Grinning, he kicked up his legs on my coffee table and said, “Why don’t you tell me what’s really going on with Cassie?”
My stomach plummeted to the floor, and I winced. “Did your Mom tell you something?”
“Yeah, a little. But I had a suspicion after I saw you guys in your office. And when I went out with her, her calling you Brad and telling me there was someone else.”
My heart fluttered in my chest at that. Was Cassie considering me as part of her life? Even though I wasn’t sure she had gotten over the whole Mom in lap thing.
“Oh, well, honestly,we each had no idea that you guys had a past, so some things happened. I hope you don’t think that’s weird. But I’m crazy about her.” I spoke the truth, like it had been pulled out of me without my consent.
I waited for his angry reaction, but it didn’t come.
“That’s great, Dad.”
“Really? You think so?”
“Yeah, I know you had a disappointment with Melissa leaving. I heard about through my mom as well. And you’ve been single for a long time now. Cassie’s great, and I didn’t treat her as well as I should have. She deserves great things, so I hope you treat her right.”
“There’s been a snag,” I replied, shocked to hear me and my son discussing this so openly. “But Cassie’s mom has tried to come around, and Cassie caught us together and kind of hasn’t spoken to me since.”
A soft knock at the door made me pause. “Come in.”
“Hey Doc,” Stevie said as she peeked her head around the door. “Cassie told me to give you this.” I saw her give Jason a long look, while I was having trouble breathing.
“Yeah?” I asked, suddenly standing up and reaching out for it eagerly as she got closer.
“Yeah. Here you go.”
I took it and read the note hungrily. “Meet me in the empty lab room in five minutes.”
“Oh, Stevie, this is my son, Jason.”
“Hi Jason,” Stevie said with a bright smile.
“Hi,” Jason replied.
I had the feeling they’d already met, but I didn’t have time to think about it. “Thanks, Stevie.”
“No problem!” She waved and walked out, shutting the door behind her.
“Hey Jason, I’ve got to…”
“Go, Dad.” Jason picked up his sandwich again. “I’ll be here. And I know it should be weird, but it’s really not. The past with Cassie and I is over. I think we’re better as friends anyway.”
I patted Jason on the shoulder. “Thanks, Jason. I don’t know what she’ll say, but wish me luck.”
“You got it.”
I left the office, trying hard not to run down the hall to find the woman I loved and tell her finally in no uncertain terms.
CHAPTER23
BRAD
When I pushed openthe empty lab room door, I looked around. But Cassie wasn’t there. I guess I had gone a bit early, too eager to wait any longer. So, I paced, folding up my sleeves and shoving my hands in my pockets.
Shit, what am I going to say?
I had just started practicing a sort of speech when the door flew open, and Cassie walked in, pausing when she caught my eyes.