He nodded. “I just didn’t know…with everything you’ve been through…I didn’t want to be insensitive.”
“Yeah, I’m not really in a place to start a relationship.” She wanted to be upfront and honest with him. Her priorities were the boys and the business. In that order. But then she thought about “little” Stacy and how fast the twins would be off to college, (hopefully), and living their own lives. Maybe she should make plans to eventually live her own life as well. “But, we’re here. We’re hungry. We might as well eat.”
“Great.” Keaton’s face lit up and he motioned once more for Stacy.
“Are we ready?” she asked hopefully.
“Umm,” Ali cringed as she smiled. “I haven’t actually looked at the menu. I’m sorry.”
Keaton chuckled.
“Two minutes,” Ali held up two fingers to emphasize. “I promise.”
As Stacy left, most likely to beg a different server to take them, Ali browsed the menu and tried not to get ahead of herself on this situation.
What if KJ found out? Would he be upset?
What if the entire town found out they were on a date? Did she want to “date” in the public eye?
What if the Needlepoint Mafia tried set them up again? Would they give up after one failed attempt or would they go even harder?
What about Kade? If he found out, would he even care?
That last one snapped her out of her what-if spiral. She wasn’t doing anything wrong. She didn’t owe anyone, especially not Kade, anything. She deserved dinner with a nice guy whose smile made her feel calm. And she was going to enjoy it.