Finally Finding Out (Completed) ✅

Twenty Three

Soon they pulled into the parking lot of a small restaurant. It looked like a café/coffeehouse/bar. Even though it was a weekend night, the parking lot was full. By some stroke of luck, they got a table. The room was dimly lit, with a large candle on each table. Their booth was along a side wall, not far from a small stage. On the stage was a black grand piano, where a man wearing a tuxedo was playing soft romantic music.

“Would you like a drink?” A waiter approached the table.

“No, thank you, I…” Steph began.

“A bottle of your best champagne,” Jordan told him.

“Champagne?” Steph cocked her head as the waiter left the table.

“Why? Don’t you like it? I can change the order,” Jordan said quickly.

“No, I love it. I just wondered what we’re celebrating.”

He took her hand. “It’s our first date.” She sighed happily. He was so sweet.

As the evening progressed, Steph realized that she hadn’t felt so relaxed in a long time. “It’s going to be hard to go back to the real world if the whole week is going to be like this,” she told him. Before Jordan could reply, the pianist spoke into a microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I have been informed that we have a true celebrity in our midst this evening. A celebrity from Boston.” Jordan groaned and turned deep red. Steph laughed. “Jordan Knight, would you mind honoring us with a song?”

The other diners clapped and cheered. “Go on babe,” Steph whispered.

He slowly stood and went to the piano. “Thank you, everyone. If you don’t mind, I’d rather not sing anything from the new album. Instead, I have something I’ve been working on for the last month or so. It’s called I Wish

The song was a slow ballad about a girl the singer just couldn’t forget…a girl from his past who continued to haunt him and was part of everything he had become in the present. The chorus was about the singer’s dream of the future

By the end of the song, Steph was sobbing. Jordan returned to the table, but she couldn’t speak. He quickly paid the bill, took her hand, and led her out to the car.
Jordan started the engine and pulled out onto the road. Steph was still sniffling. “Can we just keep driving?” She finally asked.

“Sure, but we might get lost. I don’t know the area very well.”

“Let’s go there.” She pointed to a sign that advertised a ‘Scenic Overlook.’ He followed the signs and they soon drove through some woods into a clearing. The overlook was deserted. A full moon graced the sky, illuminating the ocean below. They got out of the car and went to the safety railing. They were both silent for a few moments.

“You’re angry about the song,” he finally said miserably. “I embarrassed you.”

“Is that what you think?” She stared at him. Just thinking about the song made her start to cry all over again.

“Well, you were crying, and you didn’t say anything…and now you’re crying again!” He turned away from her.

She walked around to face him. “Jordan, I couldn’t say anything! No one has ever done anything like that for me before! Angry? How could I be angry? Not only do you buy us a house, but you kidnap me for my first true vacation in ages, and then I find you’ve written a song about me!’ She was sobbing again. “I just…I’ve never…oh, just kiss me so I can shut up!” She turned her face up to his, and he pulled her into his arms. He gave her a quick kiss and simply held her. “You mean you’ve really felt this way for all these years?” She finally asked. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Well, I thought you hated me.” He rocked her gently.

“I was pretty confused.” She pulled back to look at him. “Jordan, I want you to know that the past is the past. We need to build on what we have now looking forward not backward. 

“I see,” he replied, unable to stop a big smile from covering his face. She laughed.

“Well, don’t look so upset about it?” She grew serious, gently caressing his cheek. “I could be falling in love with you all over again Jordan. I’m just so afraid.”