As Jason opens the door for me, he explains Pinewood Social and the hangout concept. Apparently, it offers everything anyone could want—coffee, dining, bowling, Bocce ball, a pool.
“I thought we could eat dinner and then we could bowl.”
“That sounds like fun.”
We walk in to see a wall of people. Jason shakes some hands and smiles at others, always holding my hand and keeping me by his side. The hostess walks us to our table, and I smile when it’s a booth to the back of the restaurant. I’m sure Jason requested that.
“What do you think?”
I look around the huge industrial space. “So many people are here.”
“Yeah. It’s kind of a hip place. Their brunch is good, too.”
“Cool.” I look around, observing the crowd and décor. It’s simple; some walls with exposed, whitewashed brick and different types of lighting. I see the bowling alleys from our booth and hear the people cheering as they play.
I realize how much I’ve secluded myself from the world by working and being a mother. It’s hard to balance a social life when money is very tight and you have a daughter to care for. I didn’t even know this place existed, but then again, I don’t run in this circle.
“Hey, I feel like I keep losing you,” Jason dips his head to make eye contact.
“Sorry. If I can be honest—”
“Yes. I want you to be one-hundred-percent honest with me.” Jason’s shoulders slump a bit.
“I’m realizing how removed I am from this.” I wave my hand around the space. “I know nothing about any of this. I can’t even remember the last time I bowled.”
“It’s a good thing I’m an excellent teacher then,” Jason’s smile is mischievous and his eyes twinkle.
“I don’t remember the last time I was on a date. Way before Rae was born. Maybe high school or right after graduation?”
“That doesn’t matter. Relax and enjoy the experience.”
“Hi, I’m Mandy. I’ll be your server today. Can I get you something to drink while you browse the menu?” a chirpy brunette with a wavy bob says.
“Do you know what you want to drink?” Jason asks.
I quickly scan the drink portion of the menu. “I’ll have a sangria.”
“Awesome choice. How about you?” She looks at Jason.
“The Top Hop IPA.”
“I’ll be right back with your drinks. If you have any questions about our menu, I’m here to help.”
“Thanks,” Jason replies as our waitress walks away.
“She didn’t say anything about who you are.”
Jason shakes his head. “We come here often, and the staff is used to seeing us. Quite a few well-known musicians stop by as well, so the staff is trained to treat us like everyone else. Besides, I’m not that popular.”
I raise an eyebrow and lean back in the booth. “Really?”
Jason laughs. “Not like Cash.”
“You’re all popular. If I recognized you, everyone else here would.”
“Tonight’s about us, though.”
The side of my mouth tilts into a smile. “Okay.”
The waitress serves our drinks and takes our dinner order. Jason holds his beer up once she walks away. “Cheers.” I raise my glass to his, feeling silly. “To new beginnings.”
“Cheers.” I tap my glass with his and take a sip of the fruity, wine cocktail.
“How’s the sangria?”
“Delicious. It’s been so long since I’ve had a cocktail. I may need to limit myself to one. I’m lame.”
“You’re not. You’re a responsible parent, who loves her daughter.”
“More like a single mom trying to make ends meet so her daughter has a place to sleep.” Why did I just say that? “Sorry.”
Jason reaches for my hand across the table and smiles. “Don’t apologize. I admire you. Anyone else would’ve given her up or terminated the pregnancy. You’re a fighter, Cassidy Rae. You’re brave.”
“Thanks,” my voice is hushed.
“What was your favorite cocktail before you had Rae?”
“I’d have to say Jack and Coke. I’m simple like that.”
“Jack and Coke is always a good choice. What’s something you love to do?”
“I love dancing. It was so invigorating to step out onto a dance floor and let loose. After high school, I got a job at a bar to help my parents with their bills. My mom had to quit working when she got sick, and it was too much for my dad to handle on his own. Bartending paid well enough, but I loved watching people dance and let go of their shields for a little while. Alcohol does that, make you less guarded.”
“I’m a great dancer,” Jason winks.
“Really?”
“Yup. I can put Luke Bryan’s moves to shame.”
I laugh until I snort and cover my face.
“That was cute.”
“Oh yeah, because sounding like a pig is adorable.”
“Nah, you didn’t sound like a pig. It’s nice to see you laugh openly. I know I’ve only seen you a few times, and you’re different around Rae, but I like seeing you like this. I like sitting across from you, holding your hand, and learning about the woman behind the mom.”
“I’m so used to being that mom. Are you even sure you want to get involved with a mom? It’s not easy, and it’s definitely not the same as dating someone who has no attachments.”
“I like you, Caz. Relationships don’t come with a checklist. Sure, I can have an idea of the woman I want in my life, but I’m not going to throw away a chance with that woman because she has a daughter. That’s not a deal breaker for me.”
