“No reason,” Nick said meekly, but his face told a different story. Cassie could see something was up.
Now she was really intrigued. What had happened last night after she left? “What’s up? Am I missing something that happened between you two after I went home last night?” she asked him in a straight-to-the-point tone, watching his body language as she rested her hands on the kitchen counter in front of her. His body was still as a statue, and all she could see was his eyebrow tremble slightly. Damn Nick and his poker face. She knew she wouldn’t get anything from him now, so there was no point in trying to pull it out of him.
“Oh, you mean besides running into your former boyfriend? Nope, nothing out of the ordinary. By the way, are you okay?” Nick asked, changing the subject. She hated when he did that. He wouldn’t be able to avoid whatever it was he was trying to forever though. One way or another, she would find out the truth.
“About Jordan, you mean? Of course I’m okay. It’s not the end of the world just because my ex-boyfriend has come to town. I got over him a long time ago.” Who was she kidding? With any luck, she hoped it would be Nick. She prayed he couldn’t see right through her words. Now wasn’t the time to let her friend know how she was really feeling. No one could know she got that ticklish feeling when she saw Jordan last night. It had to remain her little secret—at least for a little while anyway.
“Besides, with his busy career and all, I’m sure he won’t be back for very long.” Who was she trying to convince now—Nick, or herself?
He let out a little chuckle. “You obviously don’t know very much about the NFL. He’s not playing right now, because it’s not in season. He could be here for a while—at least until training camp starts. Are you sure you’re really okay? You know I can read you like an open book, right? You don’t have to hide your true feelings from me. I can handle however you feel, even if you were to admit you still like him a little bit. It would be fathomable anyway, considering your long history together, and the way your relationship ended.”
By now, Cassie and Nick both knew what ‘okay’ really meant, and also what Nick was actually talking about—Jake.
Both were standing quietly in the kitchen when Jake came running in, showcasing a big, beautiful smile with sparkling teeth and fresh breath to prove he had done a good job.
His hands were on his hips as he looked up at Nick. He was his role model, a father figure of sorts—despite the obvious difference in physical appearance and the fact Nick wasn’t related to Jake except for being his godfather and Cassie’s friend.
“I’m ready,” he proclaimed proudly with his arms stretched out wide.
“Well, then it’s off to school we go,” Nick burst out with enthusiasm as Cassie handed him Jake’s backpack and followed them out the door.
That was the end of the conversation, and Nick knew he would just have to take his friend’s word for it that she was okay with Jordan being home, even though deep down, they both knew Cassie was scared as hell.
Gabby rushed in through the doors of Patty-Cake Bakery where Cassie worked, sending the tiny chimes above the doors tinkling throughout the shop.
Cassie sent a smile in Gabby’s direction, wiping her flour-covered hands against her floral-print apron from her position at the coffee machine behind the front counter. She loved it when her friend popped in for a visit before work.
“Hello, best friend. I’m guessing you’re after your usual pick-me-up?” Cassie asked with a huge smile, referring to Gabby’s favorite morning latte she always ordered.
In a very unlike-Gabby mannerism, she returned a guileless, “Yes, please. I’m in dire need of my caffeine injection.”
“What happened to you?” Cassie gave her friend the once-over, noticing her usually straightened hair was looking a little wild.
Today, her big and bouncy natural curls were on full display—not that her curls weren’t lovely and lustrous, but Gabby had never been a fan of her out-of-control mass of curls, which is why she always straightened her hair before she left the house. Today, it seemed, was an unusual exception—meaning something was definitely up. “You know, for a hairdresser, you’re really letting yourself down.”
Gabby shook her friend’s playful comment off. “Yeah, yeah…I’m not in a good mood this morning.”
Cassie passed her a hot cup of her favorite coffee with a lid to go, hoping it would lure her best friend to disclose what was going on and why she was in such a lousy mood. Surely it had nothing to do with Jordan being back in town. She didn’t care enough about him to worry whether he was back or not.