Page 44 of Creed

“Good. Now, go have a good time at dinner, and I’ll do something special with the kids. Maybe get your father to grill burgers, and we can make s’mores or something.”

“That would be great. Thanks, Mom.”

“Anytime, and I mean that. I love having the kids here.”

“And they love being there. We’ll see you Friday afternoon around five.”

“Perfect.”

And just like that, I had it all handled.

Or so I thought.

Panic started to set in the night before the date. I was second-guessing everything and couldn’t even think of something to wear. It wasn’t a big deal. It was just dinner, but nothing I tried on felt right. Everything was either too plain, too dressy, or too “I’m trying too hard.”

Then I thought of that red tank top I used to wear. Jameson always seemed to gravitate towards it, like his hands had a memory all their own when I had it on. Sadly, I didn’t have that shirt anymore, but I had something close. So, I decided to go with it and a short denim skirt. It was a cute but simple outfit that made me feel like me.

Not a teacher.

Not a mom.

JustMe.

And for the first time all week, I let myself feel the thrill of it all. Reallyfeel it. I was going to see him again. Not by accident. Not in a dream.A real, undeniable date.

I held onto the feeling the following day. I was practically beaming through my lecture. I could only imagine what my kids were thinking. I was usually so monochromatic and showed little emotion but today was different. I was happy, and that wasn’t something I’d felt in quite some time.

When classes were done, I went home and picked up the kids. I dropped them off at my parents before rushing back to the house to get showered and dressed. In a blink, I was in my car and driving over to the address Jameson had texted me.

His house was tucked back and difficult to see from the main road, and I was halfway down the drive before his house wasvisible. It was a beautiful, two-story white house with black trim, and there was a white fence surrounding the entire property.

I won’t deny that it was a little intimidating. It was twice the size of the place he had when we were together, and I couldn’t even compare it to the one I had now. Jameson had clearly done well for himself.

It made me wonder what else had changed with him.

I was feeling a little hesitant as I pulled up next to his motorcycle and parked. I got out and straightened my skirt before heading up to the front door. With each step, I told myself it was just dinner.

I had nothing to worry about.

No reason to be nervous or apprehensive.

We would eat, have a glass of wine, and talk about old times. We might even laugh a little, and then, I would head home before the ten o’clock news.

But the second he greeted me at the door with that sexy smirk, I knew I was in trouble. He looked unfairly handsome in his jeans and a black T-shirt, sleeves tight on his arms, and that little stubble on his jaw.

It was like he knew exactly what would get to me, and he’d used it to his advantage. His eyes skirted over me, and his smirk widened as he took a step forward and said, “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” I let my eyes skirt over his T-shirt that was currently clinging tightly to his muscular chest. “You do, too.”

“I look beautiful?” He smirked. “Hmm, I’m gonna have to step up my game.”

“Handsome. You look handsome.”

“So, it’s just you tonight?”

“Yeah, the kids are with my folks.”

“Ah, okay. And how are they making it?”