Dating For Decades (27 page)

The garage is small, fitting only one car. It’s neat — too neat for a garage! Storage units outline the entire thing and the floor is spotless.

We enter the house through the attached garage, directly into the kitchen. I gasp and cover my mouth when an orange tabby cat jumps past me and hops onto the kitchen table.

“Now, Einstein, you know you’re not supposed to be up there.” Keith picks up the cat gently and holds him, stroking his fur. “This is Cassie. Cassie, meet Einstein, my partner in crime.”

“Hi, Einstein.” I reach out to pet him expecting him to run away, but he doesn’t. He lets me run my hand down from his head, over his back, and to his tail. “You’re sweet.”

“He is.” He gives him a quick smooch on the head and sets him on the ground. Once his paws hit the floor, he takes off. “I won’t see him for another few days, probably. He has a mind of his own.”

I didn’t picture Keith as a cat person. Dog,
maybe
, but not cat. All those times I joked about becoming a cat lady and here’s Keith with the necessary piece. I laugh inside, and my heart smiles at how gentle he is.

I make my way into his living room, which is filled with homemade bookcases, a coffee table, and I believe his mantel on his fireplace as well. The pieces are definitely handmade, the craftsmanship unbelievable. “Wow. These are incredible.” I run my hand over the coffee table. “You have quite the hobby. Why aren’t you doing this instead?

“Instead?” His eyes open wide and he grins. “Why choose when I can do both?”

He makes a point. “I don’t have any hobbies, really.”

“None? None at
all
?”

Taking care of myself as a kid never lent me much time to discover any talents I may have. I loved reading. Escaping into someone else’s world was the perfect way to forget about my life. I can’t do much with that. I never was that great of a writer, though I tried. “I guess I can sew.” I had to fix any of my clothes with holes in them, hem clothes for my mom, and when I needed a costume or something for school, I was always on my own.

“Well, there you go! That’s something.”

“I haven’t done it in ages, though. I used to scribble designs in a notepad I carried around.” Wow. I haven’t thought about that notepad in years. I shoved it between my textbooks at school. I didn’t think there was much I could do with sewing, so I pursued a more promising career in technology. It’s paid off, though now that I imagine my thread and needle, I kind of miss it.

“Maybe some time you can show me your designs. You’ve seen a lot of mine.”

I want to see a lot more of him, too. “So this is what you do to relieve stress? Woodworking?”

“Yep. I blast Blake Shelton and create.”

“Blake Shelton?”

“Yes, Blake Shelton. Do you have a problem with Blake?” He shifts his head to the right and winks as he approaches me. I allow him to unzip my jacket and help me out of it.

“Blake? You two are on a first-name basis?”

“We’re like brothers,” he teases as he brushes my hair aside and kisses my neck. I shiver at the touch of his lips. His tongue touches my neck, and I want nothing more than to be with him.

“Enough talk about brothers.” I wrap my arms around his neck and we’re entangled in each other. A tide of euphoria rushes over me, and I’m afraid I may flood his living room with tears of joy. We’re breathing heavily through our noses as neither one of us wants to stop where this is going. “You still have to show me your bedroom.” I keep pecking at his neck while he begins to step back, pulling me with him.

“I’m not sure I can make it there.” He shifts his movement from backward toward his bedroom instead to the right and guides me to the couch. “Is this okay?”

I grip his jacket collar and yank the coat off him, tossing it to the ground. “I really don’t care where it happens, as long as it does.” I shove him onto the couch and straddle him, cupping his face in my hands. “Welcome home, Keith.”
 

•••••••

I wake up to the sound of Keith’s voice. He’s wrapped me in a blanket and the fireplace is burning. I pull the covers to my chin and stretch my legs. The only thing that could make this better would be if he were next to me.

“I know, Mom. But you have to understand —”

He’s pacing in the kitchen, his phone stuck to his ear. He hasn’t seen I’m awake yet. His parents are still in London with his brother. I squint to see the time on his microwave. The bright green light reads 8:14. Wow, I don’t ever sleep this late. My body must have needed it. I’m shocked he isn’t still sleeping after his long flight yesterday.

“You’ve never met her so it’s not fair for you to talk about her like that.”

