A Pinch of Salt, Page 3

  When Jackson walked back into the room, I was strategically placing the vases of flowers that I’d pre-arranged around his dining area.

  “How long was I gone?” Jackson asked, his head swiveling around comically.

  I laughed and said, “I’m used to working fast.”

  “Do you need any help?” he asked, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

  “Yeah, could you take all of the candy necklaces out of the wrapping and hang them on that jewelry holder?”

  While Jackson began opening the plastic bags, I crossed to my bakery boxes and began organizing the goodies on the table.

  “So, Millie,” Jackson began, causing me to look up from my macaroon placement. “I was wondering if you’re . . . taken, and if not, do you think you might want to go out sometime . . . with me?”

  I blinked slowly as the blood rushed through my body, but as I opened my mouth to speak a squeal came from the hallway.

  “Oh. My. Goodness.”

  A pretty little girl, with long wavy hair and a huge smile, stood there with her hands up in the air. She was already dressed for her party in a pretty pink dress that matched my decorations perfectly.

  I gave myself a mental high five, then watched as Jackson smiled beautifully at his daughter as he crossed the room and lifted her in his arms.

  “Do you like it?” he asked, laughing as she threw her arms around his neck.

  “I love it, Daddy!” she cried, and I felt the back of my eyes burn.

  Jackson put her back on her feet and she ran over to where I was finishing up the table.

  Kayla placed her hand on the lace and ran her hand over it reverently, then looked up at me with her father’s smile and asked, “Did you do this?”

  I nodded and replied, “Guilty,” then gasped when the little girl crashed into me and hugged my waist.

  Jackson

  THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS WERE a whirlwind of giggles, tiny sandwiches, and enough sugar to ensure that I was in for a long night.

  Millie was amazing.

  Not only were her decorations on point, and her food delicious, she’d kept the girls entertained and had successfully given my little girl the party of her dreams. I hadn’t seen Kayla smile this much since her mother left, and I was eternally grateful to Millie for that.

  If I hadn’t already planned on asking Millie out, and I guess I sort of had, even though we’d been interrupted, I definitely would have wanted to take her out after seeing her interact with my daughter and her five boisterous friends.

  Now the tea party was over, and the girls had all escaped to the backyard to jump on the trampoline while Millie and I cleaned up.

  She was currently boxing up the props she’d used for the tea party photo booth, while I was slyly popping leftover macaroons in my mouth.

  “I saw that,” Millie said with a chuckle.

  I turned, mouth full and a sheepish look on my face, to see her holding the sunglasses prop over her eyes and waggling her eyebrows.

  “Sorry,” I mumbled, covering my mouth with my hand so I wouldn’t show her my food. “I couldn’t resist.”

  “Don’t be sorry,” she replied, dropping the glasses in the box. “I take it as a compliment.”

  Once I swallowed, I said, “And you should. Everything was amazing. Really, I can’t thank you enough. K had a blast.”

  “I did too,” Millie responded with a sweet smile. “I didn’t realize how much fun I was missing out on by always being in the kitchen. I’ll have to talk to Dru and Tasha about helping out more.”

  “You’re a natural.”

  “Thanks,” she said, her cheeks turning pink, and I could tell she was uncomfortable with praise. Millie pointed at the leftover food and changed the subject. “Do you have Tupperware containers you want that in, or do you want me to leave the boxes?”

  “I have something, just a sec.”

  I rounded the island in my kitchen and crouched down to get to my containers, while mentally prepping myself to re-approach the question I’d asked earlier. I understood her not wanting to answer in front of the girls, but I was dying to know if she’d go out with me, and I was slightly terrified to ask again.

  I’d barely worked up the courage to ask her out once, the thought of doing it again had my palms sweating.

  “Here we are,” I said as I popped up and placed the assorted rectangles on the counter.

  “Perfect,” Millie replied, crossing the room with the dishes of leftovers.

  I cleared my throat as she started placing the items in the containers, but when I raised my head to pose my question again, Millie beat me to it.

