Kim couldn't help but to notice the nervous demeanor Jason was displaying as he walked along next to her. It was something very unlike him. She wanted a few times to reach out to him to calm him but she found herself fighting her own nerves in response to his.
"Is everything okay?" Kim finally spoke, breaking the silence that had fallen on them along their walk. Jason stopped and turned to her.
"It's nothing bad," Jason responded in an attempt to hopefully soothe any worries she had. He wrung his hands together and took a deep breath before continuing. "I mean... I hope it is a good thing."
"Jase," Kim said with a smile. "I love you, but you are confusing me so much right now."
Jason went silent as he focused on her words. He knew in what context she meant she loved him. The same way he had felt about her for pretty much their whole lives. Friend. Best friend. Teammate. Fellow soldier. Confidant. All the things he was about to alter if this talk continued. He froze in uncertainty, opening his mouth to speak before closing it right after.
"What is it?" Kim quizzed as she took a step closer to him and reached a hand to place it over his still clasped hands.
"Kim," Jason finally found the words. "I..."
A deep breath.
"Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?" Jason asked. Kim furrowed her brow in confusion. They had dinner almost every night since she had come back to Angel Grove. She didn't understand the formality.
"Of course... but..." Kim cocked her head slightly.
"Maybe you don't understand..." Jason continued. He reached out and took her hand and held it gently in his. "I'm asking if you would like to formally go out with me tonight... like on a date."
Kim was flabbergasted now. Secretly she had pictured a moment like this for longer than she would readily admit. Standing here in the moment now she realized how little she was truly prepared for it. Her mind was racing but it was too slow to keep up with her even more quickened pulse.
"Um..." Kim's mouth was suddenly dry. "A d...date?"
"Yeah, I'd like very much to take you on a date tonight if you would join me," Jason replied with a hopeful but cautious smile on his face. He was past the point of second thoughts now, but his body was racked with nervous energy and he found it hard to stand still and keep any semblance of a cool demeanor.
"I..." Kim searched his eyes to see how sincere this offer was. It didn't feel real. She knew that no matter how she replied to this it would no doubt change their relationship significantly going forward. She realized she was overthinking it and decided to just go with her instinct. "I'd love to."
Jason's smile widened. His posture loosened.
"Is seven okay?" Jason inquired.
"It's perfect," Kim replied. She felt like she was blushing and it made her feel a little silly so she turned her head slightly.
"It's a date then," Jason confirmed. He realized he was still holding her hand from earlier. He gave it the most gentle of a squeeze before he let go and took a step back. Kim gathered her courage to face him once more.
"So... umm... I should probably get back to the girls... "Kim said with a gesture down the beach.
"Yeah... I've got some things I need to do so I'm gonna head home," Jason replied. The two found themselves walking slowly away from each other. Kim stopped and turned back.
"Jason," She got his attention. He turned.
"See you at seven," She said with a big smile. He nodded and matched her smile.
(***)
A smile crept over Jason's face for what seemed like the hundredth time on his drive home as his mind went back to the beach. He almost couldn't believe it. He had built it up so much in his head that he was sure it would not go off without a hitch the way it had.
Something on the side of the road in front of him caught his attention as he approached it. He recognized the red car on the side of the road with the hood up and smoke coming from the engine bay. He slowed his truck and pulled off the road behind the car. He hopped out and started making his way around the vehicle.
"That doesn't look good," Jason commented to the person bent over the engine with a puzzled look on his face. His eyes raised to meet him and he smiled.
"Yeah... hey Jase," Tommy replied as he straightened up. "It just popped and left me here... I'm thinking the radiator hose..."
Jason glanced at the motor for a moment before nodding. He walked back to his truck and reached into the bed of it. He pulled out a large jug of water and made his way back to the car.
"I think you are right..." Jason stated. "We can probably get it running to get you home."
"Think so?" Tommy asked.
"Yeah... get some water in it, and... you got a knife?" Jason inquired. Tommy reached into his jeans to pull out a small pocket knife. "In a few minutes we'll have you back on the road but you are gonna need a new hose and I'm betting you have a leak somewhere in your radiator."
"When did you become a mechanic?" Tommy asked. Jason pointed back to his fixer-upper of a truck.
"When that came into my life," Jason responded with a chuckle. Tommy nodded and laughed before the two began to go about their task of getting his car operable again.
The two worked wordlessly for several minutes before Jason felt a sense of guilt tugging at him. It was something he had hoped he would not feel. However, he had expected he might and knew he had to tell Tommy.
"Hey bro," Jason replied as he straightened himself up from under the hood of the car. Tommy followed suit. He reached over for an old rag and began to wipe his hands off while waiting for Jason to continue. "Listen... uh..."
Jason walked around to retrieve the water jug off the ground and picked it up. He set it down on the car and took a deep breath.
"I got a date tonight," Jason said. He focused his eyes intently on Tommy as he spoke, intent to maintain eye contact.
"Really?" Tommy replied. "I'm happy for you... after Emily and all."
"Yeah..." Jason continued.
"Anyone, I know?" Tommy inquired.
"Well... yeah..." Jason answered truthfully. "That's the thing..."
"What's up, Jase?" Tommy inquired sensing Jason's nervousness.
"I'm just gonna be upfront about this... it's with Kim," Jason stated. There were a few beats of silence between them. Jason studied Tommy's expression for a clue to his reaction before it could manifest. He wasn't sure what he expected but he wanted to be ready.
"Really?" Tommy finally broke the silence.
"Yeah... and listen... I know with the past between you two and..." Jason began.
"It's okay, bro," Tommy cut him off. He reached over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"It is?" Jason questioned.
"Yeah... you don't have to explain anything to me," Tommy clarified.
"But I just wanted you to know..." Jason began again. "I fought the way I was feeling for a while because I don't want to hurt you Tommy... or make things weird."
"I get that and I appreciate that," Tommy reacted. "But everything is cool with me and Kimberly... we weren't right for each other... and now I have Kat and man... I'm the happiest I've ever been."
"That's great to hear," Jason said, feeling relief and legitimate joy for his friend as he spoke.
"And I want you and Kim both to be happy and if it's with each other then that's even better," Tommy replied with a smile. Jason nodded in understanding. "I will be sore at you over one thing though."
"What's that?" Jason asked.
"If you don't help me finish getting this thing up and running," Tommy responded with a big cheeky grin. Jason let out a small laugh and shrug.
"Fair enough," Jason said as he uncapped the lid on the jug and the two went back to repairing the car.
