CHANCES (Andrew Lincon Romance)

Chapter 10

I had a great time at the zoo. Over the years I had been their so many times but there was something utterly refreshing about seeing it through a first timers eyes. We were trying to hale a cab when I heard my name called. Looking behind me I saw Jeremy and his niece walking towards us.

"Hey fancy meeting you here." His smile widened.

"We were just at the zoo. Jeremy this is Katie...Katie this is Jeremy and his niece Ava." I smiled greeting him back.

As they shook hands Jeremy gave me an odd look. "Where's the girls?"

"They went to the cabin with Tammy for the weekend." A feeling of guilt started to churn in the pit of my stomach.

"Wow you guys are never apart. You must have big plans. I texted you last night but you didn't text back." Between Jeremy and the curious look on Katie's face the guilt felt like it was going to take me over.

"No not really." I mumbled. I had nothing to be guilty for but I couldn't seem to stop the feeling. We had only gone on the one date and I did tell him I only wanted to be friends. He agreed but I knew he wanted more.

"We were just going to Drippers did you two want to come?" Jeremy nodded the direction of the shop.

"What's that?" Katie interjected before I could say no thanks

"Only the best place in all of New York to get ice cream. It's a small mom and pops shop but they make their own ice cream from scratch. It was on that tv show The Traveling Diner. It's nearly a written tradition that after you go to the zoo you go there after." Knowing he had Katie's interest he glanced back at me with a wink.

Feeling suck between a rock and a hard place I left the choice to Katie. Naturally her sweet tooth took control and the four of us began towards the shop. Once we reached the shop Katie and I sat at one of the little tables outside while Jeremy and his niece went in to order. Minutes later they returned with four cones heaping with ice cream.

"Oh my god you weren't joking. This is unbelievably good." Katie's eyes were nearly rolling back in her head.

"Just wait until you get to the cone. It's homemade too." Jeremy said laughing at her. He reached over and lovingly tasseled his nieces hair. Handing her a napkin, "don't get any on yourself or your mother will shoot me.

Ava looked up and beamed at her uncle. You could tell the little girl was very fond of him. A year ago her dad had come home one night, packed his stuff and announced he was leaving to be with another woman. It just so happens this other woman was half his age and didn't like kids. So as a result her dad stopped nearly all contact with her. I had to hand it to Jeremy he stepped up to the plate and was there for them.

After about an hour we said good bye and were just about to get into the cab when Jeremy gave me a hug. I was taken aback and unsure of how to respond. He had kept his physical distance up until that point since our first date. Looking me in the eye he told me to call him later before he chanced his precocious niece down the street. Before I even got in the cab I knew Katie was going to have all sorts of questions. None of which I knew the answers to. I had no idea what that was all about.

I had just asked the driver to take us to the hotel when the questions started. "So...that's Jeremy. He seems nice. How do you know him?"

"He works with my best friend Tammy." Looking at her I couldn't help but ask, "what do you mean by ....so that's Jeremy?"

She smiled at me with that I know something smile. "That night you went on that date with him Andrew was pissed right off. Even though he tried to deny it you could tell it was bothering the living shit out of him. The look on his face when Norman told him to shit or get off the pot was just priceless. Like I said it's not very often when someone can throw Andrew off his game but when it happens it's entertaining."