  “About what you asked earlier,” she began, her head bent as if she were laser focused on boxing up leftovers. “I just don’t know if it’s a good idea . . .”

  My stomach dropped as disappointment filtered through me.

  “Oh,” I began, unsure how to respond.

  “It’s not that I don’t want to go out with you,” Millie said in a rush, her eyes coming up to find mine, so I could see the sincerity in her gaze. “I do. I mean, we only just met, but I like you, Jackson.”

  “Then why?” I asked, confused by her contradicting words.

  The she glanced down at my left hand, and I dropped my head to see what she was looking at.

  My wedding ring.

  I wanted to slap myself in the head and apologize for being so obtuse. I honestly hadn’t thought about the ring once over the last year, but how did I get Millie to believe I wasn’t holding some torch for Julie?

  “Have you ever worn a piece of jewelry for ten years and just sort of gotten used to it being there? Like I assume it is with earrings?” I asked, not really expecting her to answer, just hoping she’d understand. “I haven’t lied to you.”

  “I know that,” Millie replied quickly, her hand reaching out to cover mine. “I believe that you’re separated, but I couldn’t help notice that you still wear your ring. Plus, you share a beautiful daughter with the woman that you’re still married to.”

  “Yes, it’s complicated, but I promise you, it’s over. I’m not waiting for her to come back and pick up where we left off. Hell, there’s no way I’d take her back even if she wanted me to,” I explained, hoping Millie could hear the sincerity in my voice.

  Millie nodded, and as she worried her bottom lip between her teeth, I could tell she was still on the fence, which gave me hope. It meant she didn’t want to say no.

  “What if we just met for coffee?” I suggested. “We can take things slow . . . get to know each other.”

  I held my breath as I waited for her to reply. I could almost see the argument going on in her head, and I hoped that I came out on top.

  Finally, Millie patted my hand before taking hers back, then smiled softly and said, “I’d like that.”

  Not even bothering to hold back, I grinned broadly and clapped my hands together once.

  “Fantastic.”

  I helped Millie load the decorations and tea set into her 4Runner, then walked her to the door and held it open as she got into the driver’s seat.

  “I’ll call you to set up coffee,” I said before shutting the door.

  The desire to kiss her was great, but since I’d just promised to take it slow, I figured it was best to keep that desire in check.

  “I look forward to it,” Millie replied, then I shut the door and stood there as she drove away.

  After she was out of sight, I looked down and twisted the gold band on my finger, then pulled it off and held it in the palm of my hand. It looked like it was time for me to pay more attention to the things I was holding on to, and start packing them away.

  Also, it was time for me to find my wife.

  Millie

  “SO, HOW’D IT GO WITH Mr. Adorable Dimples?” Tasha asked as we stretched out. We were off Mondays and that’s when we got together with our adult recreation soccer league. The three of us had been playing soccer since we could walk, and enjoyed getting out and
playing whenever we could.

  Which wasn’t as much as we’d like, now that business was booming.

  “I already told Dru the whole story last night . . . It was good,” I said vaguely, hiding my smirk when Tasha started to pout.

  “Well, I was working last night so I missed the girl talk. You can’t hold that against me, Mills, I was bringing home the bacon,” Tasha complained as she crouched down.

  “Fine,” I said with mock exasperation,” I’ll give you the cliff notes.”

  Tasha kept her eyes on me as she waited expectantly. She’d recently cut off her long black hair that had matched mine and Dru’s in length into a cute bob, and dyed it a bright red. It totally suited her.

  “The party was great, fantastic even. I had a blast decorating, and the girls loved it. I took pictures to show you guys, and for the website,” I began, but Tasha waved her hand, encouraging me to get to the good stuff. “Jackson asked me out,” I said with a shrug, then teased her by saying, “But, I said no.”

  “Wha?” Tasha cried, standing and putting her hands on her hips. “Why’d you do that? I thought he was your diary dream man. At least, that’s what Dru said.”

  I raised my eyebrow at my twin, who just stuck out her tongue at me and continued stretching her quads.

