Chapter 56

Again, I don't own any of these characters

Author's Note: Alright, people have asked for a chapter like this, so...

Back in Boston, life was going on as well. Cassie was back being Esteban's assistant, but from last summer, she already knew how to do everything. To herself, she thought Bailey may have been right. What about a career in tourism and hospitality management? But she quickly shook her head. She liked her job, but she didn't love it. Now, Zack on the other hand, she knew he was loving his summer job.

Zack was back working for the Celtics again. He had made quite the impression on the assistant general manager last year and was welcomed back gladly. Sure, he still spent days on a golf course being a gopher, but he was having a blast. And this summer, he had actually been invited to some team related functions. Of course, he didn't mind walking into a party with, in his eyes, the most beautiful girl he had ever seen on his arm. Zack was really flourishing in this environment, and he had even became acquaintances with some of the players.

Of course, it had made Zack think. Was this something he wanted to pursue. He loved sports, and a future working in sports did sound like a lot of fun. So much so in fact, he was pretty sure he was going to declare sports management as his major. He couldn't think of anything more exciting than working in a front office somewhere. Of course, his first preference would have been to actually be out on the court or the field himself, but he had to acknowledge that his athletic abilities were just not that good. The more he thought about it, he knew he had learned that his freshman year at Cheavers when he was the last man on the bench in basketball.

And he was pretty sure he could make a good living at it too. When Cassie had told him her thoughts of going into music education, Zack had completely supported her. He had heard her both play and sing, and he knew his girlfriend was very talented. While he had no desire to ever be on the other side of the desk or podium, he knew Cassie would be great at it. Of course, he also knew that teachers didn't usually make a lot of money (something his brother had told him was a travesty over and over), but he thought he would make enough to offset it. That's when it dawned on him, that he wasn't just thinking about his future...He was thinking of their future together.

That thought made his sit back and think. They had been dating for over two years now, so it shouldn't have been too much of a surprise to him. It was by far the longest relationship he had ever had. And he did truly love Cassie. But part of him also knew he wasn't ready to propose or anything like his brother had. He was enjoying things exactly the way they were right now. He and Cassie had lived together for all practical purposes last year, but this next year they would be for real. And its not like he wanted any other girls. He didn't.

But part of him was a little worried. He knew all of the recent talk about Cody and Bailey's wedding had to be making an impression on Cassie. If he was honest, it was making an impression on him too. But, he didn't want Cassie to be disappointed if he didn't propose. He thought she knew that they had been saving their money for their apartment, so where would he get money for a ring. Of course, there was Grammy Martin's ring which had been set aside for one of her grandson to use. And Cody didn't need it as he had used Grandma Ellie's. Zack made himself stop thinking. The more he thought about reasons why he couldn't, he was finding solutions to those reasons. The only thing that brought him some solace was things two people had told him. His brother had told him to make his relationship what he and Cassie had wanted it to be. And Cassie had told him they should take things slow.

Of course, what had happened in Orlando hadn't been taking things slow. And its not as if they had been chaste since then. Zack had to smile when he realized it had been quite the opposite. And he did know he wanted a future with Cassie. He just didn't want Cassie to be upset with him for not doing what she thought he should do. But, she had come to him and talked to him in Orlando, so the least he could do was talk to her. At the very least, she wouldn't be expecting something that wasn't coming soon.

So, when he got home that afternoon, he found Cassie already sitting on the couch in the suite watching the flat screen plasma TV on the wall. He reminded himself he needed to call London and thank her for that. And if he was honest, maybe she would hook he and Cassie up like she had Cody and Bailey. He quickly changed clothes, and joined her out on the couch. Summoning his courage he turned to her.

"Babe?"

Cassie turned to him. "Yeah, Zack?"

"I was hoping we could talk about something..."

Cassie nodded and turned off the TV. "Sure. What do you want to talk about?"

Zack paused trying to figure out how he wanted to start. "You know I love you, right?"

Cassie smiled. "I know. I love you too..."

"Good. Today was kind of slow, and I had some time to think."

Cassie teased. "That's never good..."

Zack chuckled. "Normally, I would agree. But I was thinking about us. I wanted you to know what I was thinking...what I was feeling..."

Cassie realized Zack was being serious. "Okay..."

"Cassie...I like where we are right now..."

This confused Cassie. "Okay...So do I..."

"And its not that I haven't thought about the future, I have...I'm just not ready to propose right now..."

"What? Propose?"

"Someday, yeah...but right now, I like the way things are going..."

"Zack, back up! Why are you talking about proposing?"

Zack paused. "Well, I figured that with all the planning going on with Cody and Bailey's wedding that you might be thinking...you know..."

Cassie began to laugh. "Wait...You thought I might be expecting you to propose?"

"Well...yeah."

Cassie just shook her head. "Zack...No, I'm not. Like you said, I like the way things are right now. In a few weeks, we'll be moving into an apartment together. Let's take things one step at a time..."

Zack slumped back into the couch. "Okay, I feel like an idiot now..."

Cassie just scooted closer to him and wrapper her arm around his shoulders. "Don't. I'm actually really proud of you. You had a concern, and instead of letting it fester and leading you to do something neither of us was ready for, you came and talked to me. That's a real sign of maturity, Zack..."

Zack chuckled. "Thanks...But don't go spreading that around. I do have a reputation to maintain..."

"Sorry, Zack...I think you're losing your bad boy reputation..."

Zack paused to think. "Maybe..."

"Just don't go doing something to try to get it back..."

Zack turned to her. "How did you know..."

Cassie laughed. "Zack...We've been dating for over two years now. I think its pretty safe to say that I've learned how your mind works..."

"I suppose...There was something else I was thinking about today..."

"Yeah? What's that?"

"I was thinking of declaring sports management as my major..."

Cassie smiled. "Would you be happy doing that?"

Zack nods. "Yeah, I know I would..."

"Then go for it..."

Zack grinned. "Maybe I could get on with the Sox and you could spend your summers off hanging out with me..."

"We'll see..."

Zack shrugged. "Well, what sounds like fun tonight?"

"There are a few things we need to take care of before we head back to Storrs..."

"Like what?"

"Well, we need to get a bed in a bag for our bedroom, a few lamps and some things for our bathroom like a few rugs, a hamper, towels and a shower curtain..."

Zack sighed. "Shopping?"

Cassie grinned. "Yup! Come on, lets go take care of it now and we won't have to later..."

"Fine..." But Zack didn't really mind. He would follow that woman anywhere.

To be Continued...