by Ivy Jordan
“What do you mean?”
“I mean he’s been off and on with the same woman for what? Five years? And, he’s likely got a bedpost full of notches, myself included.”
“You don’t know that he’s slept with all the women he’s been photographed with.”
“You’re right; there could be others that never graced the pages of US Weekly.”
“Why not give him a chance, Serena? He sought you out, that means something, right?”
“Maybe,” I concede.
“What’s the big deal? He’s a good-looking guy; let him wine and dine you. Carpe diem!”
“I’m a mom now, Ashley. I can’t just do whatever I feel like. I have to think about Alan.”
Ashley frowns. “I know you’re the serious one, but you’re being way more serious than normal. What gives, Serena? What’s the real issue?”
I sigh. I haven’t even admitted the truth to myself, so how can I admit it to my sister? “This isn’t like the last time, Ash. This isn’t you making me go out on a blind date. I’m responsible for another human being. I have to make the right choices not just for me, but for Alan, too.”
“That’s not it, though. There’s more. He’s Alan’s dad. Doesn’t that earn him a chance?”
“He doesn’t know that.”
“You didn't tell him?” she scoffs.
“Why would I tell him? He just showed up. That’s not something you just spring on someone after you haven’t told him for three years.”
“I just don’t understand why you’re not more excited. He’s handsome and rich. He can take care of you and Alan.”
“We don’t need someone to take care of us; we’re doing fine on our own.”
“Is that what this is about? You don’t want him to know because you think he’ll try to take him or something?”
“I don’t think Cade would ever do something like that.”
“Tell me then. Tell me what’s going on in your head. Help me understand because right now I think you’re certifiably insane for not wanting to go out with that man.”
“That's just it. I do want to go out with him, I just don’t want to admit it.”
“Why not?”
“Because I like him far more than I should. We had one date over three years ago. But it felt like so much more.”
“Is that why you ran off in the middle of the night?”
“Yeah, maybe. I was scared.”
“Well, I think you should find out now. He could be good for you, everything you’ve ever looked for. He could be good for that adorable nephew of mine. He is half his after all.”
“It pains me greatly to say this, but I know you’re right.”
“I’m always right. My only word of warning is to keep a low profile. He’s a paparazzi magnet, and if you don’t keep a low profile, they’ll find you and be all over you.”
“There’s still one other thing,” I admit.
“What’s that?”
“What if I tell him about Alan, and he’s furious? That scares me more than anything.”
Ashley reaches her hand over and squeezes mine. “He does deserve to know. And if he’s angry, would you blame him?”
“No,” I say. “He’d have every right to be.”
“Well, have dinner with him. Feel the situation out, and go with your instincts. That’s all you can do,” she assures me.
We finish our drinks, and Ashley tells me more about her upcoming show and the painting I interrupted her working on earlier. Before long, I leave to pick Alan up from my parents and head home. I have dinner with my son and then it is bath time for him. We play with cars in the floor of his bedroom for an hour and then settle into his bed where I read to him until he falls asleep. I kiss his forehead and tiptoe from the room, leaving the door cracked open as I retreat to my bedroom.
I am sitting on my bed, staring at my phone, teetering with the idea of canceling my date with Cade, when it chimes with an incoming text message.
Dinner tomorrow at 7? I can pick you up.
I’m not ready for him to know where I live, so I reply with, Send me the address and I’ll meet you there.
You promise you won’t stand me up? he asks.
I promise. I’ll see you tomorrow night, Cade.
I can hardly wait. Goodnight, Serena.
Chapter 15
Cade
After my encounter with Serena in her office, I didn’t sleep for crap. I never got like this before a big game, so why are there so many emotions going through me now? I wonder. I’m anxious and nervous about my date with Serena, but I’m excited, too. I still have no clue what possessed me to drive to USC and basically stalk her, but I’m glad I did. She’s still everything I remember and then some. Best part, even though she now knows who I am, she still isn’t affected by it. Maybe that’s why I’m nervous. She’s not like any other woman I’ve been out with. And, I want this to be perfect. Oddly enough, for the first time in my adult life, I want to impress a woman.
I’ve had ideas spinning in my head since last night. This morning, I got the idea of taking her to a really upscale place that is always impressive, and so I called to make a reservation for us.
I’m still feeling antsy, though, even after making solid plan. Despite it being early, I head into my closet to pick out something to wear and after thirty minutes of back and forth with myself, I finally settle on something. I check the clock to see I still have two hours before I need to head in to work. Plenty of time for a long shower and breakfast before making the drive to the studio where the show is filmed when we’re not on location.
Driving in to work only gives me more time to stress out over tonight. I need to stop. On second thought, what I need is to talk to somebody about Serena. Sadly, the number of real friends in my life are few. There is one person, though. Tyler. I know I can spill my guts to him, and he’ll give me honest feedback. He’s the last person I ever thought I’d call my best friend had you asked me a few years ago.
Tyler Washington was my biggest rival on the field, playing for the Condors biggest rival: the Vipers. We were drafted the same year, me with the first pick, Tyler with the second. He won the Super Bowl first – which absolutely killed me – but in the end, I won it more times. I hated the guy, even still when he retired the year before me.