We’re talking as if we were more serious than we actually are. He mentions an us as if we’ve been steady. How is he so sure?
“You don’t even know me.”
“You gotta stop with that excuse. No one knows anyone until they take the time to get to know them. I watch you. I’m an observer by nature. When I sit at Joyce’s Diner, I take you in. The way you interact with your customers, how you cross your arms when you’re uncomfortable, and the way you giggle when one of your regulars teases you. I see it. I see the way you look at Rae as if she’s the only light in your world. I’m sure she is, but I want a piece of that light.”
I stare at Jason, my heart racing. I used to believe in love like this, but I stopped believing a long time ago. Is it possible to have someone in my life who would care about me and Rae?
“I know I need to stop with that excuse. I keep telling myself to get over that, but it’s hard to. The last time I dated someone for more than a few weeks was when I was in high school. I asked to take things slow because I have no idea how to do this. I haven’t been out with anyone since I got pregnant. I get that this sounds repetitive, but it has nothing to do with you.”
“Caz,” Jason laces our fingers. “I get it. I was seeing someone and I didn’t click with her the way I’m clicking with you from the start. Yeah, we got along really well, but the beginning was a chase. I hate games, and I thought she was different, but all she wanted was to use me to get to the big names in the music industry. I got played, and it sucks. I want to put that out in the open because I’m about honesty. If you’re honest with me, tell me what you’re really feeling, we can make this work.”
“Am I a rebound?” I blurt out.
“Hell, no. I wouldn’t work this hard for a rebound. Ever since I saw you that first day, I liked you. It was a combination of things. When I found out you had a daughter I tried to stay away because I assumed you were married or with the father. But trust me, never did a rebound cross my mind.”
I nod. “I want to have fun tonight. Get to know you, too. Can we start over?”
Jason shakes his head. “I like that we talked this out. How about we order another round and kick off the conversation in a different direction.”
“I like that plan.”
Jason and I eat and talk. Although I told him I would only have one sangria, I’m enjoying the second one mighty well.
“So you were homecoming queen?” Jason asks.
“Yeah.” I think back to that night. I was one of the popular girls in high school, and I was nice. Everyone liked me. Back then I didn’t think I’d end up where I am now, but I am a fighter, like Jason said.
“Who was the king?”
“Typical—captain of the football team. We were friends, so I was happy with that choice.”
“I never won anything cool like that in high school,” Jason pouts.
“Who you are in high school doesn’t define who you’ll be. I never thought I’d have a child so young. It wasn’t in my plans. I remember telling my friends it’d be a long time, if ever, that I’d have a kid. And bam, three years later I get pregnant.”
Jason nods as he listens to me speak. “Anyway, did you play any sports?”
“Not in high school. I played baseball when I was younger.”
“The All-American sport. I used to watch when I was a kid.”
“You know, Cole’s girlfriend, Bri, works for the Sounds. Maybe we can go to a game one day and take Rae.”
I bite my lip and smile, nodding. Could this actually be real?
After dinner, we head to the bowling lanes. It’s an odd feeling being taken care of and have someone pay for my meal. Jason does it so nonchalantly.
He’s barely released by hand, and I can’t hide the joy that gives me. After we laid everything out on the table, our conversation flowed. Jason told me about his sisters and his parents. They’ve both remarried, and he gets on well with their spouses.
“I know you said you haven’t bowled in a while, so I’m ready to teach you anything you need.” Jason’s eyes twinkle with a naughty gleam as he pulls me to him by my hand, resting his other one on my waist.
“I only have one condition for our game tonight.”
“What?” I breathe out.
“You have fun.” This is the closest we’ve been. I can see a ring of gray around his pupils.
“I can live with that.” Jason chuckles at my reaction and kisses my forehead.
I pull in a gulp of air. All those romantic movies I used to watch and love showed forehead kisses, and I always thought the woman’s reaction was exaggerated. It’s so not.
“Come on.”
We put on the bowling shoes and settle into our lane. I decline the offer of another sangria, knowing two is my limit for tonight. I don’t want a headache at work tomorrow and I want to be in control. I still have Rae to think about, even if I’m here having fun with Jason.
“Anything else to drink?”
“Water would be great.” I check my phone to make sure Abigail hasn’t called while Jason grabs our drinks. Thank goodness for inexpensive phone plans. The data isn’t the best, but I don’t use it for anything other than calls.
“Everything okay?” Jason asks as he returns.
I put my phone back in my purse and smile. “Yeah. I wanted to make sure I didn’t miss a call from Abigail.”
“Good. Now get ready to learn from the pro.”
I giggle. “I never said I don’t know how to bowl. I said it’s been years.”
“Let me have this moment,” he jokes.
When he walks up to me, my breath catches. The closeness accelerates my heart. There’s an intimacy involved.
“Besides, I keep thinking about holding you close as I help you throw the ball.” My eyes flutter closed for a brief second. “You feel it, too.”
