15

We spent the next forty-five minutes talking about high school, Dean and Hannah, and how I never knew about Brady's crush on me.

"Man, Dean and Hannah were always giving me a hard time about how super obvious I was," Brady said with a groan. I popped a fry in my mouth.

"I never noticed, really. I just thought you were a really nice kid." That and I was wrapped up in my own crush at the time.

"Yeah I remember. You were always really sweet to me and I tried reading into it more than I should. Once you started dating Kade, though, that kind of took the wind out of my sails." I almost choked on my Dr. Pepper when he said Kade's name.

"So, do you like being a mechanic?" I wanted desperately to change the subject but couldn't think of a way to do it that didn't make it obvious. Brady nodded taking a sip of his drink.

"I love it. I took auto shop in school and Kade offered internships to the seniors. When the year was over, he offered me a job. Paid for all my certification classes, offers full benefits, great pay, I really hit the jack pot." Brady clearly admired his boss, which made me nervous.

"That's awesome. I have friends from high school that are still looking for an opportunity like that." We sat in silence for a moment. "Does Kade know you're having lunch with me?"

"Not a chance in hell." We burst out laughing. The tension, whether first date or Kade induced, hanging over us seemed to break. "Please don't take this the wrong way. If something happens between us, I'm happy to tell the world we're together." I put up my hand to stop him.

"No, I totally get it. Lot's of history there. But it is history. I'm happy to just see what happens here." We both smiled. "I should mention, though, my new place is across from Taylor Auto." Brady's face lit up and then dimmed.

"I'm not sure it that's a good or a bad thing," he said with a short laugh.

"I feel the same way." We finished our drinks and got out of the truck to throw our garbage away. Brady walked me over to my car and opened the door when I unlocked it.

"So tomorrow at eight right?" I nodded.

"Yes, I promise there will pizza and beer."

"I will definitely be there then." I got in my car and rolled down the window.

"Thanks for lunch. I appreciate it," I told him. He grinned and leaned his forearms on the open window.

"You are welcome. I can't wait to do it again." I blushed, giddy at the thought he wanted to have a second date.

"Me too. Be safe." He nodded and backed up. I rolled up my window and pulled out of the parking lot, my heart soaring.

***

After work, I met the girls for dinner at Cadence Cafe. Lola and Hannah were sitting on one side of the booth, so I slide into the other side with Courtney.

"No hot Friday night planned with Dean?" I teased my sister. She rolled her eyes.

"He's got a hot date with his March Madness groupies. In fact, he's there with your hot date," she said, smirking at me. My eyes widened as Lola and Courtney both looked at me with confusion. Hannah looked at me, the girls, then back at me. "Shit, you didn't tell them yet?"

"I was getting there, ya blabbermouth," I muttered, shedding my jacket and purse.

"Spill it. Don't even think about looking at that menu," Lola commanded. "You already know what you want. Chicken wrap, extra ranch, seasoned fries and a Dr. Pepper. Tell us about this hot date right now." I placed my hands on the table and sighed.

"So, I may have had a lunch date today," I started.

"With Kade?" Courtney interrupted. I scowled at her.

"No, why would you even say that?" She shrugged. "No it was with Brady Hollis."

"Hannah and Dean's Brady Hollis?" Lola asked swinging to look at Hannah. "Wait, so you knew about this?" Hannah nodded, slinking down in her seat.

"So how did it go?" Courtney asked, leaning her elbow on the table and putting her cheek on her hand.

"It went well. We went to BJ's - stop being dirty Lola - and had lunch and just talked." I side eyed Lola who I knew had opened her mouth to make a racy remark.

"Awe look at you, back in town less than a week and dating your ex's best employee," she teased and I kicked her under the table. I missed, though, kicking the booth instead. "Hey don't take out your pent up sexual frustration on me," she said feigning innocence.

"I'm not, I'm taking out my regular frustration on you." Our waitress came and we placed our orders.

"So do you think this is something you want to pursue?" Courtney asked and I shrugged.

"I mean at this point, I can't see why I wouldn't, aside from the Kade thing," I shot a look at Lola, who closed her mouth with a wicked grin. "I would rather just see how it goes and if it ends up with having to cross that bridge, then I'll burn it while running in the opposite direction."

"Or, you could put your big girl panties on and deal with it head on," Courtney suggested.

