Noah nodded, and our first awkward silence stretched between us.
“Well, I should go,” I said and grabbed my bag. As I headed out to my car, I replayed the conversation in my head, wondering if I had made a mistake. Though, Noah seemed like he was looking forward to the date. Who was I to get in the way? Especially after hooking him and Kimberly up. This was for Gina. I had to focus on that. At least I could try.
Chapter Eleven
Noah
“You look handsome, Daddy,” Gina said. She beamed up at me from the bathroom floor where she worked on a puzzle while I prepared for my date.
I smoothed my gelled hair into the perfect coif. “Are you telling me I don’t look handsome all the time?” I knelt down beside her, careful not to touch my knees to the floor. I’d pulled out a pair of my more casual black suit pants for the occasion paired with a button-down black shirt. I was sure Kimberly already knew I had a daughter, but showing up to a date with blemishes on my clothes wouldn’t give the best first impression.
Gina giggled. “Tonight you look more handsome.”
I kissed her forehead. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome!”
Since having Jess as her nanny, I’d noticed Gina’s manners improving more and more each day. She reminded me of a little lady, and that thought was both exciting and terrifying at the same times.
“What are you and Jess going to do tonight?” I asked, standing up. I buttoned my top button on the shirt and thought better of it, unbuttoning it again. There was a small tremble in my hands.
“She got a movie for us,” Gina said.
“Don’t stay up too late,” I said.
“I know!” Gina whined.
I smirked, and Gina went back to her puzzle.
A few minutes later, I heard Jess’s voice downstairs.
“Hello?” she called.
Gina jumped up, and a few puzzle pieces skittered across the floor. She bolted from the room.
“Gina!” I called after her. “Pick up your—”
Gina was already halfway downstairs, so I didn’t bother finishing.
I took one last look at myself and a deep breath. “You can do this.” I knew little about Kimberly, but from what Jess told me about her, it seemed we had a few things in common, and that was enough to get me out the door. But I hoped for a deeper connection or else tonight would not be fun. I didn’t remember the last time I felt so nervous about anything. Even with the sales pitch the other day, I wasn’t bothered by the high-stress situation. But a date was out of my comfort zone. I’d been with my wife for ten years before she passed, so I’d had thirteen years out of the dating scene. From what I saw secondhand from my single friends and employees, it was a much different game than it had been when I was single. And with a kid to boot, forget it. I’d known for a while it was about time to get back into it, but couldn’t make that leap. And I didn’t have the energy for it.
At least not until Jess came around. She’d arrived into my life at the right time, and now that Gina was in a stable place, it was time for me to do something for myself.
I tried not to expect much out of tonight as it was only a first date. I tried to channel the confidence I had at work before walking downstairs to meet with Jess.
Gina had cocooned herself in a bundle of blankets on the living room couch.
“Jess?” I called.
“In here,” she called back from the kitchen.
I walked through there to find her. I had about ten minutes before I had to leave to pick up Kimberly.
Jess opened the microwave, pulling out a bag of popcorn.
I watched her for a minute until she turned and flinched. “You scared me. How long were you standing there?”
I smiled, I couldn’t help it. “Not long. I see you have all of your provisions for tonight.”