  “He’s also married, and still wears his wedding ring,” I replied, then sighed and added, “But, he assured me that the marriage is very much over, the ring was just an oversight, and we’re going to meet up for coffee this week. So, not a date, just coffee.”

  “A coffee date,” Dru said with a grin.

  “Shut up,” I replied, but couldn’t hold back my answering smile. “I don’t know, you guys, he scares me.”

  “Why?” Tasha asked. “Because you’ve been so focused on the business, and before that, Mom, that you haven’t met a man for coffee, let alone had one between your legs, since you and Dru were at USC?”

  “That’s not true,” I argued, offended and a little embarrassed about how right my younger sister was. “There was Joshua . . .”

  “Ewww,” my sisters groaned in unison.

  “You mean that creeper guy who kept taking you to Anime movies and trying to get you to give him a handy in the theater?” Dru asked. “You really want to count that guy?”

  “No, I guess not,” I said with a frown, then threw myself back onto the grass and added, “Gosh, you guys, it has been a long time. A really, really long time. Maybe jumping back into things with a Mr. Adorable Dimples, who’s not only a single father, but hasn’t even divorced his wife yet, is not a good place to start. Maybe I need to wade into the shallow end first.”

  “Fuck the shallow end,” Dru said, and I knew she dropped the F bomb to rankle me. She knew I hated it when she talked like that, which was exactly why she did it. “I say jump right into the deep end, clothes and all. It’s time you had a little fun, Mills, and you like this guy. Go for it.”

  “Yeah,” Tasha agreed. “I’m with Dru. Enjoy your coffee, then take him back to your apartment and jump his bones.”

  I laughed at Tasha, but before I could reply, our coach yelled out, “Are you ladies going to gab all day, or are you going to get out here and play some football?”

  “Sorry, Coach,” we all called, then jogged out to meet up with our team.

  I sat on the bench for the beginning of the first half, my eyes on the field as my mind wandered to thoughts of Jackson. Almost as if I’d conjured him, I heard my phone signal a text, then discreetly pulled it out of the bag at my feet, my stomach dropping when I saw it was him.

  Hey, Millie, it’s Jackson. I was wondering if you’d rather meet during lunch, or after work, for coffee? I know you work early, but I wasn’t sure when you took breaks, if you even take them. I can break away during lunch, or meet you after school. Whatever works for you. Sorry, I’m rambling . . .

  After school? I’m pretty flexible. I can work my schedule around whatever date/time you’d like to meet.

  Yes, I’m a teacher, did I not tell you that? I teach English at the high school. After school would be best, that way we won’t be rushed. How does Wednesday at 3:30 sound?

  Oh, that’s wonderful. What a fun job. Wed at 3:30 works for me. Where do you want to meet?

  Well, I can pick you up, if you’d like, then we can go to Rooster’s, if that works?

  Rooster’s was a coffee shop on Main Street, just a couple blocks from our business.

  “Hey, Millie, are you going to pay attention to the team, or your phone?” my coach called out, causing me to flush and reply, “Sorry, Coach.” It seemed like that was all I could say today.

  That sounds great. Have to go. Bye.

  I looked up at our coach sheepishly, then turned the phone off and put it back in my bag. My head came up just in time to see Tasha dribbling down the field, then make a successful pass to Dru, who kicked it right into the goal.

  “YEAH!” I yelled, jumping to my feet to cheer on my team.

  “Millie, go in for Tampa,” Coach said, and all thoughts of Jackson and coffee left me as I jogged out onto the field to join my sisters.

  We had a game to win.

  Jackson

  I WAS FINISHING UP MY lesson plans for when we moved on to Pride and Prejudice next week, but my eyes kept drifting up to the clock. Much like my students, I couldn’t wait for the bell to ring, signaling the end of the school day.

  Normally, I stick around after school, grade some papers, straighten my room, and prepare for the next day, but today all I could think about was picking up Millie at three thirty.

