Hey, y'all. Back with another update for the only in-progress story I have right now.
Thanks for the continued support. Much love, much appreciation.
And now, we get the ball rolling...
It was Friday afternoon and Kimberly and Jason were in her car, heading away from the airport. She was on her lunch break and had come to pick him up. He'd told her that he'd have been just fine with a cab, but, Kimberly wasn't having it. Anyhow, the excited, original pink ranger could not stop grinning.
"I can't wait 'til you meet Lexie. You guys'll definitely click," Kimberly said, nodding.
"Looking forward to meeting her," Jason said.
"That works both ways. I haven't really shut up about you, so, of course, she's more than ready to meet you," Kimberly said.
"So you'll shut up once and for all," Jason said in an amused tone. He laughed when she punched him in the arm.
"Always be nice to the one behind the wheel, Rex. Otherwise, they get all pterodactyl on ya," she said.
"Why are you threatening me, Pinky?" Jason said, mock hurt.
"To relax," she said casually.
"You're a sick woman," he said.
"The voices tell me that, at least, once a day," she said, then, her eyes lit up. "You up for going out to dinner tonight? My treat."
"Sure. But you don't have to buy my-" he began.
"Oh, shut up, Jason," Kimberly said with a groan. "I know I don't have to, but, I'm gonna. Smile and agree or die by a mall-obsessor's little hand."
"Florida's made you scary, you know. All right, Firebird. Your treat," he said.
"And Lex should come, too- if that's cool with you," she said.
"Sure, it is," he said.
"Great," Kimberly said happily.
"Not to ruin your good mood, but, have you talked to Derek?" he asked.
"He called last night and invited me out for breakfast tomorrow," she said, her voice quiet.
"What'd ya tell him?" Jason asked.
"I told him that I already had breakfast plans with my visiting friend," she said. Then, she paused. "Maybe I should ask if he wants to join us. You guys'll get to meet and- truthfully- I'll be more comfortable with you there."
"Not a bad idea," Jason said.
"So I should invite him," she said.
"If that's what you really wanna do," he said.
She nodded slowly. What she really wanted to do... that was a laugh and a half. 'I hope I don't go crazy trying to make this decision about Derek and me. But, if I do, I'm requesting a pink padded cell,' she thought. Joking and making light of things actually kind of helped, in its own way. It wouldn't solve any problems, but, it still helped somehow.
"This restaurant works for me. Great food, great service," Jason told Kimberly and Lexie that evening.
"Oh, for sure," Lexie agreed. "I fell crazy in love the first time I came here. I even apologized to my former favorite restaurant." Her dinner companions laughed.
"So, you grew up here in Florida, huh?" Jason said.
"Yeah. But, I sometimes used to wish I'd lived in Italy my whole life," Lexie replied.
"I used to wish I lived on the East Coast during wintertime- so did Jason, Billy, Trini and Zack," Kimberly said. "Mmm. This food really is great. It tastes better every time I come here."
"Kim, we should introduce him to Stuart. It's a must. Jason, you'll get a good laugh," Lexie said as she thought of Kimberly's and her odd, uptight neighbor. "I don't think the guy was born with smiling muscles."
"He hates fun and loves to ruin everyone else's," Kimberly said with a laugh. "He's only twenty, but, he can be so cranky."
Jason laughed. "Sounds like a real walk in the park."
"He's a blast," Lexie said. "Last week, he flipped out on me in the laundry room for using his favorite washing machine. Then, he stormed out of there- mumbling about how life would be just fine if it weren't for people."
"All over a washing machine?" Jason said, his eyes filled with amusement and disbelief.
"I kid ya not," Lexie said with a short laugh. "And he goes cheese and crackers on you if you call him Stu. His words: 'Nicknames are for childish half-wits'."
"I bet this guy has a zillion friends," Jason said, shaking his head.
Kimberly watched as Jason and Lexie talked and laughed with each other and began grinning to herself. Those familiar wheels began turning in her brain. That good old matchmaking tingle started to work its way up her spine. 'Okay, slam on the brakes, Hart. Jason's only gonna be here two weeks,' she reminded herself.
"I feel so nauseous," Kimberly said on Saturday morning.
"It's gonna be fine, Kim," Jason reassured her.
They had arrived at the cafe just several minutes earlier and were waiting for Derek to show up. Kimberly's stomach had been going insane ever since she'd woken up. She was trying hard to relax- oh, how she wanted to- but, it wasn't happening. Seeing Derek and knowing he was waiting for an answer... . She shivered, then, cleared her throat and sat up a little straighter.
"Are you gonna be okay meeting him, Jase? I know Tommy and I have been over a long time, but-" she was saying.
"It's not gonna be a problem, Pinky. There might be a little weirdness at first, but, it'll pass just like that. Because you're right- you and Tommy've been over for a long time," he said. He was glad he was getting to meet Derek. The guy had been an important part of Kimberly's life once and there was a chance he would be again.
"If I knew he wasn't coming, if it were just you and me here for breakfast, I'd be cooler than cool," she said, sighing.
"I hear ya. But, at least he's not pressuring you," he said.
"I know. I just wish I could make a choice right away," she said. A part of her couldn't help wishing that Derek wasn't such a nice guy. "Here he comes now." She took a deep breath, then, managed to smile when her ex-boyfriend reached the table. "Hi, Derek."
"Hey," he said.
"This is my friend Jason. Jason, this is Derek, of course," Kimberly said, ignoring the twisting of her stomach.
Derek smiled and stuck his hand out. "Nice to finally meet you, man."
Jason smiled and shook the guy's hand. "You, too."
"Well, have a seat," Kimberly said, her voice sounding overly cheerful for some reason. Jason threw an amused look her way and she swiftly kicked him under the table. He smirked at her as Derek sat down next to him. Kimberly just knew he'd chosen not to sit next to her for her own sake. Her nervousness began fading.
A short while later, they were all eating, talking and laughing. Kimberly was feeling almost totally at ease. 'I knew things would be better with Jase around,' she thought.
"I'm glad you like Derek and Lexie," Kimberly said to Jason as the two of them walked side by side along the beach that night. After breakfast, the two of them had spent the day hanging out, reminiscing and just enjoying each other.
"Yeah. Derek's a good guy and Lexie is really cool. I see why you like them," Jason said with a smile.
"I've had such a great life here in Florida. It was hard to adjust in the beginning, but, people like Derek and Lexie made it easier," Kimberly said. "Nothing could make me stop missing the rest of you, though. I'm so, so, so glad you're here, Rex." She looped her arm through his.
"It's great to be here, Firebird. And I'm glad you've got it good down here," he said.
"Thanks. Hey, you're in for a treat tomorrow," she said.
"Really? Why?" he asked.
"Because Lexie and I make this really great brunch at least once a month. You'll love it," she said, smiling.
"Can't wait," he said, returning the smile. Her smile had always been comforting as well as pretty. It was the type of smile that could make even the most depressed people feel that all was right in the world. "By the way, my mom wanted me to tell you that you'd better visit again soon or she'll mail a butt-kicking to you."
She laughed. "I love that woman." Then, she put her arm around his waist, he slipped his arm around her shoulders and they walked on with a strong feeling of contentment.