Chapter Thirteen
Cade
The number of college kids swells in the lecture room, and I am certain that word has spread I’m here because there is just no way that all these kids were in the class that just finished. I am signing autograph after autograph and taking so many selfies, I’m sure I’ve gone cross eyed. I look around for Serena and don’t see her, realizing I’ve been at this for at least fifteen minutes, and she is gone from the room.
Immediately, disappointment rushes through me, and I look over at the kid in front of me, a tall and lanky blond guy, hoping he was in the class. “Hey, does Dr. Jacob’s have an office on campus?” I ask him quietly.
“Oh, yeah, it’s in Fisher Hall.”
“Great, thanks.” I scribble my name on the proffered paper and then swing my gaze around the room.
“I’m sorry, everyone, but I’ve gotta head out. Thanks for letting me sit in on your class today.” I smile, the blindingly perfect one that I use when I want to charm my way out of anything, and move to the door at the back of the room. I remember passing Fisher Hall on my way to the classroom, so I make my way back in that direction.
I haven't made it more than ten feet when I’m stopped by a group of giggling sorority sisters who want a picture. I oblige, and then regret it when one of them grabs my ass. I sidestep away and continue on only to be stopped again, this time by a man that seems around my age.
“Cade Thomas, wow, this is truly something,” he says. “My name is Benjamin Mack, I’m the head of the science department here a USC.”
I shake his hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Benjamin. Listen, I was looking for Dr. Jacobs’ office. Could you point me in that direction?”
“I can take you there myself, it would be my honor.”
“Great,” I smile tightly. There’s something about the guy’s overly enthusiastic grin paired with the smarmy glint in his eyes that strikes me as a little odd.
“So, what brings you here today?” he asks as we start walking again.
“I saw Dr. Jacobs on TV last week, and it’s been awhile since we saw each other so I wanted to come by and say hello. I remember her mentioning her Physics at the Movies class. I was intrigued by the idea and wanted to see it in action.”
“I had no idea she knew you personally,” Ben rambled as we enter Fisher Hall. “Serena is full of surprises. Like this course, for instance. I wasn’t sure about it when she first brought up the premise, but it has quickly become one of our most popular courses on campus for science majors and non-science majors alike.”
“She’s a great teacher. I even learned a thing or two myself today,” I tell him.
“That she is,” he agreed. “Well, here we are,” he says, stopping in front of a closed door.
“Thanks for the help, Ben. Really appreciate it,” I tell him, shaking his hand. I expect him to walk away, but he continues to stand there. I clear my throat. “Anything else I can do for you?” I ask, giving him a look.
“Oh, no, no, no. All good. Nice to meet you.”
“You, too.” Finally, he walks away, and I lift my hand to knock. I hesitate a beat, not exactly sure what I’m doing or what I’ll even say. I can’t believe I am trying to work up the nerve to talk to a woman when the door swings open.
“Cade,” Serena says evenly. “I wasn’t expecting to see you again.”
The sight of her takes my breath away. She’s all business in a blouse, blazer, and pencil skirt combination, and suddenly, I’ve got nothing but lusty thoughts filling my head.
“Hi,” I say and mentally grimace at how lame I must sound.
“I’m surprised you remember me, what with the parade of women you’ve been seen with in the last few years.”
“Come on now, there haven’t been that many,” I defend myself. “Besides, none of them end up on TV talking about science and Santa Claus.”
She steps back inviting me inside, and I step inside her office. She closes the door behind her and moves to her desk, motioning me to a chair across from her.
“You were good, by the way. On TV. Really good,” I stutter out.
She smiles. “Thank you. I’ve seen you on TV, too. A lot once I started paying attention, actually.”
“I liked that you didn’t know who I was,” I admit. “It was nice knowing you were interested in me, not the football player.”
“You let me think that the Super Bowl was settled by scoring home runs.”
I chuckle. “That was funny, though. I see you’ve studied up on the sport since then.”
“A little. Someone once told me that maybe using sports to teach science would be a good way to reach a younger crowd,” she said, smiling sweetly up at me.
“And, how is that working for you?”
“Today was the first day I got a chance to try it out, to be honest. But it was fun, and the students were very engaged.”
“I bet school-aged kids would love it, too,” I offer.
