Sally was so embarrassed by the way she acted. And everyone was staring at her like a crazy person! "How could I fall for that.." She muttered to herself. It was a few hours before she usual left her office. She didn't plan on leaving anytime soon. She didn't want to be seen honestly. She was just so embarrassed. Then a knock in her door. Sally stared as one of the assistants popped in announcing "There's a Mr.. Um.. Your ex husband is here to see you." Sally sighed and rubbed her forehead. Had to be about Cleo or something. "Oh great... um..Go ahead, send him in." She answered. The assistant nodded and shut the door. Sally took a deep breath and tried telling herself to stay calm while talking to Lightning.
The door opened and Lightning walked in greeting "Hey Sal." Sally crossed her arms and leaned back in her chair. She was mad. "So uh.. You have a bad day?" Lightning asked. Sally sighed with a frown and shrugged. "I'm sorry." he added softly. Sally was upset and replied "Cleo says you two.. That you two slept together again. Is that true?.." She asked in such a sad and disappointing tone. Technically no. No, not even technically! Lightning didn't have sex with Cleo. Well only oral sex. Does that count as sleeping together? He did not put his member inside her again! "No. I did not have sex with her again." He said it firm enough Sally believed him. "So what did you hear?" Lightning smiled and sat down before answering in a way that seemed like he was trying to make a joke of it "Only that the town's mayor may have had something of a break down at the diner." Sally sighed.
"It's bad. I really made a mess of myself." Sally admitted. Lightning shrugged "It'll be okay. Cleo has to lie and do drastic things to get attention. You will win because you're honest. That's what people want in a mayor.. That's what I love about you." he reminded. Sally snickered. She didn't believe she'd win at this point. Lightning then, had an interesting idea. "So.. You're obviously having a rough one today. Why don't you come over for dinner. The kids and I are grilling out. Mater is coming too. It would be nice to have you there." he smiled with such charm. Sally raised a brow asking "I don't know.. Why should I do that? I mean we don't exactly get along.." "Which is ashame because I'd love to see you. The kids should see us together and getting along. We can?.. I don't know? Play some silly yard game that Mater will more than likely make up. It'll be fun. Come on. You know you want to? I'll make filet mignon. The way you like it." He tried coaxing. Sally rolled her eyes but her smile let him know he almost had her!
"And as a bonus of having the honor no, privilege of the Mayor joining us, I'll even set up the old movie projector in the yard." Sally stared a moment at Lightning. Maybe some family time would be good for them all. "Okay." She muttered. "Great!" Lightning shouted! "So I'll see you there? Seven?" He asked. Sally nodded. "The kids will be thrilled. I'm thrilled!" he admitted. Sally just stared. Lightning was being kinda cute...
Lightning finished hanging up the lights with his friend Mater. "This sure is alot for just some back yard thing?" Mater stated. Lightning nodded admitting "Yeah, actually Sally's comin to. If she shows up like she said." Mater smiled all happy and wide "Miss Sally is comin!? wooh! That makes tonight even better!" Lightning chuckled and glanced over at his kids. Ece was in her large plastic play house while the boys were playing with random toys in the yard. "Kids don't know yet. So, maybe let it be a surprise." Lightning asked. "Shoot ofcourse! I won't tell no body!" Lightning snickered and put up the latter.
"What movie we watchin than?" Mater asked. Lightning sighed and honestly wasn't sure yet. Before he could actually answer Mater followed with another question "You and Sally gettin back together?" ",Ssshhh!" Lightning immediately snapped and motioned for Mater to quiet down. "I don't want the kids hearing this kind of thing. At the moment, no. Sally doesn't want much to do with me." "Buuuuuttt?" Mater asked. Lightning sighed admitting "But I am hopeful. I'm trying. I gotta try harder without making her push away. Which is really difficult because of how quickly she shuts down. You know how she can be." Mater nodded. He knew Sally and Lightning well enough, that he did know.
"Flowers always work Buddy." Mater reminded. Lightning snickered. Yeah, maybe. He'd have to keep that in mind. "Actually I think I found a way to get to know what Sally really wants without her even knowing." Lightning admitted in a sky manner. Mater raised a brow confused and Lightning left it at that. Although he did trust Mater, Mater might accidentally tell Sally or give him away if Lightning admitted and talked about the whole Chester thing. So it was better to keep it to himself. "Actually I thought about trying something tonight." Mater grew curious and leaned close asking "Oooh. What is it?" Lightning chuckled a little before answering "Well, if the kids are good and watching the movie and seem content or even fall asleep possibly? I thought about setting up a little... Spot. Hidden on the side of the house for Sally and I. Try to get her on a date without telling her." "A surprise date?" Mater asked. Lightning bobbed his head saying "Something like that."
