I've lost my mind. Jason has been sitting behind the wheel of the rental for twenty minutes since he pulled into the small Florida apartment complex. What am I doing here? I should just go. Yeah, go. She doesn't know I'm here, I could just…
"Jason..?"
Crap. The voice pull him out of his own mind. Looking up he sees Kimberly Hart standing a few feet away staring at him with a perplexed expression. Swallowing hard, he opens the car door and steps out. Okay, so…just stay casual. "Hey, Kimmie."
"Oh my God! Jason!" Her look goes from confusion to ecstatic joy in a matter of seconds. Dropping the gym bag off her arm she runs over and gives him a big hug, pushing him back against the car. After a moment she steps back trying to compose herself. "What are you doing here?"
"I had some time off. And I have been promising to come out for a visit." Jason smiles as her infectious excitement overwhelms him. "So, here I am."
"Why didn't you call first?" She slaps him on the arm. "I could have met you at the airport."
"And ruin the surprise." He smiles wider feeling more relaxed now then he has in the last week. "That wouldn't be any fun."
"I can't believe you're here." She says giving him another tight hug. Stepping to his side she wraps her arm around his waist. "Come on, I'll show you my place."
Jason hold his smile even as the warmth of her arm on his back feels a lot warmer than humanly possible. As they walk to the sidewalk, he bends and retrieves her discarded bag as they pass.
Walking up the stairs to the building's second story, Kimberly pulls away to unlock the door to her apartment before leading him in. "Its not much but its home for time being."
"Its nice." Jason says as he looks around the small living space. "Its…cozy."
"Yeah, okay, so it is a lot smaller than my dad's place back home but I like it just fine." She smiles up at him for a moment before noticing her bag hanging from his shoulder. "Oh…here let me take that." She says taking the bag from him and skipping over to toss it through an open door a few steps away and pulling the door shut. "You want a soda or anything?"
"Yeah, sure. Sounds good." Jason answers watching her bounce to the conjoined kitchen.
"You are allowed to come inside." She teases as she glances back at him.
Jason looks around and realizes he hasn't taken more than three steps through the front door. Way to play it casual, moron. Turning he follows Kim over to the kitchen, watching her retrieve a couple cans from the fridge.
"I hope diet is okay." She states as she holds out a can to him.
"Yeah, its cool." He smiles taking the can.
"A man of few words still I see." Kim smiles as she takes a seat at her small dining table. "So, okay spill it."
"Huh?" Jason's muscles tense as he tries to figure out what she asking. "Spill what?"
"Come on, Jase. Stop playing." She grins popping the top on her can of soda. She taps the table indicating that he should sit. "I want to know everything. What have you been up too?"
"Oh." Jason relaxes as he moves to sit in the chair opposite her. "Not much, working mostly. Haven't hade much time for anything else."
"And how's Emily?"
"Ah…she's fine, I guess." Jason answers avoiding her gaze.
"Jason…" Kimberly tilts her head slightly as she reads his body language. "What is going on?"
"Uh… me and Em kinda broke up."
"Oh…sorry." Kim gives a little shrug. "I had no idea."
"Its okay." Jason give her a small smile. "It was only a matter of time before it happened anyway."
An uncomfortable silence fall between them with neither knowing quite what to say. After a moment Kim turn back to Jason with a bright smile. "I know just the thing to cheer you up. We go clubbing tonight."
"I dunno, Kim." Jason shakes his head. "I'm not much of the clubbing type. Besides I don't want to mess up any plans you may have had."
"Don't be silly." Kim smiles widely at him. "We need to get you back out there. It'll be fun. No arguments. Go get whatever to bags you brought with you. You can stay in the spare room."
"I hate to impose." Jason says with a small half grin. "Might be better if I just go to a hotel."
"I said No arguments. Now go."