While I was responding to my "friends," I received a text from Reed.
Would this be a good time to talk?
I looked upstairs from the living room couch. Cody's door was shut. Then I looked at the beautiful bouquet in a vase on the coffee table in front of me. I thought about the way Reed's leg touched mine all during dinner, and how his hand purposely brushed mine when I handed him the salad dressing. So maybe there was a hint of a spark.
Do you need more advice on dairy products? I texted back.
This is much more important. Can I call you?
It should be a simple yes or no answer, but this was anything but simple. What did I say? I took a few minutes to think.
So is that a yes, you can't wait to talk to me? he texted again.
I laughed to myself. When did he get to be so charming? Okay.
My phone immediately buzzed.
"Hello," I whispered.
"Should I talk in hushed tones too?"
"If you want." I got up and walked into my room so Cody wouldn't hear me.
"Are you saying you want me to whisper in your ear?" He thought he was so funny and laughed at himself.
I couldn't help myself; I laughed too. "Did you need something?"
"Need? Hmm. Want? Yes."
"And what is it you want?"
"Two things. First, I want you to say yes to my dinner invitation. Second, I want your address."
"Can't you just get it off Cody's paperwork?"
"Well, I could, but that borders on being a stalker."
"I agree, so thank you for not going that route. Why do you want it?"
"I was thinking that the next time I gave you flowers, it would be cheaper if I had them delivered to you instead of buying some for your entire family."
"That would be more economical, but not necessary."
"It could be."
"When has anyone needed flowers?"
"We all do. They help rid the air of carbon dioxide and other toxins. And they feed honey bees. Where would the world be without honey?"
"It would be bleak and dreary, I suppose." I played along with the ridiculous conversation, grinning from ear to ear.
"Exactly. So what's your address?"
"I don't think bees feed off cut and delivered flowers." I wasn't giving in.
Neither was he. "Debatable, but think of the florist's job you could be saving."
"I'm always up for a good cause. I guess I'll start buying more flowers for myself. Thanks for bringing the plight of the florists to my attention."
"That did not go how I wanted it to go."
I laughed at him.
"Sam." His serious tone halted my laughter. "Have dinner with me."
I paused and paused some more. "Reed, it's so complicated."
"Because you may have been the older person in charge of me and Peter a few times a hundred years ago?"
I noticed how he refused to say babysat. "There's that, but you're Cody's coach. Think about what people would say if they knew we went on a date. I don't ever want anyone to question why Cody's on that team or anything he accomplishes on that field."
It was his turn to pause. His breathing patterns indicated he was deep in thought. "I don't want that either, but anyone that sees Cody's talent will know he's earned it."
"You know how people are. They don't usually look at things objectively. They'll see what they want to. Look at how those two women acted over my blog post. And apparently, since I'm single now, I will be resented and feared."
"By who?"
"Women."
"That's not true."
"I have it on good authority. And you should have seen the looks I got at the game Friday. If I went out on a date with you, those looks would morph into turned heads and whispers. Before you know it, they would be accusing me of sleeping with you so that Cody could get more playing time."
"Whoa. That escalated."
"You know it's true."
His sigh said I was right. "When does Cody graduate?"
"Too soon."
He thought for a moment. "It's dinner. We could keep that under wraps."
"You want to have a clandestine outing?" I cringed. Did I really just use that word?
"Maybe eventually, but I know how you feel about illicit interactions without legal binding documentation."
Did he just say that maybe he wanted to . . . you know? Moving on. "Are you mocking me?"
"Not at all. I just want to have dinner with you."
"And where would we go?"
"This is progress. I wanted to take you to this great hole-in-the-wall place in Chicago. They have amazing food and a live jazz band, but we'll save that for when you're comfortable being seen in public with me."
"You are getting way ahead of yourself, there. Dinner is a one-time thing."
"Frequently, dinners lead to more dinners, and other things."
I wasn't going to ask what those other things were. I was pretty sure I knew. "We could have an awful time together. Then we would always be uncomfortable around each other."
"I don't see that happening."
Based on our conversations, I didn't either but . . . "Reed, I'm a mess, trying to put my life back together right now. And what would people think? I baby-"
"Please don't say it," he interrupted.
I rubbed my forehead. "I'm sorry."
"You have nothing to apologize for. And Sam, I think you have it more together than you give yourself credit for."
"I feel like I'm fumbling through life right now."
"Perfect. On the field, I hate fumbles, but off the field, I'm your guy. We can fumble together."
"You're not going to take no for an answer, are you?"
"I'm only asking for a chance. Go out with me once, and if you like it, we can do it again. And maybe again after that."
My bedroom felt like it was spinning. My breathing shallowed. However, in the midst of my mild panic attack, I pictured Reed with Cody at my parents' house earlier tonight. They had high-fived their way through the first half of the Bears game, laughing and joking as they went. During some of the commercial breaks, they went out and tossed the football. I wanted to know what they were talking about in the backyard, but I knew if I interrupted, Cody would have clammed up. But Cody smiled and laughed, so that's all that mattered to me.
Reed made me smile and laugh, too. It was only one dinner.
"Okay," I breathed out, "but no one can know. I won't do that to Cody right now."
"You have my word. Now, what's your address?"
Chapter Twenty-Four
I had a date for Saturday. In five days. One-hundred-and-twenty-plus hours away.
That didn't seem far enough away.
I wasn't even sure it was going to happen. How was I going to explain my absence to Cody Saturday night without lying? Keeping it on the down-low was one thing, but I refused to lie, especially to my son. He already had one parent that was good at that. I didn't even know where we would go. Reed said he had a plan and would let me know. Was I even ready to date again?
I went to my people while I got ready for the day Monday morning.
How do you know when you're ready to date again? Asking for a friend, I posted on my Facebook page. That's where most people responded, it seemed, and quickly too. I had forty comments in the time it took me to put on my makeup. The comments were all over the place.
Tell your friend that the fact she's asking this question may mean she's ready.
Was that true? But I wasn't sure that pertained to me since I was asked out and already accepted before I posed this question.
Girl, just stay away. Stay away.
That was probably good advice.
Tell your friend to date for money this time. Love is highly overrated.
This was not a bad thought.
Do you have anyone in mind? I have an older brother.
No way was I being set up with or dating anyone I met online.
Have you thought about what you want and don't want in a mate? Are you excited about it? Are you over your ex?
Those were good questions to ask myself.
I knew I didn't want a cheater, but who did? What else did I want? I wanted the little things that had been missing from my marriage for a long time. Kisses when parting and greeting each other. A hand to hold. Someone who not only listened to me, but actively wanted to know how my day was. I wanted someone to go on bike rides and pick apples with. What I wouldn't give to cuddle on the couch with someone and watch an old movie and eat popcorn. I wanted someone who would love Cody and put us first in his life.
Was I excited about dating? Not necessarily. But was I excited about going out with Reed? If I was honest, the answer was yes. I enjoyed being with him and I was flattered he liked me, even if it was weird. And I had a sneaking suspicion that we would have fun.