Author's Note

Thank you very much for the kind comments, they mean a lot to me

Enjoy

Charlie's POV

"Urgg… I don't know what I was thinking. I can't go on a date!" I tell Nora, who is sitting on the bed next to me. I called her in a panic moment after I hung up with Jason.

"I thought it wasn't a date?" Nora questions with an amused smile.

"It is NOT a date" I reply and get up to inspect my wardrobe again. "And I might as well call and cancel, because I have nothing to wear!"

"It is just Lunch, so you don't need anything formal. Wear your black jeans, flip flops and a nice top." Nora says as she gets up from the bed and comes to a stand next to me. "And you are not going to cancel on him. I have been telling you for the last few weeks, that you need to get out and meet people your own age. I am not saying you should sleep with the guy, just have some fun!"

"Okay…It is just that I haven't been out with someone other than Bass in the last seven years." I sigh and hang my head low. "I feel guilty."

"No need to feel guilty. He hasn't been around and you left him. It is time to move on." Nora replies and starts pulling out clothes for me to try on.

At exactly 12.30 the doorbell rings. I am glad that Nora was there to help me get dressed, since Jason is also just wearing Jeans and a black button down shirt, with the sleeves rolled up. He looks very much like a GQ cover model.

"You look great" He says with a smile and I grab my back from beside the door and step outside. It is a nice, late spring day. The sun is shining and it is about 25 degrees. "Ready to go?"

"Yes" I smile and lock the door. Nora left five minutes ago and in those five minutes I contemplated multiple times weather to cancel or not.

"Good, because I am starving" Jason shoots me another smile and guides me towards his silver BMW M3. I only know that this is an M3, because my mother had it as a company car for a while.

After an un-eventful drive, with some nervous chatter, we pull up at the Blackbird Restaurant on Randolph St. I have heard that this place has the best burger in town (A/N this is based on a Webside, if someone from Chicago disagrees I am sorry!), but never got around to actually come here.

"What have you been up to since high-school?" I question, after we placed our order.

"Well, I travelled through South America for a while and then started working at my Dad's firm, while getting my degree in finance. I graduated last year and now work for the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago." Jason informs me.

"Isn't that a little boring?" I retord.

"Not if you are really into numbers" He replies with a smirk. "What about you?"

"Uhh…well I went to the University of Chicago and got my degree in Business. But started to work part time at Train & Rescue after I had my kid…" I glance at him to gauge his reaction.

"You have a child?" He questions with a bit of surprise.

"Yes, Alex. He is six years old as of Januray 15." I tell him with a smile.

"Wow, congratulation." Jason replies honestly.

"Thank you. He is a pretty smart kid." I reply and in that moment our starters appear and the conversation stops for a few minutes.

"So what happened then?" Jason asks as our soups are taken away.

"Well I finished my degree, but couldn't find a job. So like I said I started part-time at Train & Rescue. And now I can't imagine leaving that place for an Office job." I conclude.

"How did you do University, work and child care? Wasn't that quiet the challenge?" He questions.

"I had help" I tell him. Which is true. I had help, from my mother and Miles. I just don't know how to tell Jason that I am married. "So tell me more about your job!" I say, hoping he will take the hint of a subject change.

Jason ends up telling me all about the challenges of the world of Finance for the rest of the meal.

"I had a good time" I tell him as he walks me to the front door. "Thank you for Lunch."

"No worries. I had a good time too." Jason replies as I unlock the door. Suddenly his strong hand wraps around my arm, he spins me around and his other hand cradles my face. "I already wanted to do this in high-school" Jason whispers and then closes the distance. The kiss is nice and sweet, but comes with a huge amount guilt too.

"Jason…I have to tell you something" I tell him as I push him away.

"What is it?" He questions, as he is running his thump along my lips.

"I am married" I inform him and he immediately pulls away. "But we have been separated since three months."

"That still doesn't change that you are married, Charlie" Jason replies a little harshly. "I…I gotta go. Have a good day."

"You too" I reply and can't help but feel sad, that my first date or lunch meeting or what ever you want to call it turned out like this. But I can't help the fact that I am married. Maybe I should have been honest with him, from the start.

I watch him get back into his BMW and drive off, before I enter the quiet house. I look at the clock and realize it is only 2.30 pm. Still a lot of time in the day left and I have nothing to do.

"Hey favorite sister in law, how are you?" Connor Bennet's voice rings through the line as I answer the ringing phone. Connor is Bass's half-brother. His Dad had a brief affair with their neighbor as him and Bass's mom were separated for a while. Connor is the result of that affair. His mom dragged him to Mexico and Bass only found out about his 15 years younger half-brother after his entire family was killed in a car crash.

It was a shock at first and but Bass tries his best to stay in touch with Connor, who was 9 at the time. So now whenever Connor is in the area, him and Bass are inseparable.

"I am good how are you?" I question with a smile. "Have they let you back into the country?"

Connor chuckles on the other end. "I am good and yes they have. Even without trouble. Who would have thought a clean shave will help me pass through border control easier?"

"Well you did look a bit like a shady person the last time, so I can't blame them for picking you out of the line" I answer with a laugh as I think of the phone call I received from Border control.

Connor works as a Travel guide. He leads Tours all over South America and often forgets to shave on those trips. He thinks the beards makes him look badass and more grown up. Border Patrol didn't quite like his look and called me for verification that I know him. Not only his look but him on Border Patrol's radar, but also the fact that he travels to Mexcio and back to the states every few months.

"Well this time I didn't want them giving me a full cavity search, so I shaved!" Connor sighs and I can hear that he is grinning. "On another note, I am in town for a week and really like to crash on your couch again, since Miles's couch is occupied."

"By whom?" I find myself asking.

"You don't know?" He replies.

"What?" I question confused.

"Bass is sleeping there!" Connor replies.

"Oh…okay. Well then come on over. I will be here all day." I tell him. On one hand I am surprised that Bass isn't sleeping in our house, on the other hand I am not.

Flashback

"Why are you not staying at the house?" I question.

"Babe, it feels empty without you guys. And starring at the walls and our pictures makes me miss you guys even more" My husband informs me over the phone.

"Bass…" I sigh and in the background I hear Miles telling his best friend to grow a pair, which has me laughing out loud.

"You just laugh. This isn't funny." Bass replies.

"Bass, we are only gone for a two days" I reply. Alex and I are visiting My brother in New York and Bass couldn't come, because he is training for his new job.

"Two days too long" Bass mutters and makes me laugh again.

End of Flashback

"I will be over tonight" Connor assures me, bringing me out of the past and back into the present.

"Okay I will see you then" I tell him and we hang up.

My eyes fall onto a picture, taken when we just started dating seven years ago. I am running away from Bass, who has a water gun in his hands and is chasing me towards the cameraman. We both are spotting huge grins. This was taken by Miles after a baseball game and it is one of my favorite pictures of the two of us.

With a sigh I move up the stairs to get the stuff for the fold out couch, trying to put thoughts about our past out of my mind.

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