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I nodded. “Right. But you can’t see the line, but we put it there on a globe, so that we can better understand the way the earth works. It’s warmer towards there and colder towards the poles at the top of the earth.”
“Ah, I see.” She nodded.
“But I wish we had a globe right here so I could show you. That might make it a bit easier to understand.” I loved discussing science with my daughter, no matter the topic.
“Thanks, Daddy. I think I get it. But we can look at the globe when we get home.”
“Perfect.” I squeezed her hand and looked up as we passed a café.
But my smile froze on my face when I saw who was inside. I pulled back so that I wouldn’t be seen, pulling Camilla back with me.
“Daddy? What’s wrong?” She peeked around me and looked into the café. “Oh, it’s Cassie!” Camilla lifted her hand to wave, but I pulled it down.
“No, Camilla. Not right now.”
“Why not?” she asked, looking upset.
I closed my eyes. What the hell? Why was Cassie eating with Jason?
“I’m sorry, Camilla. I’ll explain later. Everything’s ok.” I opened my eyes again, unable to resist watching them for at least a few seconds.
Even though Cassie had seemed completely undone by his sudden arrival in my office, and my son confused about why we were in the office together, they seemed at ease now. Cassie was even smiling.
I pulled back even more when I saw them stand up. “Shit,” I muttered under my breath, and Jason pulled Cassie into a hug.
From somewhere deep inside me, a jealousy emerged. A jealousy like I’d never experienced before. I liked Cassie. I really, really liked her. In that moment, I knew that my feelings were much more than wanting to spend time with her or wanting to sleep with her. It had been fast, maybe too fast, but I was falling hard quickly. And now, she was with my son.
I hurried forward, pulling Camilla along with me to get out of the way before Cassie and Jason emerged from the coffee shop.
“Come along. Let’s get to that restaurant over there, honey.”
“Ok, Daddy, but you promised you’d explain!” she cried, following my hastening footsteps until we turned a corner.
Why was she with Jason? What could they possibly be discussing?
With my mind full of these questions and more, I somehow found the restaurant, and Camilla and I slid into a booth.
“What do you want, Camilla?”
“Grilled cheese!” she said with a smile.
The waitress came over, and we ordered our food, but my mood had lowered considerably. First, she’d left without much explanation the day before, and now she was spending time with the ex who had broken it off with her years ago.
“Now, Daddy, are you going to explain or not?” Camilla’s intelligent eyes narrowed at me.
I sighed and folded my hands in front of me. “I just didn’t want us to interrupt Cassie. It looked like she was meeting with someone.”
“Oh, like going out on a date?” Camilla asked, smiling as the waitress brought her her chocolate milk.
I laughed. “What do you know about going on dates, Camilla?”
“I know that I think Cassie came over on a date with you, Daddy. Why would she go out on a date with somebody else?”
I smiled but didn’t answer right away.
Because I think she’s looking to go out with the younger model instead.
* * *