When I was approached about doing a weekly commentary show after I announced my own retirement, I was excited, until they told me that Tyler and I were going to be hosting together. I came so close to turning it down, until our producer convinced me to sit down and meet him, one on one, and make a decision with fresh eyes and look at Tyler as a partner in this, not a rival. Switching off game mode was hard, but I did sit down for that lunch with Tyler and surprisingly, we hit it off. He’s still a cocky SOB, but I know I can always count on him for advice when I need it.
I park in my designated spot at the studio and head inside, greeting staff and security guards as I go. After a quick spin in the makeup chair and through the wardrobe department for my suit, I take a seat in the green room, going over our producer's notes for this week, as well as my own while I await Ty’s arrival.
Fifteen minutes pass before Tyler walks in and he smiles easily in greeting. “Hey, man. You’re early.” Tyler is always here before me; I am usually pulling in just ten minutes before we film.
“I broke up with Josephine,” I blurt out.
“Yeah, you do that about every two weeks, what’s new?”
“No, I did it for real, for good.”
Tyler studies me for a long minute before he says anything else. “You’re serious.”
“Dead serious,” I confirm.
“It took you long enough. That girl is nothing but trouble. You can do better. Hell, you deserve better. She’s only ever been after you because you’re a household name. She could care less about your likes and dislikes, so long as you’re famous and she gets to show up on your arm.”
“It was so fake. And annoying. I hated all the pre
mieres she dragged me to. Half of those movies were awful.”
“You need someone down to earth and real, who sees the you that no one else gets to see.”
“Yeah, well, we’re not all lucky enough to find that in high school and marry her.”
“Yep, I’m pretty lucky.”
“How did you know, that Tamara was the one?”
“I don’t know that there was any one thing that made me know. It was just a feeling, and I knew. I know how fortunate I am to have found someone that doesn’t give a shit about the fame or the money. She just loves me, flaws and all. It’s not easy, but it’s out there.”
“That’s all I want, someone who loves me for me...and I think maybe I found someone.”
“Come again? You think you found someone? When? How? Who?”
“Her name is Serena, and we met a month after I won my last Super Bowl.”
“You’ve known her this long and have never mentioned her?”
“Well, I had one night with her, and she snuck out on me. I haven’t seen her since, not until last week when I saw her on TV. She’s a professor at USC, and yesterday, I showed up in her class, and then found her in her office and asked her out.”
“So, what you’re saying is that you barely know this girl.”
“I know it sounds like I’m saying that, but that one night was hours of talking and getting to know each other. She had no idea who I was and it was so nice to just be Cade Thomas and not Cade Thomas football player, you know? I felt something different with her, but she was gone before it could even begin.”
“You think she sees you for you?”
“She did that night, and even yesterday she didn’t seem fazed about my celebrity.”
“I’m happy that you think you found someone, but do you even know how to be in a healthy relationship?”
“No, but that’s why I’m friends with you.”
“I’m going to be honest with you, then. If you think that this Serena woman is someone you want to have something with long term, if you want this to be a true and healthy relationship and not at all like what you had with Josephine, then you should take things slow and really show her you’re looking for something more, something with substance.
“Because let’s face it: your love life has been plastered on the front of every magazine for the last four years, and she might not buy into anything that comes out of your mouth. You have to prove to her that it’s not just about a quick fuck and that it is more than that. If you can do that, then maybe this has a shot. But you also need to prepare yourself for rejection. Whatever happens happens...but I’ll be rooting for you.”
We’re called to set and as I follow Tyler out, I replay his words in my head, knowing he’s right. I have to prove to Serena that she means more if I want this to last. Attraction is one thing, and I already know we can be great together. This time though I need to court her before any of the other stuff happens. This time I’m going to do it right, and I’m going to win the girl.
Because I always play to win.
Chapter 16
Serena
The day passes by slowly, not at all surprising since I find myself checking the clock every five minutes.
I am nervous about seeing Cade, but I am also terribly giddy about it. Despite my reservations, I remember him to be a sweet, charming, and kind man. It has been a long time since my last date, though, and I worry about embarrassing myself, especially with someone like Cade. Before it was easy because I had no idea who he was and I didn't notice the stares.
Now is different. Now I know he’s Cade Thomas, football superstar, and the looks cannot be missed. His love life has filled gossip sites in the time since our meeting, and I wonder how I could possibly measure up to the others he’s been seen with.
I try not to think about that too much and instead focus on the date itself. I haven’t been out on a date in so long since I didn’t date anyone once I found out I was pregnant. I met one guy early in my first trimester, but it just didn’t feel right, being with someone while being pregnant with another man’s kid. Instead, I focused on taking the best care of myself for the baby. Ashley was with me every step of the way, doing prenatal yoga, as my Lamaze coach, the works. She was amazing and has spoiled Alan since before he was born.
