When I know it’s actually going to make it to that point, Cassie thought.
“Oh, that’s fine. That decision is completely up to you.”
They made plans to meet tomorrow night at Mike’s Tavern at seven o’clock, and when she watched Jesse leave the bakery, Cassie was beginning to think a ruggedly handsome man like him was exactly what she needed to give her the courage to stop struggling over her feelings for an ex-boyfriend she knew she couldn’t be with again. Now she just needed to start believing it.
Forty-eight hours after arriving back in Miami from Texas, training camp had officially begun for Jordan and the rest of the Miami Dolphins leading up to the NFL season.
Today was like any other training session, grueling but tactical, and crucial if they were to place anywhere during the upcoming season. Jordan needed his coaches, teammates, agent, and also the sponsors and fans of the team to be aware that his head was in the game and ready to take on another year as quarterback. Despite suffering a couple of injuries last season, he wasn't ready to give it all up and retire just yet. He was only twenty-six years old, still in the prime of his career.
Practice had been excessively brutal today, and Jordan was glad to finally get home and sleep his aches and pain off so he was ready for another day of training tomorrow.
Home. His luxurious Miami penthouse apartment never sounded as good as it did right now. He couldn't wait to kick off his shoes, crack open a beer, and just relax in front of the TV before hitting the hay in his big king-size bed with one of the meals his housekeeper stored in his refrigerator for him. Because of his hectic schedule, there was rarely a time when Jordan was able to cook an actual meal for himself using the kitchen he'd barely used since he moved in almost two years ago. Instead, his housekeeper kindly went above and beyond to prepare delicious and satisfying health-conscious meals for him, and Jordan was very grateful for the services she provided to him.
What he wasn't expecting was a phone call from Nick.
Jordan rolled over onto his side and picked up his iPhone from his bedside table, reading his hometown friend’s name scrawled across the screen.
He slid the bar across, put the phone to his ear, and groggily said hello. Anyone would think he had been drinking all day, instead of just opening a beer now. He was beat from an extensive and very robust day.
“Hey, man!” Worry and concern was hinted in Nick's voice. Jordan wondered what the matter was. He hadn't been gone that long, and although he promised to keep in touch more often than last time, he couldn't help but wonder what Nick could possibly be calling for.
“Did I wake you? You sound tired.”
“No, not yet, but you would have had you waited another hour or so to call me. I just got home from practice. I'm lying in bed with a beer and watching television, chilling out before I pass out.” Jordan used his upper-body strength to push himself up, leaning his head back against the headboard of the bed. “What's up? Is something wrong?”
“Well, no, not in the physical sense.”
Uh-oh. This didn't sound good. What was Nick leading to?
“So everyone's okay? No one is injured?” Panic filled his voice.
“No, but to an extent, everything isn't okay. I don't know if it's my place to say or anything, but I thought you should know—in case you were still in the game of winning her back—Cassie has a date.”
“She's dating?”
“No, she's not dating. She has a date. It's just one date. It may not even lead to anything, but you're my best friend, and as your biggest fan in the hopes you and Cassie do get back together, I thought I should tell you,” Nick clarified.
Was he still in the game? Cassie had already made it perfectly clear she couldn't be with him. What did that mean for his relationship status? Did he make an attempt to move on from Cassie, or would he be able to wait long enough until Cassie came around and realized she wanted to commit to a relationship with him?
“Um, okay, I don't know what I'm supposed to do with that information, but thanks for having my back, man. I can always count on you, and it means a lot to know you'd like to see Cassie and me back together. You're probably the only one.”
Jordan just wished she actually wanted to be with him. Instead, he was simply her baby-daddy, and apparently, it was all he was ever going to be.
“How's life treating you?” Jordan asked, changing the subject.
“Uh, yeah, it's okay,” Nick responded with a grumble.
From Nick's response, Jordan guessed something was up with him, but knowing him and how secretive he could be, he wouldn't be letting him in on it anytime soon, not until he was ready to spill his troubles. “Anyway, I'll let you get some rest.”