I wasn’t aware of how worried I was about Malik until I hear Cage’s words of reassurance. Letting out a long breath of relief, I wonder… did Jimmy have that little something Cage just mentioned? A true acceptance that death will come when it comes, or maybe just a hidden inner strength that can’t be explained?
I’d like to think he did. He was so strong and confident. Fully believed in his career. He was a protector to his core, not just of me and his unborn child, but of freedom in general. There wasn’t an ounce of hesitation in taking on that job. While he promised me that he’d be safe, he had to have known fate could have chosen him to be one of the ones who wouldn’t return.
Shaking my head to pull me out of those thoughts, I give Cage a tremulous smile. “How about we eat and talk about something more pleasant?”
Laughing, he grabs his beer, tapping it to mine. “I’ll drink to that.”
Upon my orders, Cage grabs plates, paper towels, and utensils. After I dish out gooey enchiladas, we settle at the table with a sleeping Avery beside us in her bassinet.
“So, I have some news,” Cage says as he digs his fork into his food. The hesitation in his voice is obvious, though, and I can tell he’s going out on a limb here.
“Oh, yeah?” Ignoring my fork, I keep my attention focused on him.
His face bears a tiny smirk, but I can see unease vying for attention. His hesitation makes me doubly curious.
“What is it?” I urge, lifting my fork and pressing it down sideways into an enchilada.
“I’m seeing someone,” Cage says.
I snap my head up, cheesy goodness forgotten. “Seeing someone?” I ask dumbly, because that’s unheard of. It seems antithetical to everything that is Cage. He’s a playboy—a renowned hound dog. He hates the thought of monogamy, and he thinks true love is for chumps.
Sheepishly, he gives me his regard. “I mean, it’s sort of new, but we’ve gone out a few times…”
“A few times?” I blurt, completely astonished. Cage is a strictly one-and-done kind of guy. He’s actually boasted he’d never date the same woman more than once.
“Five,” he clarifies. “We’ve gone out five times. I’ve even met her brother.”
I lean back in my chair, gaping at my friend as if he’s grown antlers.
“What?” he accuses irritably. “Me dating someone is not outside the realm of possibility.”
“Uh, it is when you so adamantly decry the practice of monogamy and relationships,” I point out.
“What can I say?” he says, attacking his enchilada and putting a huge bite in his mouth. He chews and chews before finally swallowing. “She’s different.”
“What’s her name?” I can’t hide the suspicion in my tone, because I’m still convinced he’s punking me somehow.
“Jaime,” he replies with a sappy expression. Holy shit… he’s actually smitten.
It’s at this point in this situation that any good friend would give him so much shit, but I don’t want to scare him off. I need more info.
“Tell me about her,” I suggest.
A goofy smile breaks out on his face, and Cage shoves another bite into his mouth. He washes it down with a swallow of beer. “She’s great. You’d like her. I mean, she’s really down to earth… not pretentious at all. Even though she has every right to be since she’s so gorgeous.”
Settling in, I listen to Cage wax poetic about a woman. As we eat and drink beer, I learn all about Jaime, who has seemingly caught more than just Cage’s attention. I wonder if he’s falling in love. I hope so. I remember the feeling when I’d first met Jimmy. Seeing Cage’s dopey expression and the respect he has when he talks about Jaime makes me believe in the miracle of love again.
“She sounds amazing,” I say when he finally loses steam while telling me about her greatness.
“She is,” he replies, but his tone is glum. “But there’s one problem.”
“What’s that?”
“When we first started seeing each other, I told her I was a used-car salesman. So, now she thinks that’s what I do.”
Incredulously, my jaw drops. “I don’t even know what to say to that. I mean… why would you do that?”
Cage shrugs, his face turning a telling shade of pink. “I just… set expectations low with women, you know? When I meet someone I want to hook up with, I make up a story about what I do for a living. I tell them the most dull, uninspiring thing I can think of, so they don’t get too interested in me. It lets me walk away at some point without her hanging on to the image of a badass security expert.”
I just stare. “That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Hey,” he exclaims, pretending to be hurt. “It’s worked well for me in the past. Except now, I really like Jaime. I want to keep seeing her, but I’m afraid she’ll dump my ass when she realizes I’ve been lying to her all this time.”