"Don't you look fancy," Cassidy smiled.
"Well, you didn't give me any clues on where we're going," Kate reminded her. Kate had chosen a pair of skinny jeans and a black satin tank top. "So what's going on?" She waved her hand around the abandoned parking lot. "Is this a party bus?"
"How much fun would you have on a party bus?" Cassidy fired back. "I wanted the night to be perfect for you. You don't need parties or alcohol as your last chance for freedom and fun…"
Kate lifted an arm above her eyes, trying to see past the blinding headlights that approached.
"Tonight, I want you to have closure," Cassidy explained. "I don't want you to have a single doubt or worry about marrying Spencer after tonight."
Jack got out of the car, approaching the women. "Kate… you look…"
"Am I missing something?" Kate blurted, staring between the two.
"I'm your alibi," said Cassidy. "Spencer thinks you're out with me and spending the night—"
"That doesn't mean—"
"Yeah, it does. I just want you to be sure. Spend one night with him. Talk… whatever…"
"What do you say?" Jack asked.
"Go on," Cassidy gave Kate a quick hug, speaking quietly into Kate's ear. "I want you to be sure you're over Jack before you do this. Don't lie to yourself about how you feel."
Kate nodded absentmindedly. She grabbed Jack's hand and let him lead her into the car, still feeling like her world was spinning out of control.
"Spencer is taking Aaron camping," Kate exhaled. She didn't want to mention Spencer but she needed to fill the silence. "Just the two of them."
"When?" Jack asked in a tone she couldn't quite place.
"I'm not sure. He hadn't given me a date yet."
"Oh," Jack smiled, relieved.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"He's not going to do it. Every time you try to get him to interact with our son he says he'll get back to you."
Kate turned, staring out the window. He was true but she wasn't ready to admit it.
"What do you love most about Spencer?" Jack asked, his head turning from the road to Kate.
"Jack," she sighed. He hated the way she said his name like that. He'd hated it on the island, a half whine and half sigh that told him she was over whatever the issue was.
"Answer me. He's going to be in my sons life, I deserve to know."
"He doesn't ask questions," she said dryly. "I mean, he's smart and Aaron likes him…"
"Aaron likes gifts," Jack corrected. "But what do you love about me?" He pushed. He should have used the past tense but he wanted to see if she corrected him.
"I can't explain it; I never could," she admitted. "There wasn't one thing. I love everything about you."
"You said love."
"You know what I'm trying to say!" Kate felt her cheeks redden and was glad it was growing dark. "Where are we going anyway?" She pressed.
"The cabin. It's secluded and no one knows where it is."
"You sound like a serial killer," she scoffed. "What's the plan? I'm just supposed to sleep with you until it's time for Cassidy to pick me up?"
"I had some things up my sleeve, but your way works, too." He placed a hand on her knee and rubbed it gently. "Relax and trust me."
"I do trust you," Kate said with a soft smile.
He pulled into a bar that looked rundown but was overly crowded. "We're at the first stop."
"What is this place?" Kate asked as she got out of the car. She stood so close to Jack that his hand wrapped around her waist to ease her mind.
By the time they had crossed the parking lot she could hear the booming country music. "Square dancing?" She guessed.
"You're supposed to dance at your bachelorette. And I happen to know that 8 year old Katie Ann won first place at one of these…"
"You remembered that?" She asked softly, a smile creeping across her face.
"That was the moment I knew I wanted a little girl," he said before he could stop himself.
"Jack," she stopped and grabbed his hand. "When we… when I was… before I lost…"
"Hey, hey," Jack soothed, shaking her arm to break her out of that mindset.
"I was hoping for a girl," Kate whispered. She had tried to pretend she never had an early miscarriage. Jack and his mother were the only two who knew and she'd made it clear to both not to bring it up. "I just wanted you to know," she whispered. She continued into the bar, Jack right on her heels.
While square dancing he saw a side of Kate he had never seen before. Her face was glowing, her eyes were twinkling and she couldn't go five minutes without laughing (usually at Jack's moves.) He savored every time she touched him to correct him and every time their bodies brushed against each other. He loved the way every man in the place watched Kate. When she'd walk to the bar for another shot of tequila heads would turn to watch her ass sway in those jeans. And they'd watch as she came back to him.
"How many shots is that?" He asked although her knew the answer -5- but he wanted to gauge how drunk she was by how much she remembered.
"This many," Kate whispered. She wrapped an arm around his neck and pulled him into a passionate kiss. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her body against him, making her moan into his mouth. He tasted the tequila on her tongue and was intoxicated. He expected her to pull away and try to run but she seemed lost in the kiss. Instead, they kissed on the square dancing floor until the music ended and the lights came back on.
"I guess we should get going," Kate finally spoke. She didn't smile but her face was so relaxed that he knew she didn't regret it.