"Her big girl panties have rainbows and duckies on them," Hannah interjected.

"Mine have kittens on them," Lola said, pulling the top of her leggings down slightly to show us the cartoon kittens on her underwear. We oohed and aahed over them.

"Brady isn't in any hurry to have Kade find out either, so I think slow and steady is going to win this race," I said. Our food arrived and we all tucked in to our meals.

***

After dinner, Hannah rode home with me. She held our leftovers in her lap, texting with Dean.

"Dean said Brady is up in the March Madness brackets," she told me, not looking up from her phone.

"Hannah, seriously, we've had one date," I groaned.

"I know. I was just sharing information." The smirk on her face told me a different story.

"You're really enjoying this aren't you?"

"Yes, yes I am. He won't stop texting Dean and me about you. Want to see?" She held up her phone and I swatted it away.

"No, lord, you're a terrible friend." Pause. "He's really texting about me?" A wicked grin crossed her face.

"He is one smitten kitten," she answered and I couldn't help but smile. It had been a long time since I'd felt the giddy excitement of the does he, doesn't he part of a possible relationship. Before Kade, so many times it was he doesn't. After Kade, there had been one or two he does, but they were turned off by a woman who made more than they did. I was trying to be realistic about a relationship with Brady but I also enjoyed the thought that a man like him would want to be with me.

***

I was sitting up in bed going over the occupancy reports for the week when my phone buzzed. When I grabbed it, I was shocked to see it was a call from Taylor Auto. It was almost midnight. I debated letting it go to voicemail but after the way we left things, I wanted to apologize for being a giant buttinski.

"Hello?"

"Hey, did I wake you up?" Kade's voice sounded stressed. "I didn't expect you to answer."

"No, I'm just doing some work. What's going on?" He sighed.

"I wanted to apologize for my behavior earlier today. I was pretty rude and you didn't deserve the way I spoke to you." I set my iPad on the bed next to me and pulled my knees up to my chest.

"Well it's not like I didn't give you a reason. I need to apologize too. I should never have stuck my nose in your business. It was uncalled for and I'm sorry."

"It's alright. I actually wanted to tell you I just couldn't figure out how."

"Why? Why would you want to tell me?" I rested my chin on my knees. I heard him sigh.

"I have no idea. I saw you at the party and I knew it was over with Katy right there. She'd been pulling some crazy stunts again and then seeing you just made me remember what a relationship was supposed to be like." My heart jumped into my throat and no amount of swallowing could dislodge it.

"Kade," I started but he cut me off.

"I didn't break up with her to get back with you. I broke up with her to keep my heart from getting trampled on. You were just the reminder I needed that love isn't supposed to leave you feeling used." My nose began to itch like I was going to cry.

"You deserve so much better than her," I managed to get out.

"Just not good enough for you, right?"

"That's not it at all. You deserve better than me too." It's why I had left.

"Baby, that's bullshit. It was bullshit when you told me that four years ago and it's bullshit now." Yeah, well you didn't see the looks we got when we were together or hear your friends and family talk about the fat Spanish girl dragging you down. "I don't know what I did to make you think that, but I'm so very sorry. I wish I could take it all back." My hand went to my mouth to cover my gasp. Kade had never made me feel less than loved. I thought I had made that clear but of course I never told him the real reason, so why shouldn't he feel like that.

"Kade, it was never anything you did. I made a decision for the both of us and our relationship was collateral damage. I should've been more open with you about how I was feeling but I don't think I did the wrong thing. You do deserve better than what I can give you."

"Well you're right; you should've talked to me. I can't help but take some of the blame if you didn't think you could come to me. I never wanted you to feel like I wouldn't hear you out. I mean, damn, you told me you hated my truck and I still asked you out." The lame attempt at a joke was enough to break the tension and we both laughed.

"The spring in the passenger's side kept poking me in the butt. It hurt!"

"I'm a mechanic baby. Don't you think I would've fixed that if I wanted to?"

"Why didn't you?!"

"Because then you had to sit right next to me." I grinned, remembering sitting with our hips touching on the bench seat in his truck, his arm draped along the back.

"Well played Taylor. Well played." We sat in silence for a few moments. "I'm glad you called."

"Me too. I should get going. This place isn't going to lock itself up."

"Night Kade."

"Night Sara."