“Ya’ll ready to order?”
We gave her our orders and then I poured tea for Stephanie and myself. Logan and Jared each poured their own. L
“Are you doing anything this weekend, boss?” Stephanie asked. It was an innocent question, but I thought Logan was going to choke on his iced tea.
“As a matter of fact, I am.” I smiled. Jared and Stephanie looked surprised but recovered quickly.
“That’s great.” Stephanie spoke first.
“What about you?” I said to no one specific.
“I’m going fishing.” Jared offered.
“I’m going shopping with my mom.” Stephanie smiled.
“Logan?”
He looked at the three of us. “Yeah, probably doing something. I don’t know yet.”
“You’re welcome to come fishing with me. I’m going out on a charter and we’ve got room. A buddy of mine owns the boat.”
“Yeah, I might do that.” Logan said noncommittally.
“Good deal.” Jared nodded and pulled out his phone and began texting someone.
Our lunch was served, and we all chatted about nothing in particular in between bites. Lunch took longer than I thought it would, so I had a few phone calls to return when we got back to the office. I took a break and sent a text to Kay. “Want to get together tonight after work?” I waited with bated breath that last night hadn’t been some sort of fluke.
“Yeah, what did you have in mind?” she responded.
“Not sure, wasn’t sure you would say yes.”
She sent back a smiley face.
“How about a dinner and a walk along the seawall?”
“Perfect. Time?”
“Eight. Pick you up at your place?” I asked. I put my phone away and went back to work. It was six o’clock when Stephanie left, and Jared followed her half an hour later. I turned off my computer for the weekend and stood up. “I’m calling it a night.”
“You want to explain yourself?” Logan asked.
“Is there a problem?” I asked not appreciating Logan’s mood.
“No, problem.”
“Then what’s with the attitude today?”
“I’ve just seen how you’ve been the past few years and suddenly you’re Mr. Personality and going out to lunch with us and now you have plans this weekend.” Logan stood up. “I want to know what gives? No one does a one eighty like this without a damn good reason.”
I was stunned.
“Okay, if you must know. I ran into Kay last night. And I didn’t get any sleep last night because I was at her house talking until this morning when she cooked us breakfast. I went home long enough to change clothes.”
“Are you serious? Do you think this is a good idea?”
“Logan, I’m a grown man and I’ve dated plenty of woman and even managed to get married and divorced. I think I can handle this.”
“You’ve dated plenty of woman before you got married but not in the past six years that I know about. I don’t want this woman to send you back into a spiral.”
“Look I appreciate that. I do.” I took a deep breath, “You and I have been friends a long time. Kay is different.”
He studied me for a moment. Then smiled. “As long as you’re happy.” He stood up and shook my hand. “See you Monday.”
I nodded as we both walked out of the office together.
“Hey Logan.” I called after him.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks, man.”
He nodded and turned back towards his car. He was a good friend.
Chapter Nineteen
Ethan
I pulled up in front of Kay’s house and rang the front doorbell. I felt a little nervous and I wasn’t sure why. It wasn’t like I hadn’t just spent several hours talking to her about everything I could think of that had happened in the past six years. At least the highlights anyway. So why did I feel like this was a blind date? I knew what to expect, didn’t I? I knew Kay, well enough not to be as nervous as a schoolboy.
I practiced some squared breathing I had read about in a magazine. When she opened the door. All the air left me, and I couldn’t speak.
“Hi.” She smiled at me.
“Hi.” I finally managed.
I stood starting at her unable to tear my eyes away from her. She was wearing a sleeveless dress with a neckline that was more suggestive than revealing. I didn’t need much encouragement in that department. The dress came below her knees and she was wearing low heels.
She reached for a lace wrap and her purse. I stood just inside the still open door and watched as she draped the wrap around her shoulders. It was the perfect shade of blue to match her dress with hints of yellow.
“You look lovely,” I said when my brain finally got with the program.
“Thank you.” She smiled.
“Did you make the wrap yourself?”
“No, a friend of mine made it for me a couple of years ago.” She laughed a small laugh, “and honestly this is the first time I’ve worn it.”
“It’s beautiful,” I said staring just a little too long into her eyes.
“Thank you.” She smiled sweetly. “What do you have planned for us this evening?”
“I thought we’d go over to the Garrison for dinner and then stroll along the seawall.”
The Garrison was an old brick building that had served as a military administrative building during World War II and had long been any number of things. It’s most recent use as a restaurant seemed to be a success. The building was three floors and the higher the floor, the more formal the attire. Tonight, we were seated on the third floor on the balcony overlooking the water.
“Oh, Ethan, this is a beautiful view. You know I have never been here before.” She smiled.
“I’m glad you like it.” I felt proud of myself for picking the spot.
I ordered wine before dinner.
“How was your week?” She asked.
“Better than most.” I smiled. Thinking that she was the reason it has been better.
“Well that is good,
