Twice Before Bedtime

Chapter 8

"I am really excited, I've never been to a drive-in," Cassandra said in the front seat of Jacob's car.

"Really?" the girls chorused, finding it very odd.

"Really," Cassandra said. "My parents were really strict. And when I was a grown up, well, not that I even had a car until a few years ago when I got this job."

"You didn't have a car?" Grace asked, her jaw dropping.

Cassandra giggled. "People don't drive in New York City, sweetheart."

"And drive-ins are a dyin' breed lots of places," Jacob offered. "We're lucky to still have the one we do."

"I've been to the movies though," Cassandra added with a laugh. "I love the popcorn, it just tastes different there."

"Popcorn's the best," Kaitlyn said and her sisters agreed with her.

They were soon all stocked up with popcorn and drinks. Each girl had her own kid sized popcorn and drink, Jacob explaining to Cassandra that otherwise the girls would fight over the shared popcorn.

"I'm willing to spend the extra money for peace and quiet," he'd laughed.

He and Cassandra decided to share a popcorn and she got a bottle of water and he a soda.

Jacob hadn't been on a date to the drive-in since he was in high school. Though obviously, this was not a date with Cassandra. And even if it was, there were three little chaperones in the back seat. But even so, there was something so cozy about Cassandra being there. She just fit. She fit him better than anyone he'd ever known. It might be because she'd seen glimpses of who he really was, as opposed to who people expected him to be based on his looks, his grammar and his accent. He was a small town boy from Oklahoma, always would be. But he was more than that and Cassandra saw right through him.

His children thought she was amazing. He was pretty sure it was because she didn't treat them like kids. She didn't treat them like adults exactly either, she just treated them like people. She didn't talk down to them or patronize them. But then, Cassandra was a genius too, so she understood how to talk to kids like she'd been. He wasn't sure about the iq levels on his children, he was sure Abby was in his range at least, but they were all gifted. Grace tended to be lazy, which is why her grades were pretty average. But he had a feeling she was bored like he'd been. He wished he had more time to devote to their learning, they all probably could use more than their little school could provide. But he just didn't.

As bright as his kids were though, they were still kids and they were absolutely enthralled with the animated feature they'd chosen to see. He and Cassandra on the other hand, were a bit less excited about it, though it had its moments.

No, his interest was more in the hints of a blush that crossed Cassandra's face when they'd bump hands in the popcorn bucket. Or how she leaned just a little bit toward him during the slower parts of the movie, closer and closer until she was resting her head on his shoulder, just a little bit. Still keeping contact to friendly levels, but really close to something else.

He'd say she was sending mixed messages but he realized she'd never said she wanted to just be friends. She'd firmly put the ball in his court. Which was probably wise from her perspective, given that he was the one with the kids. He had to make the decision to pursue her, she'd let her interest be known. She wanted to have some sort of a relationship with him, even if it was just friendship, she'd made that clear.

And he kinda wished now they were actually alone in the dark again. Because this time, he might just have kissed her instead of almost doing it.

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