I Choose You : A New Chapter

Lunch Break

"So there's white, ivory, eggshell, or cream," Jenna said, as Cassie had her on the phone and looking at the e-mail she was sent. Her mom took pictures and sent them to her. She gaped at the pictures with one hand in her hair, wondering what in the hell the difference was. 

Maybe it was just the lighting, but...they just all looked the same. "Um...maybe I should show Ben and we can both decide?" She asked. Jenna told her, "That's a great idea! Call me tonight, I don't care how late it is. Your wedding is just a month away, we can't waste ant time here."

Cassie sighed and impatiently tapped her pen on her desk. She looked up from her cubicle and saw Jeffery (Mr. Morgan, but he insists on Jeffery) walking towards her. "Look, mom, I have to get back to work. I'll talk with Ben, then we'll call you."

She said her goodbyes, then hung up as Jeffery came up to her. He gave her that damned smile and leaned against the cubicle's short wall. "So, how about that lunch?" He asked. She looked to her computer screen and said, "Well, I'm working on that chapter you wanted me to re-write and if I don't finish it now, then--."

"Oh, come on, you gotta eat," he said. "Come on, it's on me." She looked to her computer screen again...but then shut it down and got up from her chair. "That's my girl," he said.

He took her someplace down the street and they sat outside in the almost fall weather. "So tell me about this fiancé of yours. Where'd you meet?" He asked. Cassie took a bite of her food and told him, "We met in college. We didn't start dating until early November that year, but we've been together ever since. It'll four years in two months."

Jeffery looked pretty impressed. "When you tyin' the knot?" Cassie smiled as she told him, "October seventeenth. We just got engaged a couple months ago, but we didn't want to wait very long."

"You, uh...planning on starting a family soon, or...?" She immediately shook her head. "No, not for a while," she told him. "I'm trying to jumpstart my career and he's going to LAMDA to get his masters in preforming arts. There's just too much going on right now."

They both ate and drank for a few minutes, before Jeffery started to ask her about where she was from. "Not shit," he laughed, "I'm from Santa Barbra. I've been to Ventura a thousand times. They're waves are spectacular there."

"Oh my God, surfing is my religion!" Cassie told him. "I've gotten Ben into it and he loves it. Have you surfed Mavericks?" Laughing, he told her, "You mean have I lived? Of course I've surfed Mavericks! I make a weekend trip up there at least twice a year."

She groaned and threw her head back, while saying, "I so want to go there! It's on my bucket list!" Jeffery told her how he usually goes with his brothers and a couple of friends. "You should join us," he said. "Bring Ben along, too." 

Unfortunately, she knew that would never happen, but still said, "Yeah, we would like that." They finished their food and Jeffery paid like he said. They walked back to the office and talked a little more as they did. 

Once they reached the office, Jeffery was pulled away into a meeting and Cassie went back to her desk. She continued to work on her story for hours, until it was time for her to go home. She packed up her things and started to walk out when Jeffery came out of his office. 

"Let me walk you down," he offered. Cassie nodded and said, "Yeah, sure." They rode the elevator down in silence and walked out of the building, where Cassie was greeted with a surprise. "Ben!" She said with a smile. 

He smiled back at her and said, "Hey, beautiful!" She hugged him tightly and breathed him in. It feels like she hasn't seen him in forever between his classes and play rehearsal. "What are you doing here? I thought you had rehearsal?" She asked.