"But it's risky. If the kids are stuck to her or me even? There's no way I could. Plus once Sally figured it out? She may be a little mad about it." Mater shrugged reminding "Shoot you know I'll do anything for yuh. You let uncle Mater get the kids all pre occupied and distracted. That ways, you and Miss Sally can have your own little thing. I wish y'all two were all worked out and stuff anywayd to." Lightning smiled a little and had to ask to make sure "You'd do that? This was suppose to be us and the kids hanging out. Not a date night while your stuck baby sitting?" Mater shook his head explaining "It's not baby sitting! You and sally will be like ten steps away!? Plus the kids love me. It'll be fine. You just let me help bud." Lightning smiled warmly and thanked his friend. "Oh! I better get this set up before Sally gets here than!" Lightning reminded himself. With that, Lightning began getting all he needed for this trick of a secret little date for Sally set up and ready. Even the old outdoor mesh curtains to somewhat cover up the spot and extra sheets to make sure you couldn't just see through. Lightning felt pretty good and was actually excited for this moment he was gonna surprise Sally with!
Mater and the kids were sitting on pillows and chairs in front of the huge screen. The kids turned when they heard a car door slam shut then as their mom walked up, Landon yelled "Mommy!" he and Ece ran up to Sally with excitement and surprise! Mater turned to Colton and asked "Aren't you happy see your mom?" with a smile. Colton didn't smile back. He just muttered "Okay." then watched the screen. Mater thought Colton was a little odd. Maybe just tired or hungry. Sally and the twins came up and they were glued to her at the moment. She walked over to Lightning who was grilling at the moment. "Smells good Light." Lightning shrugged "Made it the way you like it. And don't worry. I know the kids don't eat steak really so I got them their own thing." he replied and let her know. Sally smiled complimenting "You are a good father Light. I don't tell you that enough." Lightning was surprised hearing that. Ofcourse Annie already told Chester something similar to that.
"Thanks." he replied with a charming smile. Lightning really hoped tonight would help them get closer. The twins took off to go play again. "I um. I heard Cal might be closing his school up." Lightning nodded explaining "Yeah but, I am gonna try to help him. He doesn't deserve to lose everything like.. Well." He snickered and didn't want ro bring up old stuff and cause a fight. So he changed the direction of this conversation "You look beautiful Sally." He complimented. Sally glanced down at her dark jeans and baby blue t shirt before replying "You only say that cause you don't have anything else to say." Lightning's brows lowered scolding her "Stop that. I say it cause it's true. How is the motel?" he asked. Sally sighed. "That bad?" he added. "No just.. I am tired. A lot of the time I just.. Sometimes I wish I wasn't the mayor and that things could be simple again. Only run the motel again." Lightning smiled a little. He remembers all those days. Back when Sally only had The cozy cone. Sure life was simpler but the kids and marriage. Lightning wouldn't trade that. If he could only have all this. Sally as his wife again. Raising their kids together and not this separation crap and custody stuff.
"I was actually thinking about how you do work weekends and I don't. Maybe we could look into chaning the agreement a little. That way we could both see the kids a little better around each other's schedules." Sally admitted. Lightning smiled and had to ask "What made you change your mind?" Sally shrugged. "Just.. Cleo has made me think about how selfish I have been to you lately. I really don't want to be anything like her." She explained. Lightning smiled warmly assuring Sally that she was nothing like Cleo.
"Alright. Food done guys! Let's get the movie going!" Lightning exclaimed loud enough the kids and Mater heard him as well as Sally. So the movie started. The kids all sat down at their miniature picnic table. Matwr next to them and they began eating while watching their show. Sally took her plate over and began to sit down in one of the lawn chairs but Lightning stopped her, "Woah hold on. I set up a vip spot for the mayor." Sally raised a brow and giggled "Vip?" Lightning nodded amd motioned for her to follow him. "Come on. It's just right over here." Sally hesitated. But the kids were absolutely content with food, a backyard movie and uncle Mater. So Sally followed Lightning to the side of the house.
he waited and opened a curtain up which revealed a rstger beautiful and romantic set up. Lightning was mentally crossing his fingers praying that this wouldn't push Sally away! It was simple. Curtains hung around in a square around an outdoor couch and outdoor coffee table with some drinks and candles and roses. Lights hung on the top of the curtains too. Above in this closed place was the open night sky of stars. Sally's jaw dropped a little. She was not expecting anything like this at all! "Lightning"-"Nuh-uh." Lightning interrupted. "No. This is for you. You deserve this and I'm not taking no for an answer." Sally sighed but smiled. "This isn't a date is it?" She asked suspiciously. Oh how Lightning wished it really was. But he shrugged and gave her the power over that answering "It's what you make it." Sally definitely was thinking something in that pretty head of hers.