I nod and wonder how his short beard would feel as he kisses me. I dare touch his face, my fingers barely touching his skin to see if it’s pinchy or soft. Jason stares at me as I explore. His beard is soft, framing his face flawlessly.
“Jason,” someone calls out. We both jump back as if we’ve been caught in a secret rendezvous. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.” I turn to look at the man speaking, sheepish shrug taking over his body.
“Hey, Tyler. No interruptions. What’s good? This is Cassidy Rae. Caz, this is Tyler Hunt.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Caz. I’m here celebrating my latest album. Just wanted to say hi. I’ll leave you two alone.”
“Congrats, brother. Tell Mikayla I say hi.”
“Will do,” Tyler waves over his shoulder.
“Thanks to him, we got our big break in this industry,” Jason tells me. “He took us on tour as his opening act a few years ago, and his label signed us on after that.”
“I love his music,” I say, a little starstruck.
“Let’s play.” Jason smirks and grabs my hand, guiding me to the lane.
As we take turns bowling, Jason tells me about his career. I ask him a lot more questions than I mean to, but the more he speaks, the more curious I become about the music industry and how it all works.
“It sounds fascinating,” I say as I stand next to him while he gears up to bowl.
“It is.” He looks at me and winks. “Strike,” he exclaims.
I groan jokingly.
“Come here.” He beckons me with his hand. “Stand here. Tilt your body like this.” He grabs my hips, shifting me a tiny bit to the right. “Now, you’re going to wind your arm back, and when you swing, put your body into it.”
I hold the ball as I’m supposed to, and Jason stands behind me. One hand is on my hip, the other holding my bowling arm. We move together, him guiding my body to propel forward enough to release the ball with force. His body is warm against mine, and when I release the ball, the hand at the hip moves toward my stomach and hugs me.
“Excellent,” he whispers in my ear.
I’m frozen. Who knew bowling could be sexy? I never imagined being out like this. Not even in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be out on a date again, especially with someone like Jason. The most attention I’ve gotten is from perverted truck drivers.
I shiver.
“Are you cold?” Jason asks.
“No.” I turn around to face him.
We’re paused in this moment as I look into the eyes of a man that’s supposed to be a stranger, yet feels more real than most things in my life. It’s a glimpse of the life I could’ve had if not for that one-night-stand. Would I still have had a daughter like Rae with a man like Jason?
He clears his throat and looks at the scoreboard. “You knocked down almost all the pins.”
“Now it’s game on,” I joke. I go for the second round and knock down another two pins.
“Good job. Now watch the pro.”
By the time the game is over, my laughter is heard by everyone near us. Some people stare, others laugh with me. Jason is being silly. Each time it’s his turn to bowl, he shakes his behind, reminding me he could put Luke Bryan to shame with the dancing.
He dances his way up to me, making a fool of himself, but everyone around us seems to enjoy it as they cheer him on. I cover my face, my stomach cramping as I snort.
“Oh, God.” I say and Jason laughs.
“I think it’s adorable.” He stands me up from the chair and continues to dance to whatever song is playing in the building. I’m too embarrassed to notice. A few people whistle and cheer. I bury my face into Jason’s shoulder.
When the song ends, Jason hugs me. “Are you having fun?”
“Yes,” I look up at him.
“Good. I’ve accomplished my job.”
When Jason drops me off at home, he helps me carry Rae in and waits for me to lay her in bed.
“I had a great time tonight, Caz.”
“Are you always going to call me that now?”
“Rae came up with it, and she’s a girl you don’t go against.”
“You’re right about that. Thank you for tonight, Jason. I had fun.”
“I’m so glad you did. I want to see you again.”
“Okay.” My stomach flutters.
“Tell me when, and I’ll be free.” He brushes my hair away from my face, inching in as if waiting for me to reject his descending lips. When they finally touch mine, I sigh. Jason cradles my face with both hands and holds me to him as his lips kiss mine. The tip of his tongue teases mine, but he doesn’t take it any further. His forehead leans on mine, his eyes closed.
“I know you want to take things slow, but I’ve been itching to kiss you all night. Every time I held you close, I wanted to taste your lips.”
“You’re not the only one,” I whisper.
“We’re playing at Riot tomorrow night, but I’ll call you before. Get rest for tomorrow.”
I watch Jason walk to his car before locking the door and leaning against it. Tonight I felt like a true twenty-eight year old woman on a date.
Once in bed, I toss and turn to get comfortable, hoping I don’t wake Rae. Finally in a comfortable position, my phone makes a sound. I furrow my eyebrows and stand to grab it from my purse.
Jason: Goodnight, beautiful
I smile and internally squeal. I’ve never been a big texter. I’m more old school. Give me conversation instead of half-written words and images, but this message went straight to my heart.