She shoved my chest—still so physical—before she sauntered away. “Bye Jude.”
“You owe me a date,” I called after her.
She paused in the doorway and looked over her shoulder. “You owe me an entire galaxy. I’m still waiting for you to put the stars back in the sky.”
Well, damn. I guess I had my work cut out for me. Was there a chance she could still love my broken, fucked-up self? The man who had lost part of his soul to a war and his entire heart to a girl?
I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d felt this hopeful. Or this happy.
Chapter Forty-One
Lila
“Are you sure it’s okay? I should take Noah home and make sure—”
“Honey. He’s fine.” Kate put her hands on my shoulders and turned me toward the window. Noah was eating a bowl of ice cream on the back porch, talking a mile a minute to Patrick. And it struck me once again how blessed I’ve been to have the McCallisters in my life. They’d all been there for me when I’d needed them. At different times in my life. In their own special ways, they’d filled my life with love and laughter and showed me what it was like to be part of a big, happy, rowdy family.
“He’s a happy little boy. And you know why?”
“Why?”
“Because he’s being raised with love. You’re a good mother.” Over the years, she’d had to reassure me more times than I’d care to admit. “Your mom would be so proud of you, sweetie.”
“I hope so.”
“I know so. Now go on home and get ready for your hot date.”
I laughed. “It’s not a hot date. This is your son we’re talking about.”
Kate laughed. “You two don’t have to worry about sneaking up the trellis anymore.”
Oh my God. I could feel myself blushing.
“He loved you something fierce. Still does.”
“I don’t know... I don’t know how we could possibly make this work,” I admitted. “It feels like it’s too late.”
“It’s never too late for a second chance. After everything you both went through, you deserve happiness. And maybe it will help Brody too.”
“Help him? In what way?”
“I think he’s just waiting for you to set him free.”
Her words stunned me into silence for a few seconds. “But I never... what do you mean? He’s always been free.”
Kate squeezed my shoulder and gave me a little smile. “I know that but I’m not sure he does. He’s always been so worried about turning out like his parents. He doesn’t want to let you and Noah down.”
“He’s never let us down.”
“Maybe he needs to hear that from you. He acts tough but he needs a lot of reassurance.”
My heart was in my throat so all I could do was nod. Ever since Jude had returned, I’d been hit with all these emotions.
“Okay. Enough of this. Go home and get ready for your date. Noah will be just fine.”
After I hugged and kissed Noah goodbye, I left him on the porch with Kate and Patrick and drove home to get ready for my ‘hot date.’
“What are you wearing?” Sophie asked without preamble.
“I don’t know.” I rummaged around in my closet. “My ex-fiancé is taking me on a date. What exactly should I be wearing for that?” I tossed aside a few pairs of shorts and some tank tops then sat back on my heels, defeated. “I’ve got nothing.”
“Wear the green dress with the open back. You look hot in that.”
“That’s kind of dressy. I wore that to your engagement party.”
“Trust me. Wear it.”
“You don’t think it’s too much? We’re not into fancy restaurants. We’re more like the barbecue and six-pack kind of couple. Chances are we’ll be eating in the bed of his pickup truck.”
“Classy.”
“That’s how we roll.”
“Wear the dress anyway,” she ordered.
I set the phone on my dresser and switched her over to speaker so I could get dressed.
“So how’s Noah dealing with the whole dating thing?”
“We’re not really dating. I mean... this is.… He’s too young to understand.”
“If you say so but he probably understands a lot more than you’d like to think.”
She was right. He probably understood more than I did because right now I had no idea what I was doing. “Am I making a mistake?”
“It’s just a date.”
“Dinner with Dr. What’s-His-Name, the podiatrist, was just a date.”
“Goldbaum. And yeah, that was just to get you back on the horse. Like a starter date.”
“Like a non-starter date. I almost fell asleep halfway through his monologue which lasted the entire dinner.”
There was a knock on the door and I went into full-blown panic mode. “Oh my God. He’s here. He’s at the door.”
“Um, call me stupid but that’s kind of how it works. He knocks on the door. You answer it. Then you have angry sex and order pizza.”
“We’re not having... I have to go.”
“Have fun.”
“Thanks.” I cut the call and took a deep breath. Not like I didn’t know Jude. Not like I hadn’t known him all my life. I was being ridiculous. I smoothed my sweaty palms over the skirt of my dress and gave myself a final look in the mirror before I went to answer the door.
“Hi.” I gave him a dorky little wave.
He laughed. “Hi. You look... fucking amazing.”
I smiled, happy that I’d made the effort if only to see that heated look in his eyes. “Thank you. So do you.” And he did. He looked amazing in a dark blue button-down shirt and jeans.
“You ready to take off?”
“Yeah, let me grab my purse.” Grabbing it off the couch, I walked over to him and he took my hand and led us to the door.
“I love this place.”
“Good.”
We exchanged a smile and I lifted the copper mug to my lips, laughing as Jude shuddered. I had no problem drinking my Texas Mule from copper but Jude couldn’t bear the thought
