Chapter 72 The Anchor
Cassandra mouthed some words to the woman. She nodded sympathetically, but I could see the confusion clear in her eyes.
“Well, take care. Congratulations on your baby,” she said.
Then the woman hugged her goodbye.
Her gaze flickered to where I was standing, then she bowed slightly and left.
Cassandra turned back to me, wearing her composure once again like a mask.
“An old friend,” she let out a small smile as she walked up to me.
Something didn’t feel right, but I didn’t push further.
She got whatever she wanted to get and we drove back home.
When we got home, she didn’t say a word, she just walked straight into her room.
“That’s weird,” I mumbled under my breath and sank onto the couch.
I leaned back against the couch and stared at the ceiling.
My mind drifted back to what happened at the restaurant, but I brushed it off immediately.
“Whatever happened there is not my business,” I told myself.
I sighed and closed my eyes for a bit.
Joan’s face flashed across my mind and I wondered how blissful our relationship would have been if Cassandra hadn’t put asunder.
JOAN COLE’S POV
My phone buzzed relentlessly with text messages from Dave. We had started talking every day, though none of us talked about the kiss and I didn’t hold back from replying to him.
Lena noticed, of course. She would catch me glancing at my phone during dinner or while we watched Theo play video games in the living room.
“Spilled milk, remember,” she would say firmly.
Little did she know that I barely even think about Alex again.
Focusing on Dave had been my support. His texts were steady and not complicated.
He would send good morning messages, check in about my day, and give me little compliments without demanding anything in return.
Theo had also recovered fully, his energy had returned and his laughter filled the house like it used to.
That Sunday, Dave’s text popped up on my screen.
“Are you ready?”
“Very ready,” I typed back.
“I will pick you up in thirty minutes. Wear comfortable shoes,” his reply came almost immediately.
I rushed into my room, changed into jeans and a light sweater, my heart beating a little faster than usual.
Lena raised an eyebrow when she saw me holding my sneakers.
“Wait! Date number what?… five,”
She asked and still replied to herself.
“It’s not a date,” I rolled my eyes.
“If that makes you sleep at night,” she laughed.
“Have fun.”
I rolled my eyes again but hugged her anyway before dashing out of the house.
Dave arrived just on time, then he stepped out in casual jeans and a fitted shirt that showed his frame just right.
He leaned against his car, folded his arms, and smiled.
“Ready for some fresh air.”
“More than ready,” I replied, and walked towards him.
He opened the door for me, letting me slide into the passenger’s seat before going over to the driver’s side.
He started the car and we drove into the street.
I didn’t say anything throughout the ride, and Dave didn’t pry either.
He just turned on soft music and smiled at me.
Soon, we arrived at a quiet park at the outskirts of the town.
He pulled over and grabbed a basket from the trunk.
And yes… it was an actual picnic basket.
“Wow,” I muttered with a small smile on my lips.
“You really mean this.”
“I figured we would need wine and fruits,” he smirked.
I smiled sheepishly as he let me down the trail.
We walked side by side, the leaves on the ground crunching under our feet. And as we walked, Dave pointed out the littlest things from a bird’s nest to a quirky tree shape and I found myself laughing… really laughing.
We reached a hidden spot by a small pond, where he spread out the blanket and unpacked.
In the basket, there were sandwiches, fruits, cheese, two wine glasses, and a bottle of wine.
“Picnic under the stars,” he said, pouring two glasses.
The sky had already started getting dark. I sat beside him on the soft blanket and took a sip from my glass.
“This is so thoughtful. Thank you,” I admitted.
He looked at me, the emerging stars visible in his eyes.
“You deserve a lot more than this.”
I nodded, and looked away, pretending to admire the water ripple.
We ate in silence after.
As the star brightened, he shifted closer to me, not too close but enough to make me feel the warmth of his body. Our conversation became lighter and lighter.
We talked about our favorite book and silly childhood stories, but that didn’t hide the unspoken feelings underneath his eyes.
When we finished eating, we lay back on the blanket, looking up at the stars.
The night air was so cool that I started shivering slightly.
He noticed.
“Are you cold?” he asked gently.
“A little,” I admitted, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
He sat up, took off his jacket, and draped it over me, his hand brushing my arm as he did. His touch lingered a little too long.
Then our eyes met in the dim light and everything around us seemed to stay still.
Before I knew it, his fingers trailed down my thighs, grazing the fabric of my jeans.
Was it accidental?
Was it intentional?
That I wasn’t sure of.
The touch was light but it made my skin tingle and sent a jolt underneath me.
I pulled back gently and sat up.
When he noticed this, he withdrew his hand immediately.
“I’m sorry about that,” he muttered, his expression serious.
“No… it’s… It’s nice. It’s just that there’s a lot on my mind.”
“Huh. Want to talk about it?” he asked, sitting up.
I hesitated first.
Then I spilled.
Maybe it was the wine or the way everywhere was quiet, but many words spilled out.
I started saying partial truths about Alex. I talked about the first and second betrayal, then the hurt without mentioning names.
Dave listened.
He listened without interruption.
And when I finished talking, he sighed, looked at me, and reached for my hand, "Whoever he is, he doesn’t deserve you brooding over him or carrying that weight. You deserve someone who sees you.”
His words sent a calm through my mind and Lena’s words flashed through my mind.
“Dave is safe.”
Just as I was about to talk, we heard footsteps running towards our direction.
“Did you hear that?” I asked, widening my ear with my hand to make sure I didn’t mishear.
“I heard it,” he replied, also paying attention.
“We have to pack up now,” he said and jumped up.
He pulled me up too and immediately started packing everything on the ground in a hurry.
But before we could take a step, we saw him, running towards us at full speed.
"Oh my God!"