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She looks away with a shy smile, picking up the sodas. I put the pizza boxes between us, flip the tops open and sit down with her. She takes off her shoes, placing them on the grass. “This is nice,” she says, swaying to the jitterbug music and taking a bite of pizza. “You were right. This is better than the fancy place. To be honest, it was a little overwhelming. I’m mean, it’ll be nice for another time, but this is perfect.”
“I agree.” I take a bite of my pizza. “So I didn’t lose any points for the biggest dating mistake of the night?”
“Of course not. You redeemed yourself, big time. Not that I have many dates to compare it to. But as dates go, it’s good.”
“Good sounds like a downgrade from great. Or fantastic, which is what a good date’s supposed to be, if you’re going to get another one.”
“You’re aiming kinda high aren’t you, for the beginning of the date?” She smirks. “You’re definitely getting ahead of yourself on that second date.”
“I don’t know, Lace...I’m feeling pretty good about that second date. I mean, come on— live band, dinner under the stars, and the finest cans of orange-flavored soda that money can buy.”
“Ah, yes,” she laughs. “You spared no expense, big spender.”
“Hey!” I try to hold in my laugh. “I might take offense, sounds like your calling me cheap.”
“Me! Never.” She grins. “But Shay might say otherwise.”
That smile is addictive; lets me know things are going well. “I’m sure she will. The way she’d spin it, I’d have you sitting in the dirt listening to outdated music.”
“Probably.” She tips her head back, taking a sip of her soda.
“I noticed your mother wasn’t there for the inquisition. I’m surprised she didn’t come to the door with a torch and pitchfork.”
Her lips twitch, and I know I’m not far off. “She’s fine for now. I asked her to wait upstairs with Jacob. I didn’t want him to see us going out and read too much into it. You know how kids are. By the way, how’s Jackson doing?”
“He’s okay. Could be better.”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s less talkative than usual, but he seems to be happy about the father-son baseball mixer they’re having at school.”
“I heard about it.” Her face falls a little, and I could kick myself for bringing it up.
“I shouldn’t have said anything about it. Sorry.” I’m wrecking the fucking mood.
“Don’t worry about it. It’s fine. It’s Jacob I’m worried about. Shay offered to go with him, but he said no, that he didn’t want to go. I know he does. We’ll take him out that day, make a big thing of it, to distract him.”
“You know, I can take him. I’ll be there already with Jackson. It wouldn’t be a big thing. It’ll be fun, like the monster truck.”
“I couldn’t ask you to do that. It’d be asking a lot of you. He’s not your son.”
That stops the can going to my lips, mid-air.
“Shoot, I didn’t mean it like that, Landon.” She sighs. “I don’t want to ask too much, and what would Bree think, you taking my son to a father-son activity?”
I clear my throat and put the can to the side with the pizza boxes and look her in the eyes. “Doesn’t matter what Bree wants to think. We’re not together. We are never going to be together again. The only person whose opinion matters is Jackson’s, and he’s going to be thrilled.”
“I don’t know...”
“Think of it as a big-brother mentorship, Lace; all his friends are going to be there. They’re going to be talking about it on Monday morning. Why should he be left out?”
Her head down, she brushes her hair behind her ears. “Let me think about it.”
Propping one leg up, hand on my knee, I sweep her hair behind her other ear to get a good look at her. “Okay.” Her eyes meet mine, and she’s fine. It’s time to move away from this subject. “No more talk about the kids. Let’s focus on us.” I take her hand and give her a smile.
“We should do that.” She smiles.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have a request.” We turn our heads to the band on stage. An elderly couple is standing next to the lead singer. “This lovely couple’s kids asked if we would play their favorite song. Their eldest, Jacob, who swears he’s the reason they’re together, is in the band on guitars.” He chuckles as the guitar squeals in the back, and the couple shake their heads at their son. “Today is their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Maybe you could give some of us who are relationship-challenged the secret to fifty years together.” He turns the mic to them.
