Saturday night comes around quickly. Cate made the decision to try cooking some of the food herself, but she decided to stick with the fairly safe cup-cakes for dessert. She lovingly spent the morning baking them, and then decorating them in various coloured icing.
"You might just be getting better at this cooking thing," laughs Ryan, coming into the kitchen and grabbing one of the cup-cakes before she has the chance to stop him.
"Well, I wouldn't go that far, but I want to do something special for the dinner tonight. Lux is a bundle of nerves about it."
"I know, she could barely concentrate on anything last night. Even that show she likes couldn't settle her."
Lux appears, and notices a little look between her mother and step-father.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing. We were just talking about tonight. Are you looking forward to it?" asks Cate.
"Yeah, sure. It should be fun," she answers, without a dose of sincerity.
"Lux, I know what a big deal it is to introduce your boyfriend to your family, but I promise we won't make him feel uncomfortable. We just want to get to know him," says Cate.
"I'm still nervous. The two of you don't know Jones, not as well as Baze. I just want it to go well."
Cate kisses her daughter on the forehead.
"Just try to relax and enjoy it, all right?"
Lux nods, but her anxiety won't leave until this night is over.
After another painting session, Baze returns to his loft, where he finds Math sitting on the couch with a beer in hand, staring off into space.
"Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. I'm just sitting here re-evaluating my life, that's all."
"That's very philosophical. Are you thinking of anything in particular?"
"I'm not where I want to be in my life. I love my job, but I'd like to have a relationship. A real relationship," he says, looking down at his shoes. Baze sits beside him. He knows what he's talking about, as he would like the same thing for himself. He took the break up with Emma badly, and hasn't been mentally ready to even look for a new girlfriend. But now, perhaps he should start doing something.
"How about we head out tonight and hit a few bars? I'm sure Jamie would be up for it as well."
For the first time that day, a massive smile pops onto Math's face.
"Definitely!" he beams.
"Great. I'll give Jamie a call."
At the Cassidy/Thomas house, Cate, Ryan and Lux are dashing around the kitchen and dining room, making their last few adjustments when the front door bell rings. They all stop in their tracks, turning to stare at the front door as though it could open on its own.
"Lux, do you want to get the door," says Cate, grabbing her husband's arm, ready to greet Jones.
After a brief moment of panic, Lux opens the door. Jones has a massive smile on his face, and a bunch of flowers in his hands. She gives him a hug.
"Are you ready for this?" she whispers.
"Absolutely."
"Well come on in you two," says a happy Ryan, holding the door open for them to pass through.
As they move into the living room, Jones hands the flowers to Cate.
"Thank you so much for inviting me," he says, smiling at her.
"Thank you, that's very sweet of you. Would you like something to drink?"
"Do you have some cola?"
"Certainly. Lux, could you get it?" asks Cate, smiling at her daughter. Lux knows her mother wants some time alone with her boyfriend, but she loathes the idea. She always wants to be around to make sure there are no catastrophes. She looks over at Jones, but he has his eyes on Cate.
"Sure," she says, slowly making her way to the kitchen, but keeping her eyes on the living room.
Ryan joins everyone in the living room. He and Cate sit together on the couch, while Jones rests himself on one of the chairs opposite. They had done a bit of re-arranging for the night, wanting to keep everyone together while they chatted.
"So Jones, thanks for coming over for dinner. I hope you're not too nervous?" asks Ryan.
Jones laughs.
"I'd be lying if I said I was totally at ease, but I'm happy to have the chance to get to know Lux's family better. She has never been the most talkative about her family in the past."
"Yeah, things have been difficult since Lux came to live with us. But things are settling down now," says Cate, smiling at him. From the little she has seen of Jones, he always seemed to be a fairly respectful and responsible man. Now that she's getting the chance to know him better, she's confident that she's going to like this young man.
"How's everything in here?" asks Lux, coming back into the living room.
"Everything is fine. We were done with the thumb screws on Jones before you came back," grins Ryan.
Everyone laughs, except Lux, whose pretty face turns the colour of a tomato.
Baze, Math and Jones are having a couple of drinks, getting ready to head out on the town.
"So what inspired this night out?" asks Jamie.
"We both realised that we have been lacking in some female companionship for far too long. It's time we put a stop to that!" says Math.
"Fantastic. About time you two started hitting the bars again."
"Yeah. Plus, I was thinking we could scope out how they get the numbers in the bar. I want Open Bar 2.0 to be a great success."
Jamie nods his head. He can't wait to get back to work again. The time without steady work at the bar has been very difficult. Moving back in with his parents has been soul destroying, and he can't wait to get things back to a debauched normal.
"So, where are we heading to first?" asks Jamie.
"What about Wild Bar? That place was rocking last time we were there," says Baze.
"Really? I didn't think you enjoyed it?" adds Jamie.
"I did, my mind just wasn't on it. I was going through that whole drama with Emma. This time, I'm ready to meet and greet some women," he grins.
"All right then. Let's go!" says Jamie, escorting his two friends out the front door.