It’s been great having my sister to count on through it all, but around the time Alan turned one, I felt a bit like something was missing. I went out on a few dates, but each either ended in disaster or with the guy never calling again once I told him I had a child. My last date was around the time Alan was two, and he turned three last month. It’s a long time to be deliberately celibate, but no one has felt right. It’s been as if a piece was missing that I can’t quite place.
After my day of teaching ends, I hurry home to spend a little bit of time with Alan. Ashley arrives around four, and I hop in the shower to start getting ready. When I get out of the shower, I find my sister in my bedroom rooting through my closet.
“What are you doing?” I ask her.
“Trying to find you something to wear. I knew I should have brought something from my place.”
“I would never wear your clothes on a date.”
“Everything you own is so matronly, though.”
“My clothes are not matronly. Besides, I was going to just wear some nice jeans and boots with a cute top and a sweater.”
“Where is he taking you?”
I name a place I’m unfamiliar with and Ashley’s jaw drops. “Serena, that is one of the hardest restaurants to get into. There is no way you can wear jeans; you have to dress up.”
She disappears into my closet, and I hear her after a minute call out excitedly. “I found something! Oh my God, it’s perfect.” She thrusts the outfit at me. “Put it on!”
“I can’t wear this; it’ll be too tight.” This is a sleeveless black jumpsuit I bought six months ago with a keyhole detail at the neckline.
She waves away my concern. “It will look amazing. Get dressed while I pick out jewelry.”
She is back inside my closet before I can respond. I know that arguing with my sister is a futile cause, so instead, I set out to put on the outfit she has picked. When she emerges again, I am dressed, and she has a gold belt, black and nude patterned heels, gold hoop earrings, and gold and wood bangles in hand. She sets it all down on the bed and looks me over.
“How are you going to wear your hair?”
“Loose waves?”
She nods her approval. “I like it. Do you want me to do your makeup?”
“Yes, please.”
When she’s finished with my makeup, Ashley steps out to make Alan some dinner while I work on my hair. A little after six, I emerge from my bedroom and into the living room where Ashley and Alan are playing. When she looks up at me, Ashley whistles.
“You look hot, Sis.”
“It’s not too much?” I ask, self-consciously touching my hair.
“Mommy, you pretty,” Alan says.
“Thanks, baby.” I kiss the top of his head.
“It’s not too much. It’s gonna knock Cade to his ass.”
“Aunt Ashley say bad word, Mommy,” Alan says with wide eyes.
“Aunt Ashley owes a dollar to the swear jar, doesn’t she, bud?” He nods solemnly.
“Sorry, little guy,” Ashley tells him as she gets up, grabbing a bill from her purse and stuffing it in the jar. “I put in five in case I forget anymore tonight.”
“Call me if you need anything, okay?” I tell my sister.
“We’ll be fine, Serena. I’ve done this hundreds of times.”
“I know; I’m just nervous.”
“You have nothing to worry about. It’s gonna be great. I’ll be up waiting to hear all about it when you get home. Now get going or you’ll be late.”
“Okay, I’m going.” I squat down to my son’s level and kiss his cheek. “Be good for Aunt Ashley, okay?”
“Okay, Mommy.”
“I love you.”
/> “I love you, Mommy.”
I stand with a smile as Alan turns his attention back to his cars. I grab the waist-length leather jacket Ashley bought me for my birthday from the closet and throw it on before I pick up my purse and move a few necessities over to the clutch I’m planning to carry.
In my car, I put the address to the restaurant in my GPS and follow the directions until I am across town and pulling up to a valet stand. I turn my car over to the young man who opens my door and turn for the door.
Cade steps out from the shadows, and my mouth goes dry. He is as gorgeous as I remember, and even better, wearing an immaculately tailored navy suit and white dress shirt with no tie, the first couple of buttons undone. He drinks me in and a thrill shoots through me at the way his eyes roam over me.
“Hi,” I say shyly.
He smiles. “You look beautiful.”
I blush. “Thank you.”
“Shall we?”
I nod and let him hold the door so I can enter first. He places a hand on the small of my back to guide me and gives his name to the hostess, who trips over herself when she realizes who is standing in front of her. I ignore her as Cade is nothing but polite, his hand steady as we are led to a table. He pulls my chair out, and I sit and the hostess leaves, promising a waiter will be over shortly.
“Ashley says this place is nearly impossible to get into,” I say when we are alone. “You must be pretty special to have pulled this off.”
He chuckles. “The owner owed me a favor.”
I nod. “Well, it is very nice. I’m just glad Ash told me because I was going to wear jeans.”
“I’m sure you’d look just as beautiful in jeans.”
Our waiter appears and Cade orders a bottle of wine. While he is gone, we both take a moment to look over our menus. When he returns, he pours us each a glass before taking our orders. After he leaves, Cade asks me about exoplanet surveys. I am impressed that he remembers my telling him that I was involved in a research group back when we first met. I try to explain it to him as best I can how we search the skies beyond our solar system for other planets that orbit stars. While he doesn't understand the details nuances of what I do, he does get the basics and is versed enough to keep up with the conversation. It is a nice change of pace, being on a date with someone who is interested in what I do, and not just asking for the show of it.