  I couldn’t remember the last time I was this excited about anything. Sure, it was only coffee, but it didn’t matter what we were doing, I couldn’t wait to see her again.

  The bell rang and I jumped up from my chair, pushing through my students as I tried to beat them out the door.

  “Where’s the fire, Mr. H?”

  “Sorry . . . Sorry,” I muttered as I reached the hallway, then started speed walking toward the exit closest to the teacher’s parking lot.

  “Jackson.”

  I bit off the curse before it passed my lips, then turned to see who was currently stalling my swift exit.

  “Oh, hey, Rebecca. What’s up?” I asked the history teacher, who was watching me nervously as she approached.

  “Do you have a few minutes?” she asked, her voice timid, which was unusual.

  “Actually, I’m on my way out,” I said hastily, looking at my watch to emphasize the fact that I was in a hurry. “Can it wait until tomorrow?”

  “Oh, yeah, sure,” Rebecca replied, and I chose to ignore the disappointment on her face, because although we were always friendly with each other, whatever school-centric question she had couldn’t be more important than going on the first non-date I’d had in over ten years.

  “Thanks, Rebecca,” I said, patting her arm distractedly before spinning on my heel and heading back for that door.

  “Hey, Jacks,” I heard called, and this time didn’t hold my, “Son of a bitch” back, although I only whispered it under my breath.

  I turned my head to see Ty jogging toward me.

  “What’s up, man?” I asked, not stopping, but rather keeping my pace while he fell in step beside me.

  “So, you ready for your big date?” my friend asked, making me immediately regret telling him and Rob that I was meeting Millie today.

  “Yup,” I said as I pushed the door open.

  “All right, brother, I just wanted to wish you luck, and tell you to be cool . . . Just be yourself.”

  “Thanks, Ty,” I said, finally stopping when my feet hit the sidewalk. “I’m a little nervous, but more excited. Hopefully she’ll see I’m sincere about everything with Julie, and this will be the beginning of something great.”

  “I hear that,” Ty said, running a hand over his short dark hair before adding, “You deserve that, Jackson, after the shit Julie shoveled at you. But, hey, can I ask you a favor, for all of us here at school?�
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  “Yeah, man, what’s that?” I asked, confused by his question.

  “Can you let Rebecca down easy?”

  “Rebecca?” I asked, looking over his shoulder to where Rebecca had just been standing.

  “Yeah,” he began, then sighed. “She’s had a crush on you forever.”

  “What? No, she hasn’t.”

  “Yeah, man, she has. You’re the only one who hasn’t noticed.”

  Shocked, I just looked at my friend, unable to respond.

  “She’s just been biding her time, waiting for you to be ready after the fiasco with Julie, and today, it looked like she was about to make her move. I know you’re not interested, brother, I’m just asking that you go easy, yeah? You’ve got to see her every day. We all do.”

  I nodded absently, still trying to wrap my head around what I was hearing. Rebecca had always been nice enough, and we often helped each other out after school, sometimes chaperoning events together, but I’d never thought of her as anything more than a friend.

  My stomach clenched at the thought of that awkward conversation.

  “Of course, Ty, you know I wouldn’t want to hurt her feelings.”

  “I know, Jacks, just wanted to give you a head’s up.”

  “Thanks.”

  “I’ve got your back, you know that,” Ty said with a grin, then clapped me on the back. “Have fun, and don’t be afraid to be aggressive.”

  I chuckled at my friend, having no intention whatsoever in taking his advice, then finally made my way to the teacher’s parking lot. My watch told me I still had fifteen minutes to get to Three Sisters Catering, and although I’d wanted to be early, at least I’d still get there on time.

  I’d pulled up in front of Millie’s storefront with two minutes to spare. When I stepped out of my truck I saw Jericho Smythe standing outside of Prime Beef messing with his menu board.

  “Hey, Jericho!” I yelled out, lifting my hand in a wave to my buddy, who owned the steakhouse. We were part of the same Fantasy Football league, and often got together with a group of guys to watch games. Plus, he served the best steak in town.