“Bye Mommy. Bye Daddy,” Jake said in his exuberant voice. He didn’t look away from the television screen, and Cassie took it as her cue to leave.
Once they got outside and made it to his old pickup truck he had used to drive when they dated in high school—he must’ve gotten it from his dad’s house—old feelings began rushing back to her, sending nervous tension throughout her body. She couldn’t remember ever being this anxious. Why was this time any different? It wasn’t like tonight was a real date. She and Jordan weren’t a couple, nor did she think they ever would be.
He was about to reach around and open the door for Cassie, as any southern boy would do for his ladylove, but something in him triggered, and he remembered tonight was not a date. He didn’t know how opening her door would go down and didn’t want Cassie to get the impression he was pressuring her. He didn’t want to scare her away.
Instead, she surprised him when she laughed the moment off, saying, “Old habits die hard, I guess. It’s nice to know you’re still a southern gentleman at heart. I hope you don’t ever change that aspect about yourself.” And she did like it—a lot.
Jordan hadn’t planned to ever change the way he’d been brought up to be respectful of the woman he loved with all his heart. He just hoped she would take the time to at least consider giving their relationship another go.
“I guess Jake is the kind of kid who doesn’t mind his parents going out for the night without him,” he said when they both got into the truck.
“Yeah, I’ve been quite fortunate; he’s been a very easy child to raise so far. I’m just hoping he doesn’t become more of a problem later on.”
The short drive to wherever there were going was quiet, and the silence in the car only made Cassie’s nerves intensify, making it feel like her heart would eventually burst out of her chest. She was soon thankful for living in a small town when Jordan turned off the road, pulling the truck into a parking lot and announcing they were here.
Cassie looked outside through the window, noticing they weren’t anywhere near Mickey’s Tavern, which was their usual hang out place. Instead, they were sitting out front of an all-night diner known for its open mic nights and musical guests.
She didn’t wonder so much about why they were here. It would be nice to chill someplace other than the watering hole.
Jordan got out of the truck, walking around to the passenger side and opening it up for Cassie, the hinge on the door making a creaking sound.
Cassie thanked him as she slowly made her way out of the car like a lady, being careful to sweep up her skirt as she did so.
Jordan held his arm out for her, and she looped her arm with his even though she knew she shouldn’t. She felt as if she was in high school all over again, despite the fact many years had passed since then. The night was bringing back memories she wasn’t planning to revisit.
You can do this. It’s not a real date; you’re just saying thank you for buying the bakery, Cassie repeat silently in her head, but whether she said them enough to believe them was an entirely different story.
They reached the door of the diner, but before they entered, Jordan stopped and turned to face Cassie with a sheepish looking grin on his face, like he had high hopes everything would work out in his favor.
“Are you ready?”
She would allow him to lead her inside, but was she really ready for what would come next?
An hour into their fake date, as Jordan referred to it, and Cassie was finally admitting to having fun, despite the constant attention from fellow diners, who couldn’t stop with the prying eyes and wondering what was happening between the most infamous couple in town. She could do without the attention of those watching her every move. Couldn’t she just enjoy a night out with her ex-boyfriend-slash-baby-daddy without the continued speculations of whether she and Jordan were a couple or not?
“So this is fun.” Jordan tried his best to make a conversation happen while biting into a piece of pork chop. He wanted the night to run smoothly rather than look tongue-tied and embarrassed.
Cassie agreed with him, nodding her head slightly. She couldn’t say she was having a dreadful time, even though she was sure her face told a different story.
“Thanks for asking me out tonight.”
“Thanks for agreeing to come out with me.”
Cassie blushed. “Well, it’s not like I had a choice. You did buy the bakery. I had to repay you somehow; although I think I will be forever indebted to you.” It was how she felt right now.
“Nonsense. I did it because I can. I’m lucky enough to be financially secure and able to provide for those I want to help. I don’t expect you to pay me back. In fact, I don’t want you to. I’m just grateful for the fact you’ve been kind enough to let me back into your life so I can become a part of Jake’s.”