Cry For You_A Second Chance Romance

by Shaniel Watson

  “You look good. But you need a finishing touch.” She takes her gold bracelet off and puts it on me. “I like this peachy tulle tiered skirt. Goes great with the iridescent blouse. A departure from your regular style. It’s good.”

  “Thanks.” I was worried maybe my top was too fitted. It’s been forever since I’ve dressed up like this to go out. Actual heels. I’m usually in mommy or work mode. Jeans, shirt, flats. “I bought these silver sandals this week for tonight.”

  “They’re killer. I might borrow them.”

  “Anytime.” I would love that. She has a closet full of black. She looks great in colors. “That’s the door. He’s here! How’s my makeup?”

  “I’ll get it.” She brushes down my hair with her hands. “You can make an entrance. You look fabulous, little sis.”

  “Don’t be rude, Shay.”

  “Me? Never.” She smirks and walks away.

  Yeah, right. I take a last look in the mirror. “Lacey girl, this will have to do. Hope he likes what he sees.” I walk out to the living room and hold back, catching the end of their conversation.

  “She’s my sister. Don’t hurt her. You won’t only be hurting her this time; there’s a little boy who’s growing attached to you and your son. I love them both with everything I have.”

  “It’s not my intention to hurt them. I won’t. I care too much to let that happen again. Are we good?”

  “We’ll see. Lacey, your non-dinner date is here.”

  Oh, Shay. I walk into the room, intending to give Shay the side eye. It’s forgotten when I see how nice my non-date looks. “Hi.”

  “Hi,” he says, looking me up and down with a slight lift of his lips. “Ready to go?”

  “Yes. Bye, Shay.”

  “You kids have fun. Have her home by nine, Mr. Jessup. And for God’s sake, don’t do a thing I would do.”

  I glare at her as he opens the door. She has a broad smile on her face. Shay. He holds the door for me, and his cologne smells heavenly as I brush past him. Makes me want to lean into him and press my nose against his neck.

  “I’m sorry for the interrogation,” I say as we make our way down the walk.

  “Shay? That was tame for her.” He brushes some of my hair behind my shoulder. “I didn’t say it inside but...you look amazing.” His knuckles brush against me, and coupled with the way his eyes roam over my face, the touch makes me want to melt.

  “Thank you.” I duck my head and get in his truck. I’m suddenly feeling shy, sitting beside him. I notice he does look at me with a reassuring smile, putting me at ease.

  A few minutes of small talk later, we pull up in front of the restaurant. Right away I can tell it’s fancier than anywhere I’ve been, and it’s going to be uber expensive. I bite my lip and quickly release it when I remember I’m wearing lipstick. He’s going all out tonight. For me. As flattering as that is, it’s giving me an extra dose of nervousness, like walking in there will require me to act more cultured than I am.

  “This is pretty fancy for friends going to dinner.”

  “It’s our first date; I want to do it right.”

  “We’re calling it a date now?”

  “I am. The way you look tonight...It can’t be called anything less.”

  I bite the side of my cheek to keep a smile from spreading across my face. The valet comes to the car, and he hands him the keys. He places his hand on the small of my back, giving me all sorts of feels when coupled with his sweet words.

  Before the restaurant doors open for us he says, “You’re more than beautiful. You’re my Lacey.”

  I almost stumble, but recover quickly at the endearment and the blush-worthy compliment and stupidly mumble, “Okay, thank you.”

  Oh, boy. This is going to be some night if I let my growing emotions override my cautiously sensible intentions of keeping this as just dinner between friends. As much as I love her, in this minute, I hate Shay. For possibly being right. How could I ever think this could be a simple get-together?

  The restaurant is packed. The hostess leads us to the bar, where we wait to be escorted to our table. This place is something. All gleaming, shining bright, with twinkling chandeliers. Rich carpeting, the staff dressed to the hilt in suits finer than any I own. I should have worn a suit, but I didn’t think this place was going to be this ritzy. Lacey fits in with her outfit, but my dark blue pants, buttoned-down shirt and vest could use a jacket in a place like this.

