Page 38 of What Broke First
“Exactly,” he said, grinning. “You think you’re having a casual dessert, but really, your brain is screaming, this is the best moment of our lives.”
She laughed. “That actually explains a lot. I’ve cried over cupcakes before.”
“See? Dessert is a scam. A delicious, sticky scam.”
Sarah tilted her head, mock serious. “So does that mean I can’t trust any of my feelings right now?”
“I wouldn’t go that far. But if you suddenly feel a strong urge to name our future children after dessert toppings, maybe wait till the sugar crash.”
She laughed again, the sound coming easier this time. “You’re hilarious.”
He leaned in just slightly. “But in a charming, mildly educational way?”
She nodded, still smiling. “Yeah. You’re surprisingly charming. And I didn’t even need the brownie to notice.”
He smiled but didn’t press. He let the quiet linger for a moment, comfortable and unrushed.
When the check came, he paid without comment, then walked her to her car.
At the door, he looked at her. “I’d like to see you again. No pressure. No weird follow-up memes.”
Sarah smiled. “Tacos and more science facts?”
“Only if you promise not to fall in love with me over cheesecake.”
“I make no promises.”
“You sure you can make it home without another lavender gin cocktail?” he teased.
“I’ll manage,” she replied. “But only if you promise not to judge me when I text Chloe for your last name like a total stalker.”
“Only if you promise not to Google me before our second date,” he grinned.
“Too late,” she said, opening the car door. “But you passed. No mugshots. Just an embarrassing photo of you in a bowling league.”
“Hey,” he said, mock-wounded. “That was a championship team.”
She laughed. “Goodnight, Jordan.”
“Goodnight, Sarah. And for the record, I’d totally lose to you in bowling. On purpose. Just to impress you.”
“Now that’s a real gentleman,” she said, slipping into the driver’s seat.
Sarah sat behind the wheel for a moment before starting the engine. She didn’t feel fireworks. But she felt calm. And after everything with Matt, calm felt like a revolution.
Still, as she drove home, her thoughts wandered back to the soccer field. The way Matt had clapped for Tommy. The way he’d said he hoped the new guy treated her well.
Although she still loved Matt, she wasn’t ready to lose herself to him again. But maybe she wasn’t ready to write him off either.
Somewhere in the chaos, she had options now. And she planned to explore every single one.
Especially if tacos were involved.
She scrolled through her playlist until she landed onwantedby Willow, the version with Kamasi Washington.
As the voice kicked in, she turned up the volume and let the sound fill the car, drowning out everything but the road and the music.
For a few perfect minutes, she wasn’t a divorcée or a mom or an ex-wife, just a woman, windows down, carried by a song that made her feel like something new or different or wonderful was still possible.