I snap my eyes shut when he glances my way. Is his mom talking about
me
? What is going on? I swallow hard and concentrate as I try to hear what he’s saying.

“You’ll meet her eventually.” He pauses. “I had to come back. She needed me.” He’s silent for a few moments so I assume she’s saying something to him. “Well, have it your way then. We can talk when you return to the States.” I listen as he says goodbye and hangs up.

I don’t want to cause a fight between him and his parents. What would have brought up him discussing me? I wonder if he called her or she called him. I suppose it doesn’t make any difference, but I really want to know what this is about.

I take my time opening my eyes so he doesn’t realize I was listening. When I finally have them open, he’s sitting at the kitchen table, his head in his hands. He’s in a t-shirt and boxers and his hair a tangled mess. That’s my fault. He senses me watching him and lifts his head. “Hey you.” He stands from the chair and makes his way to the living room.

I hold the blanket over myself as I sit up. “Hey. Did you sleep okay?”

“Yeah.” He plops down next to me, grabs me and pulls me onto his lap. “You sleep like an angel.”

I kiss him, never mind my morning breath or his. I don’t know what an angel looks like when sleeping, but he obviously thinks it’s sweet. I hope I didn’t snore. I’ve been known to do that.

“Did you want some coffee and breakfast? I can make a hell of a bagel.”

“Isn’t that taking it out of the package and putting it into the toaster?”

“Sure is, but I’m bad ass at it.”

I imagine how he can make it look tough, maybe flexing his biceps as he pushes the handle down. Sigh. I can’t stay. I shouldn’t. That phone call didn’t sound good. I should have known opening myself up to a real relations go would only result in failure.
 

“Thanks for the offer, but I think I’ll run through a drive thru and head home.”

“A drive-thru? You would rather have fast food than a home cooked meal from me?” He playfully pushes me off his lap.
 

“How do I put this lightly?” I tap my finger on my chin. “A frozen bagel and a K-cup is hardly a home cooked meal.”

“You’ve got me there.” He steals another kiss from me. “Besides, my mom, now
she
can cook. You’ll have to try her chicken and waffles sometime.”

I’m not sure why he’s anticipating me ever meeting his mother after the conversation I overheard. He mistakes my lack of response as offense.
 

“I’m sorry. I keep mentioning my family.”

“So?”

I tense as he places his hand on the blanket covering my knee. “With what just happened, it’s insensitive of me.”

“You don’t have to walk on eggshells around me, Keith.” I stand and allow the blanket to fall off me, paying no mind to my naked body that I’m sure he’s checking out. I find my underwear and bra and put them both on as I continue. “If you don’t remember, my mom was dead to me years ago. Now it’s only the truth.”

Out of the corner of my eye I see his mouth fall open. Once my shirt and pants are on, I slide my boots on and grab my keys. “This was too soon. We moved too fast.”

“Cassie, take a deep breath and let’s talk about this.”

“My whole life is a series of deep breaths. I inhale pain and exhale poison. It’s probably best you stay away from me before I infect you, too.”

He bolts from the couch and slaps my hand away from the door. “That is not true and you know it. You’re a beautiful person full of kindness and love, and the shit you dealt with as a kid formed a protective glass around you.”

“Please. Let me leave. I need time. Christmas is coming up. Spend time with your family. I’ll see Shannon. Let’s end this before it’s too late.”

“You’re talking crazy, Cassie. Let me break that glass around you.”

I wrap my hand around the door knob and allow tears to fall. “That’s the problem with glass, Keith. When you break it, it cuts you.” I swing the door open. “And pieces are left shattered everywhere that you can never put back together. “

Chapter

Thirty-Three

The wind is whipping outside, and the snow is coming down hard. The meteorologists say that the worst of it will be over by one o’clock, which allows the plows four hours to get the job done so I don’t have to spend three hours getting home. I don’t mind the cold, and the snow doesn’t bother me that much, except when it makes for such a long drive home. I’m glad to be back at work, though, and this first day has been busy.
 

Keith mostly honored my request to give me some time. He texted me on Christmas, and I replied with a smiley face and wishing him well. He misses me, he said, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss him. Shannon kept my mind off of him, though, and even Sasha. We have a Dating for Decades meeting tomorrow, and I fully plan on attending. This is the first after the holidays, and I think I need the group right now.

