Jordan listened to pure silence on the other end of the phone except for deep breathing.
“Does that cause a problem with the team? I’m not missing the season or anything, and I will be there for most of the camp. I’m only missing the first week or so.”
“Is there anything you need to tell me? What’s going on there?”
“My son is ill. He’s going to be okay, but he had to have an appendectomy and I would like to spend a little more time with him. It shouldn’t cause too much of an issue though, because most of the other players on the team are fathers themselves.”
Jordan continued to hold the phone to his ear as he listened to his agent respond to his worries, telling him how everything would be okay and he wished him the best of luck and not to think about football until his son was in the clear. Only then did Jordan finally realize he had hired a great agent. He wasn’t just someone who worked for him but he was a friend. Paul was one of the good ones, whose number one priority in life shouldn’t just be all about business, but family too. And now Jordan was beginning to realize just how much that statement meant to him.
Cassie slowly opened her eyes and looked around at her surroundings, remembering where she was and realizing last night wasn’t some kind of nightmare. She was instantly slapped in the face with reality when she saw her little boy sound asleep in his hospital bed, and then noticed Jordan was gone from his chair.
She was wondering where he got to until she heard his deep voice outside the door, and Cassie was curious about whom he was talking to.
Cassie got to her feet, smoothing down the wrinkled clothes she was sporting. She could only imagine what her hair looked like right now. She bet it wasn’t the prettiest of looks, but she didn’t care. It wasn’t as if she was trying to look pretty for anyone special.
She walked over to the door, her ballet flats barely making a sound on the linoleum floor as she craned her head around the half-open door and saw Jordan with a phone to his ear.
Cassie tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear while she held onto the door and hoped Jordan didn’t see her, and if he did, then she hoped he didn’t mind she was practically eavesdropping on his conversation.
She tried not to listen, instead focusing on the patients, doctors, and nurses roaming the hallway, but something about his latest comment struck Cassie. Had she heard him correctly? Did he really just say he was staying in Yellow Valley a little longer?
Then Jordan hung up the phone, placed it back into his pocket, and turned around to find Cassie standing there.
“Cassie—”
But she didn’t give him much of a chance to say another word or explain himself.
“Did you mean it?”
“What?” he asked. He gave her a puzzled look. His nose was screwed up, but Cassie thought it was cute. “How long have you been standing there?”
She looked to the ground. “Not long. I didn’t hear your whole conversation, if that’s what you’re wondering, but I did hear you say you’re staying a little longer in town. So is it true?”
“Would it bother you if I did?” Jordan wanted to know what she was really thinking. His eyes were searching hers, waiting for a response.
“No, I’m not bothered by it. I think it’s good for Jake to have his father present. I just thought you’d be leaving soon. I figured with football season commencing soon, you’d be busy.”
“Well, I am busy with training, but it doesn’t cause a problem with getting to know my son. I’ve missed out on too much of his life already; I’m not going to do it again.” Jordan’s hand grazed the side of her face as he moved a strand of her hair away from her eyes. He wanted to look into her beautiful blue eyes. “I meant what I said.” His voice was raspy. “I want to be the kind of father Jake deserves to have, the kind who is present in his life and not just someone who walks in and out when the timing is convenient. I’m not walking away from my responsibilities as a parent.” She was glad to know he was in it for the long haul, but did that mean Jordan was also willing to try again with Cassie?
She didn’t ask him whether he desired to be with her or not, but neither did Jordan. He figured his actions would speak louder than words, and Cassie wouldn’t expect him to physically show her how much she meant to him as he placed his hands on either side of her face, his thumbs gently drawing imaginary circles along her jawbone. Then, in one swift move, he bowed his head down to her level, tilted it to one side, and kissed her softly and sweetly on her lips. She surprised him when she didn’t pull back from him, hers pressing into his in return as she too kissed him back just as sweetly. While she knew their kisses were always mind-blowing, Cassie wasn’t sure if she could handle anything more than stolen moments with her son’s father, especially since most of his time would be spent away from her in Yellow Valley.