  She takes a sip of her white wine. “It’s nice in here. First time I’ve been to anything like this. I felt like we should have curtsied when we came in.” She giggles. “A mere thank you won’t do.”

  “Thought it was just me.” My brows draw together as I take a sip of white wine, which I hate. “This doesn’t feel right. This is all wrong isn’t it?”

  “What?”

  “This restaurant.”

  “No,” she says, eyes widening. “Curtsying aside, it’s nice. Real fancy, refined and sophisticated.”

  I shake my head. “It’s not you—it’s not us.”

  She puts her hand on her chest. “Speak for yourself, buddy. I am classy and sophisticated.” She scowls then turns it into a smile, laughing.

  “I’m not disagreeing,” I reassure her. “Fact, you are those things and more, but this feels wrong for our first date. We shouldn’t be forced to be this rigidly formal.”

  Her eyes pull together, and her bottom lip pushes out. “Mm...”

  “Where I went wrong was, I was trying to impress you the way I wasn’t able to do when we were younger and my money flow was going the wrong way. You deserved more.”

  “Landon.” She leans forward, touching my arm. “You don’t need to impress me. I’m impressed already.”

  Wow. After everything, she can still look at me like this and say this to me? I take a breath, because I need to. I gently touch her cheek; it’s warm and soft, like her heart. “Let’s go.”

  I know the perfect place to take her. It’s better than any fancy restaurant. I park in front of what’s the new best eatery I know.

  “It’s a pizza parlor. How did you know I would love it?”

  “I just knew.” I smile back at her. I wasn’t sure, but I’m happy I was right.

  “Come on then, I want pepperoni and extra cheese. Mmm.” She opens the truck door.

  “Where are you going?” I lean over her, shutting it back.

  “Well, we need to get out to eat.” She gives me the “duh” eyes.

  Cute. “No, we don’t. When I left you at the bar to cancel our reservation, I made a call and look...they’re coming out with our two boxes now.”

  She looks at the entrance and the delivery guy coming towards our car. “I stand corrected.”

  “You do. Don’t underestimate me. I’m a good date.” I wink at her, and her lips press together with a smile. “Delivery over here,” I call to the delivery guy. “Pepperoni, extra cheese, and pineapple, ham, extra sauce.” I flash her a yeah-I-know smile before paying and placing them on the back seat with two cans of orange soda. “Now we’re off.”

  “Off where?”

  “What, you didn’t think I was going to let you eat in the car, looking as stunning as you do? I think not. Sit tight. Ten minutes away from our dating destination.”

  She makes the cutest pout when she whines, “You’re not going to tell me where we’re going?”

  “Nope. Sit tight and no talking, because that leads to asking questions. I won’t answer. Enjoy the ride and the aroma of our five-star meal.” She slumps back in the seat, playfully pushing my shoulder as a smile spreads across her face. Yeah, this is the start of the date I envisioned.

  “We’re in the park, and there’s a band, Landon!” she squeals, walking to a nice spot under a tree, not surrounded by too many people.

  “Yep, it’s a big band. Oldies night, every Friday, if the weather holds up well.” Thank God it has.

  “I’ve never had a picnic in the park.” She takes the other end of the blank
et that was in my truck, and we lay it down.

  “Glad I could be your first.” I wink.

  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.

  “The secret is, don’t piss her off. And if you do, say sorry and keep it moving.” The crowd and the band laugh, with a couple of cheers and ‘that’s right’ from the women in the audience.

  His wife nods her salt and pepper head with a soft smile. “That’s right.”

  “Amazing. Fifty years with the same person. Kind of unimaginable happening today,” Lacey says, focused on the stage as we clap.

  “I don’t think so. Could happen.”

  “Really?” Her brows lift, probably thinking about my situation.

  I’d laugh too. How ironic, coming from me. The guy separated from his wife, caught by him and his son about to get it on with the service guy. But I’m starting to believe in happy endings again, sitting here with her. Being with her, even talking to her, was never supposed to be. But here we are together, side by side, on a date.

  “Really,” I say. “Amazing things happen every day.” Her eyes stay on me as I grin, squeezing her hand, looking away and listening to the singer.