Lightning took her plate and set it down and took her hand, pulling her to the couch. "Sit down and enjoy okay?" Sally nodded. Lightning poured her a drink and then one himself. This was a set up. it was obvious. The two of them drank and sat and ate quietly. Besides the sounds of the crickets and nightly sounds, you couls faintly hear the movie and kids and Mater in the back. But the closed curtain set up made the two of them secluded. It was quiet and neither of them could eat much. Maybe it was nerves, maybe something else.
"You shouldn't have done all this Light.." Sally quietly mumbled. Almost a whisper. Lightning raised a brow but remained silent and listened. "This is way too much. I mean it's beautiful and such an amazing gesture! Really! But..." Lightning just knew that but was gonna break his heart! So he stepped in saying "Don't. This isn't a date, or grand gesture, or me trying to win you over." LIE!!! "You had a hard day, a rough day. You deserve to be treated like this. And... I did this for you because.. Yeah, you maybe my ex wife, but you are also my friend Sal. My best friend. I'm always gonna care for you. Even if it seems like we don't get along all the time." he joked. Sally smiled. Then she placed her hand on his and said "Thank you. Really, thank you." God her voice could make him melt. She was absolutely beautiful! A beautiful creature. Why and how could he fall so weak!
Why did things have to go so sour!? Sally had been there in his darkest times! When he had nothing much to his name! When he could barely afford anything! She was there from the start and in her one mistake he decided that revenge was best? How stupid, he thought now. "So you headed to the race tomorrow this time?" Sally asked. Lightning nodded. And he was. As Chester. "Yeah. But who knows how many races I'll actually have to go to. Sense some of Cal's students are transfering." He explained. Sally sighed replying "Megan is pretty set of divorce." Lightning frowned hearing that. He didn't want Cal OR Megan to go through what he and Sally had. It was all too painful. "They need to make up." Lightning muttered.
"They need to decide that for themselves. I know you. Don't mettle." Sally scolded in a friendly way. Lightning glared without a word back to that. Lightning stared at Sally. He missed this so much. Gazing at her. Sure, they got older. But he wouldn't wish her younger. He loved and wanted just as she was. "You look beautiful. I know you get that a lot.. But you really do." Lightning complimented. Sally snickered and smiled. "I hope your happy.." He added. Sally's eyes widened a little. She stared and wondered. Was she? "And whoever this?.. New?... Dick is? He's a lucky guy." Lightning added. Sally blushed red! She brushed her hair back and explained that event! "Jesse is.. Blunt.. You know that.. I am not seeing anyone. I just.. I met this guy last week at. " She paused. Lightning smiled this sly little smile. "When you stalked me?" he asked. Sally smiled so embarrassingly! "Haha... Yea.. About that.." she replied. Lightning chuckled softly "It's alright. I can forgive you. This time." he joked. Sally snickered once again. This, THIS is what tjat familiar feeling with Chester was like.
Sally kind of wanted to go to see Chester again. See him and maybe Jesse was right. NOT COMPLETELY! Sally didn't want to just go sleep with the man! But.. Maybe a little fun couldn't hurt. Or she could at least try. Just to forget Francesco maybe. Chester was mysterious and had a bit of explaining to do really. But, Sally wasn't sure what she would do if she ran into Lightning there while with Chester! What would Lightning actually do at that moment? Because Lightning had a bit of a jealous temper. Chester seemed like the guy to say something smart and or sarcastic. Which would most definitely set Lightning off. She didn't want that!
"You aren't actually interested in Cleo are you?" Sally just had to ask. Lightning's eyes widened. "No!" He answered loudly. "No. Cleo was just.. I don't know." Sally nodded and it got quiet. Then she had to ask something else that had been on her mind silently for a while now, "Do you want Cruz?" Lightning's brows lowered. Maybe a little offneded even, but before he could answer Sally added "It's okay if you do. Just don't lie to me." Lightning stared a moment in a little bit of shock that Sally even asked that! "No. Cruz isn't the woman I want." He answered firmly but softly. Sally snickered at how he said that. That reminded her of Chester. It was starting to seem really funny how much Chester and Lightning were alike in their personality.
"Well.. Thanks for tonight Light." Sally exclaimed "I'm gonna go see the kids for a bit before heading home." She stood up and about left but stopped and turned facing Lightning who was still sitting at the moment. She stared as if she might say something else but she just smiled before stepping out thw curtain. Lightning sighed. He rrally hoped that maybe she would turn up again at the races. Tonight was amazing. Lightning stood up and peeked out at Sally with the kids and Mater. He didn't want her to go. He wanted her to stay.