“Maybe.”
My gaze wanders over her desk which is cluttered, but in an organized chaos kind of way. My focus falls on a pair of framed photos. One is Serena with a slightly younger blonde version of her that I assume must be the sister she’d mentioned during our one encounter. The other is of her and a small child. There is something about the kid that seems familiar, but I can't put my finger on why.
“Is that your sister?” I ask, gesturing toward the photo.
“Yes, that’s Ashley.”
“And the other photo?”
“That’s my son.” She offers adding nothing else, and I don’t press. I can tell she’s wary of my presence, and I know I must tread lightly.
“Why are you here, Cade? Seriously?”
“I wanted to ask you out to dinner.”
“Did you break up with Josephine again?” Her sarcasm is biting.
“This isn’t about Josephine.”
“Couldn’t find any Hollywood starlets to tide you over until the two of you get back together?”
I wince at her words. They cut because they’re true, and I know I have to prove myself to her. “I wanted to see you. I’ve thought about you hundreds of times since that night. Maybe thousands,” I emphasize.
“Really?”
I can tell whatever wall she has built up just cracked a little. I don’t want her to think I’m feeding her a line because I’m not. Honesty seems like the only way to go, so I press forward.
“Really, Serena. I liked talking to you and spending time with you. Don’t get me wrong, I really liked all the other stuff, too. But that isn’t why I’m here. The truth is, I was looking forward to seeing what might happen between us. I was ready to embark on something new, something I saw as exciting. I wanted to date you, get to know you, but when I woke up...you were gone with only a post-it note left in your wake. That hurt a little.”
“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” she says softly. “I just... No one like you had ever hit on me before, and you were so sweet, and I had so much fun with you, but...”
“But what?” I press.
“I don’t know. I just couldn't see it going anywhere. We’re worlds apart, Cade.”
“How did you know that, though? You had no idea who I was that night.”
“You’re right. I didn’t know you were a Hall of Fame-worthy quarterback. But I did know that you were very smooth and very rich. I’m a simple science nerd. And, I might not have known you were a jock then, but it was obvious that you were more than just a businessman. I’ve never met a businessman in my life with a body like yours.”
“You liked my body?” I tease, wiggling my eyebrows at her. She blushes.
“Shut up, you know it’s incredible. I mean, how often do you go to the gym?”
I laugh. “Six days a week.”
“Six days a week?! Are you certifiable?” she smiles.
“It was a part of my job, and I loved it, so no, not quite certifiable,” I wink at her.
“I don’t work out. Between school and home, who has the time?”
“What about dating, do you have the time for that?” I ask sincerely.
“I have a son, and he has to come first.”
“You should put yourself first sometimes, too.”
“Easier said than done when you’re a single mom,” she says.
“There’s no Mister Doctor Jacobs waiting at home?”
“There is nobody waiting at home.”
“No boyfriend?” I ask just for good measure.
“I don’t date much.”
“Why not? You’re beautiful and smart. How has no one won you over?”
“You have to go out to meet people, Cade. I very rarely do that.”
“So, go out with me, then. Let me take you to dinner. Can Ashley babysit for you tonight?”
“Why would I go out with you? You’ve been going through the same back and forth cycle with Josephine for years. You break up, you parade around town for a week with other women while she shows up everywhere with a piece of man candy, and then you’re back together like none of it happened. I’m not a fling. I have more self-respect than that.”
“And, I told you that night you were more than that. I meant it. I mean it even more now.”
“I don’t know, Cade.”
“Please? Just one date, that’s all I’m asking, Serena. I promise that I’ll be a perfect gentleman, and if you still think I’m a toolbag, then I won’t ever bother you again.”
“Ashley is getting ready for a show and is painting tonight.”
“Tomorrow?” I ask, hoping she’ll agree.
She looks at me for a moment and takes a deep breath. “Okay.”
“Okay?” I repeat optimistically.
“Okay.”
I try not to look giddy, but I’m fairly certain I fail. “Let me give you my number, and we’ll figure out all the details.”
When I leave Serena’s office five minutes later, I am elated. I don’t know that I’ve ever felt this excited about a date with a woman. I know the battle is only half won, though. I’ve got an uphill climb to prove myself, but I am more than up to the challenge.