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I watch Sadie go before looking around. The house seems small but feels more like a home than my large empty apartment. Everything seems to have a place and screams Sadie. It's bright and full of life with plants on every windowsill and books on every shelf you can't help but relax in the warm home.
Sadie returns a few minutes later and sits on the cosy sofa. As I sit back relaxing further into it Binx jumps up and settles onto my lap. Sadie chuckles beside me as I stroke his head.
“You should feel privileged he doesn't usually like strangers,” she says taking a sip of her tea. I sip mine as I stroke the cats head before glancing in her direction.
“Maybe he's just got good taste in men,” I joke as Sadie smiles.
I watch as she pulls her legs up underneath her and leans against the side of the sofa. She looks much better than she did before.
“Other than Binx is it just you living here?” I ask looking around as I take another sip of my drink. Sadie nods as she looks at the fireplace.
“It’s easier to be alone.” Sadie looks at me I see a sadness in her eyes I've never seen before.
I lean across and place my cup on the coffee table before I place Binx on the sofa beside us and turn to face Sadie. I take both hands in mine as I look deep into her brown eyes.
“Everything Trudy told you was the truth. Apart from one thing, since the day I walked into the library, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you. In all the years I've been single and taken countless women to events, not one of them was my first thought when I open my eyes. Or the last thing I see when I close them. I count down the days until I can take Alice back to the place I have avoided since I was a teenager just so I can see your smile and the way your eyes sparkle when you laugh or the dimple that appears on your right-hand cheek when someone says something that tickles you. I know how this sounds especially as you know I've been a player but I don't want to be that with you.” I let go with one of my hands and run it through my hair as I start to feel more nervous than I have in years.
“I know with everything I'm telling you I'm giving you no reason to trust me or take a leap of faith in me, but I'm asking you to give me a chance to make you happy to try spending time together whether that's as friends or more. Just please give me one chance. Do you think you could do that?”
“I don't know Jayden, you are asking a lot. How do I know you aren’t just playing me?”
“Because for one, my sister would literally skin me alive and Alice would kill me if I ever upset you,” I answer smiling making her chuckle. “I know I’m asking a lot, but how about this? We take it one day to a time we plan one date. Then after that, we regroup and decide if we want a second one. After each one, we decide together what our next move is.”
“One day at a time?”
I nod in confirmation.
“No expectations. No relationship. Just two friends spending time together,” Sadie dictates.
“If that's what you want then that's what you get and maybe one day I'll be able to prove to you that I'm a changed man and that I care.”
“I think I can manage that,” Sadie says smiling at me. And for the first time in days, I feel a tiny bit of hope, that I may be able to prove to this woman that she's changing me for the better. “So, what will our first date be?”
Chapter six
Jayden
I pull up outside the house and take a deep breath as I shut off the engine. Why the hell am I so nervous? I never get nervous before a date. There's just something about this woman which has gotten under my skin.
“Can I go and get her Uncle Jay?”
I turn to look at Alice beaming in the back. We decided for our first date we wanted as little pressure on each other as possible so we decided to take Alice out for the day.
“Come on then, let's go and get her,” I chuckle as I climb out of the car and unstrap Alice from her car seat. She jumps out excitedly and grabs my hand before dragging me towards Sadie’s front door. I lift her so that she can reach the doorbell before lowering her back down and taking her hand. She looks up at me smiling like the Cheshire Cat. She's been so excited for today having her has helped distract me from my nerves as my stomach flips around like a lovesick teenager.
“I hear her!” Alice whispers excitedly. The door opens and I'm left breathless when Sadie appears in her purple summer dress. Her hair half up and half down in soft curls over her shoulders. Her cheeks a red as she smiles.
“Hey,” I whisper with a big smile on my face.
“Hi,” she replies her eyes not leaving mine.
“Hey, Sadie!” Alice calls excitedly snapping the spell we are both under.
“Hi Alice,” Sadie exclaims as she leans down and hugs my niece. “Are you ready for the zoo?” Sadie asks as she stands back up and looks between Alice and me.
“We can't wait. Do you have everything you need? Tablets? Coat? Bag?” I ask. She nods as she holds up her bag and puts a coat over it. “Then let’s go.”
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