At least by now she knew Jake was going to be okay. He had come out of surgery thirty minutes ago, and was now resting comfortably in the children’s ward of the hospital. Cassie and Jordan sat at his bedside waiting for the anesthesia to wear off and their little boy to open his eyes to see both of his parents smiling at him together like a family.

Nick and Gabby went home once Jake came out of surgery and knew he was going to be okay. They promised to visit tomorrow.

Jordan couldn’t help but glance over to the other side of the bed where Cassie sat in her chair almost half asleep. Tonight had definitely taken its toll on her. He wished he could take her in his arms and never let go, telling her that everything was going to be okay and they were going to be a family once and for all, but Jordan knew how she felt about him. She didn’t think they would be able to make it work as a couple—not again.