Page 42 of Time for Change

I lift my shoulders. “Yeah, I think so. Casual, you know?”

He snorts. “Casual’s my middle name,” he replies, waggling his eyebrows suggestively.

“My middle name’s Andrew.”

I glance and smile at my son, who’s happily devouring his popcorn with M&M’s in it. “Mine too,” I reply, even though he knows we share a middle name.

We watch Joshua and his team play the second quarter, and when I can’t take it any longer, I return my attention to my cell phone.

Stevie:I’m open to suggestions.

Me:Well, where haven’t you eaten yet in town? You can try something new.

Stevie:That’s easy. I’ve only eaten at the restaurant, so the options are wide open. *insert laughing emoji*

Me:What do you prefer? Mexican, steak house, Chinese?

Stevie:Oh, definitely Mexican.

Smiling, I type out my reply.

Me:Great. I’ll pick you up at six and we’ll go to the Mexican restaurant on Main Street.

Stevie:I can’t wait.

Me:Me either. See you Thursday night.

Stevie:*insert winking emoji*

“You’re smiling,” Caden mumbles as I slide my phone back into my pocket.

“Yep.”

When he doesn’t reply, I look his way. “I’m happy for you.”

Shrugging, I lean back against the seat behind me and stretch out my legs. Thankfully, there’s no one too close to where we sit, and we’re able to spread out a bit. “It might not turn into anything,” I reason, trying to keep that exact thought in the back of my mind.

“Yeah, maybe,” he says, standing up and cheering when Joshua makes an easy three-pointer. The moment he sits back down, he adds, “Or it might turn into everything.”

I’m left a little stunned by his response, mostly because Caden doesn’t believe in happily ever after. Of course, he could be saying that just for me. He knows I’m a bit more of the romantic, while his feet are firmly in the realist category. Even with my history of a failed marriage, I still see the positivity of a healthy relationship, and yes, that is a goal of mine. I’ve just not been in too big of a hurry to find it. In fact, after a few unsuccessful dates, I moved the possibility of a relationship onto the back burner and turned my focus completely on my kids.

Then I met Stevie.

I don’t know what it is about her, but I’m definitely drawn.

And craving more.

Good thing I have less than forty-eight hours until our date, because it can’t come soon enough.

Chapter Thirteen

Stevie

When the knock sounds on my door on Thursday evening, a giddiness runs through my veins. I glance in the peephole, even though I know who’s on the other side.

Jack.

Releasing the locks, I pull open the door. “Hi.”

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