  “Give another round of applause to this lovely blessed couple. Arnel and Jackson, happy fiftieth and many more. This is dedicated to you and all the lovebirds out here tonight. ‘Crazy’ by the one and only Patsy Cline.”

  “Oh my God! His name is Jackson.” Her head turns to me.

  We face each other with a howl of laughter, and I say, “Kismet. Proof we’re supposed to be here tonight, together.”

  “If you say so,” she says with a hint of skepticism, but still in awe in the coincidence of the names.

  A female band member steps to the mic as the music starts. Her soft voice floats like velvet over the open field of people. I know this is where we are supposed to be right now in our lives. All signs point to it. Hopefully, soon she’ll know it too. I stand, extending my hand to her. “Fifty and beyond is possible.”

  Licking her lips, she takes my hand. Everything fades away. It’s just us, swaying to the music. Her eyes, staring up at me, warm and beautiful, almost as trusting as they used to be, with the smallest trace of vulnerability. The kind that stirs protective instincts in a man, leaving him wanting things he shouldn’t. The time’s not right, but it will be.

  “Landon—”

  I don’t want to break this feeling. I stop her with a shake of my head, bringing her closer. This is all I need. All I ever wanted. Her. Even better when she rests her head in the crook of my neck as we listen to the melody of a timeless classic.

  The song ends. Everyone is clapping, and I just want to be alone with her. “Come with me.”

  “Where?” she says, affected as much as I am.

  “Trust me. You’ll like it. Have I led you wrong so far tonight?”

  She shakes her head, the beginnings of a smile forming on her pretty lips. “No.”

  And I’ll do my damnedest not to.

  Excited, I throw the trash in the nearest can, grab her hand and head for the truck, her taking two steps for every one I take, accompanied by best sound I’ve ever heard: her laughter.

  Landon! You’re acting crazy,” she yells, as I do a full-on running cannonball off the little wooden bridge into the pond of water, splashing her bare feet.

  “Crazy for you,” I yell up at her, wiping the water out my eyes, pushing my hair back. “Get in here, it’s not bad.” />
  “No! My new clothes will be ruined.” She shakes her head vehemently.

  “So take them off.” I hold my hands up to her. “Your underwear covers as much as a bathing suit. Get in here.”

  Her eyes grow large and she folds her arms, debating. “You’ve lost your mind.”

  “Lacey, you only have one life to live, and what is it without the occasional crazy moments? Come on, Lace, live with me; come on!” I laugh, splashing her with water.

  She jumps back, shouting down at me with indignation, “You jerk. You’re getting me all wet. Now you’re going to get it.” She runs toward me full speed, and God help her, covering her face. “I can’t believe I’m doing this crazy sh—ahhhhhhhh!” She screams.

  I throw my head back laughing. I swim back just in time, and she misses sinking me.

  “Why...didn’t you tell me...it was so cold,” she sputters, teeth chattering.

  I come up, capturing her in my arms, kissing the tip of her nose, spinning us around in the middle of the pond, a full moon shining on us like our own personal spotlight. “Half the fun is finding out for yourself, living and learning.”

  “Sure it is,” she drawls, lips pale pink and trembling.

  I hold her tight, rubbing a hand up her back. Moonlight shines on her, making droplets of water look like specks of diamonds on her face, sprinkled with fairy dust, eyes sparkling. I’ve never seen anyone as beautiful as her in my life. No one can fill my heart as she does. I trace one finger over her trembling lips as her eyes trace mine.

  “I’ll keep you warm,” I promise, moving closer as she gasps. I cover her lips with tiny kisses, one peck at a time. The cold air is seeping into my body, but still it feels like the best place in the world to be with her. Her tongue brushes over mine, but I don’t push, I wait. Wait for her to explore, until she lets me know she’s ready for more, slanting her mouth over mine, deepening the kiss.

  Breathing hard, her hands snake around my neck, taking what she wants with slow warm sweeps of her tongue, making my cock go rigid, even with the chilly water. Shit. Breathing hard, I reluctantly pull away. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to...” I trail off, regretting leaving the sweet warmth of her mouth.