A meeting request pops up on my computer. Terrence has called a meeting of the entire help desk, me, and Lucas. I glance at the time. Crap. He wants to meet us now. Good thing I’m at my computer.

I shut my laptop, grab my phone and meet everybody in the conference room, taking a seat next to Lucas. We haven’t spoken too much since the awards ceremony, but in the few times we have, we’ve been friendly. I think he’s finally accepted I’m not interested. Well, and since he began dating Kimmy, I think it’s safe to say he’s over it.

“I wonder what this could be about. He never calls meetings on such short notice.” I set my phone down on top of the small notepad I brought with me.
 

“I guess we’ll see.” Lucas has his hands folded and is sitting with the straightest posture I’ve ever seen on him. He’s ready for business.

Terrence strolls into the room with a large smile on his face. Okay, that’s good. Good news. If he walked in with a frown or his lips pursed together, I’d be concerned. Maybe we’re hiring more lawyers and will need more staff, which I will oversee.
 

“I apologize for the short notice on the meeting. I have a lunch appointment and want to make this announcement before it makes its way through the grapevine.” He’s looking straight at Julian, the department gossip.

He unbuttons his suit coat and hugs his hips with his hands. “As you know, Lucas has spent the past couple of months with us helping out on the Pilot Program. Thanks to both him and Cassie, everything is running smoothly. Thank you both.”

Lucas and I exchange a smile, and I’m thankful for the sincerity behind it. Things may have been rocky to begin with, but together we pulled it off. I tried like hell to keep him from stealing my job, and that was never his intent. He’s an ethical worker, and a better man.

“You also may know that Lucas is my nephew. His plan never was to stay with us very long. He sets his goals very high, and he doesn’t want to give the impression his uncle paves the way.” Terrence walks behind Lucas’ chair and puts his hands on his shoulder. “He doesn’t need me to help him. His talents speak for themselves.”

Lucas pats his uncle’s hands. “Thanks, Uncle T.”

Uncle T? He’s getting pretty personal, a no-no in Lucas’ eyes. Terrence continues around the table until he ends up back at the head.
 

“He planned on staying for longer than he is, but his father has asked he move forward with his career goals.”

His father. I remember Lucas saying he was sick. I guess he isn’t any better, but Lucas is moving forward.

“Lucas’s last day here will be on Friday. He’s accepted a job in San Francisco and starts on Monday.”

Everyone starts to congratulate him, and I want to punch him in the shoulder. How could he
not
tell me? I’ve finally gotten used to having him here and our friendship is in tact, and now he’s leaving? I look over at Kimmy, who doesn’t look surprised, but someonewhat sad. She’s a good girl. I wonder where this leaves them.

Terrence congratulates Lucas and dismisses the group. I ask Lucas to stay behind.

Once everyone is out of the room, I jab him in the side. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Ow!” He pretends I’ve hurt him while laughing. “Do I have to run everything past you? I accepted the job while you were out. And my uncle wanted to wait until you returned to announce it.”

“You still could have texted me.”

“Okay, one, you suck at responding to text messages. And two, he didn’t want me saying anything. I only told Kimmy.”

For some reason, I’m a little jealous when he says this. I don’t like Lucas in a sexual way, and I’m so happy for him and Kimmy, but his face lights up when he mentions her name, a twinkle in his eye that could light up the night sky.
 

“She’s awesome, you know. You hold onto her.” I suddenly feel like a mother looking out for her child. All the young adults at the help desk, they’re people I’ve help mold into professionals. I want them to be happy.

He moves from the table to the doorway. “I’m going to try. We’ve come up with a plan for the next year and hope we can make it work.”

Remaining in my seat, I nod. “Good.” I gaze past him into the hallway, the doorway to the server room in my view. God, I miss Keith. Me and long-term relationships don’t work, though. His mom doesn’t even like me and she’s never even seen a picture of me. I rake my fingers through my hair, around my neck, and as my hand slides off my chin, I tickle a hair. Those damn chin hairs.

“Look, I want to mention the elephant in the room here. I’m sorry about what happened at the awards ceremony. Keith’s a great guy. You two are good together.”