Page 10 of Keeping it Casual
He takes a sip of wine. “You were definitely lucky. Lucy screamed like a banshee for the first three months of her life. I spent a lot of time looking for the return policy.”
I laugh. “Now that Lachie’s a teenager, it’s the owner’s manual I’m most interested in finding.”
Jeremy chuckles. “He seems like a good kid. He was great with Lucy playing soccer.”
I huff out a sigh. “Yeah, he is a good kid. But he got into a bad crowd at his last school and was heading in the wrong direction, hence why I decided to move here from Auckland. Give him a fresh start in a place where it’s easier for me to keep an eye on what’s happening.”
Jeremy studies my face. “That’s a big change to make.”
I run my hands through my hair. “I can’t help feeling like it’s my fault he started to go off the rails. I haven’t been the most attentive father in the past year.”
“Why not?”
“I was distracted…things weren’t going well with my boyfriend, and I was focused on that rather than Lachie.”
“No one can be the perfect parent all of the time, Dustin,” he says.
The waiter turns up then to take our orders. I quickly scan the menu before deciding on the steak. Jeremy orders the pork.
When the waiter retreats, Jeremy meets my gaze with an understanding look.
“Do you want me to make you feel better by telling you about the time I accidentally locked Lucy in her bedroom and had to break through a window to rescue her?”
My forehead furrows. “How did you manage to lock her in her room?”
“I was trying to fix her bedroom door and instead managed to jam it. Future note, never ask my advice for any DIY. I’m enthusiastic, but it’s not backed by any level of skill.”
I laugh, and he gives me a wide grin in return.
And then we talk. Somehow, I forget this is supposed to be a fake date to show the town we’re incompatible. Instead, throughout dinner, Jeremy and I swap story after story, first about solo parenting, but then we move into talking about our jobs and hobbies. We discover we both have a mutual love for cooking and sports.
I barely notice the waiter refilling our glasses or bringing another bottle of wine when we manage to drain the first.
My attention is fixed solely on Jeremy. His smile. The way his cheekbones are slanted at the perfect angle so the candlelight dances off them. His dark eyes that sparkle so mischievously yet contain so much depth.
Somehow this fake date is more fun than every real date I’ve ever been on. Combined.
Maybe it’s the fact that there’s no pressure. I’m not wondering whether this will lead to my place or his place. I’m not skipping ahead to thinking about if this will develop into a relationship.
I’m just really enjoying getting to know Jeremy.
“You did not!” I say.
Jeremy nods. “I did. Hand on heart, swear to all the gods of humanity, I then proceeded to eat an entire pinecone. My experiences in the bathroom for the next two days weren’t particularly pleasant.”
I laugh. “The things we do when we’re young and dumb, huh?”
“Yeah, if only I hadn’t been twenty-five at the time, I could have totally used the young and dumb excuse.”
As I laugh even more, a scraping sound catches my attention.
The waiters are nosily stacking chairs on tables and giving us pointed looks.
Shit.
It appears Jeremy and I are the last patrons left in the restaurant.
I rub my hand along my jaw. “Um…I think we forgot our brief of uncomfortable silences.”
