“Oh?” I asked, sipping my coffee, trying to act casual.
But in fact, I was desperate for knowledge of Brad. Not talking to him for these past days was killing me. He’d tried to call a few more times, but it made me too nervous, and I hung up every time. And even though he’d practically felt up my mom, I still craved him, wanted to feel him under my hands and against my skin, to hear his voice and smell his scent.
Ok, just relax.
“Yeah, he was always all about work and formality, you know? That kind of dad. He really wanted me to be a scientist too, but finance was more my game.”
“I see. My mom wished I hadn’t been a scientist,” I joked.
“Oh yeah? That’s funny. Tell me more about that.” He grinned at me and leaned forward with interest.
It was getting more comfortable with him, but at the end of the day, he wasn’t Brad. I wanted Brad, and the realization just annoyed me. At the end of the lunch, he took my hand outside the restaurant and looked at me.
“There’s someone else, isn’t there, Cassie? Not that I think you’d run into my arms if you were single, I just…it seems like there’s someone else in your head.”
I let out a breath and nodded. “Yeah, there’s someone else.”
Was there, though?
“All right. I get it. Just friends then.” He turned his handhold into a handshake, making me laugh.
“Yep. Just friends. See you later, Jason. Thanks for lunch.” I waved and turned to go, and I checked my phone.
A text from Jane came in.
Hey guys! It’s official! Moving in with Derek next week! I know, I know, I’ve been putting it off, dragging my feet, but now’s the time!
* * *
BRAD
“Daddy, who’s coming for dinner tonight?” Camilla asked, sitting on the counter across from me while I cooked.
She was in the middle of coloring a unicorn, and I turned around, a saucepan in my hand. “I didn’t tell you?”
She shook her head, and I paled. Fuck, this was a big dinner, and I didn’t even tell my daughter about it?
“I’m sorry, Camilla, I’ve been so distracted.” It had been another day with Cassie not being at work, and she’d still not answered my calls, so I decided I’d just let her come to me, if she ever would.
“So, who is it?”
I turned the stove off and walked around the counter to take Camilla’s hands. “It’s your half-brother, Jason, who’s coming tonight.”
“Really?” Camilla breathed in, her eyes wide, and she jumped into my arms. “Daddy! I can’t wait to meet him!”
“Oh yeah?” I asked, my voice muffled by her holding onto my neck so tightly. “But why? I don’t get it.”
I’d told her about Jason many times, not wanting to keep secrets from her, but they’d never met.
“It’s like we can have a big family now,” she said, grinning widely, setting herself back down on the chair.
I moved behind the counter and turned the stove back on, stirring the sauce. “You don’t like our family?”
“Daddy, you know I do.” She giggled. “But I always wanted a brother, and now, I will have a very big one.”
“Yes, you will.” I smiled as I finished the sauce and set the pasta to boil.
But I was nervous. Jason was back, yes, but for how long? It was possible, like Cassie, like Melissa, even like Joyce, he could get skittish, decides things weren’t for him, and jump ship. What would that do to Camilla if he did?