Page 48 of The Other Half

“For a girl.”

When she turned to meet me, I was already smiling.

“Dick.”

“I’ve been called worse.”

We exchanged another laugh. It had been startling to laugh when she first dropped into my life. But over the past few times we’d hung out, it started to feel natural again. It no longer surprised me to hear the sounds coming out of my mouth. She coaxed them out with such ease. For the first time in five months I started to feel like myself again... like I was going to make it and find that happiness that had walked out the door with Matt and Nikki. In fact, with Cassie, I felt better than myself.

“Did you fish today?” she asked, then shook her head before I could answer. “Duh. Of course, you did. It’s cooking.”

Laughing, I shrugged. “Well it didn’t jump onto the grill by itself.”

“Well, you do have Hank pretty well trained. Maybe you can just command fish out of the water and into the flames.”

“Now wouldn’t that be a talent.”

“Well, however it ended up on that grill, it smells really good.”

She was right. The fish was cooking fast, and it would be ready soon. “Let me get the table set up and we can have dinner in a few minutes. Make yourself comfortable.”

“I’ll be right here,” she said, sitting down on the porch swing.

While she rocked herself on the swing my grandfather had built, I hurried to set up the small table on the deck. Two plates, silverware, and two glasses of water completed my setup. I thought about putting out a candle, but that looked like I was trying too hard. And even though I was warming to the idea of having her around, I wasn’t quite ready to take things to the next level.

Baby steps.

After plating the fish, green beans, and corn, I waved her over. “Come eat.”

Debating on pulling out her chair, I decided against it. My mother would have smacked me upside the head, but I was still balancing on that line right between casual hangout and date. Candles and pulling out chairs definitely said date.

“It looks amazing, Jake.”

“Not too shabby for a guy who can’t actually cook, huh?”

“Can’t cook? What do you call this?” She laughed.

“Grilling. I can grill like a son of a bitch, but cooking...” I sucked the air through my teeth.

“Don’t worry. I can’t cook either. Like... at all.”

“No?” I took a bite of my fish. Good. It turned out well.

“Not at all. When I lived in...” She paused. “Chicago, I only ate delivery food and out at restaurants.”

“How are you faring with food in Door County?”

“Not well.” She laughed again. “I’m pretty much starving to death. I can’t eat anything at the Ox because it has carbs and is fattening. The grocery store is hella expensive, and I don’t know how to cook.” She took a bite of her fish and I watched her face while I held my breath.

“Okay... but this. This is scrumptious. You weren’t kidding! Wow, Jake!”

“You like it?”

“It’s so good! Maybe I don’t need the grocery store at all! You can just teach me to fish. Then I just need to get some veggies and I’ll be all set.”

“I’ve got tons of vegetables in my garden. Seriously. Help yourself any time.”

“Seriously?” She looked up.