“You're not planning on staying then?” he asked. I thought I might have detected a note of worry, but it was probably because I was an awesome nurse. He wouldn't want to lose me.
“Maybe a year or two?” I shrugged. “I'm just kind of playing it by ear. It's nice to be out of the city. It gives me a chance to build up some savings and see my folks. I miss them a lot. And, the cost of living is obscene in Chicago. You have no idea how much I'm saving just in rent.”
He nodded slowly, spinning the whiskey glass in his hand. He looked thoughtful before saying, “You're here for your dad, aren't you?”
“I did say I was here for family, didn't I?” I asked, doing my best to give a nonchalant shrug. My dad didn't want the town to know he was dy
ing. He didn't want them to treat him differently.
“You know I was the one who found his pneumonia the first time, right?” Jacob asked quietly. His blue eyes met mine and I could see a sad understanding. The chest x-ray had been the first sign of my dad's cancer. It had been the start down this terrible road.
“You know?” My voice cracked. I glanced around at the empty patio. “You didn't say anything.”
“It's not my place,” he replied. He took a sip of his drink. “I know he's glad you're here, though. He told me his care was in the best hands. And he is.”
I opened my mouth, but wasn't sure what to say. Luckily, Stephanie pushed open the swinging door with a rush of cold air and the scent of grilled meat.
“Two burgers,” she said, setting them in front of us. “Can I get you two anything else?”
“I think we're good,” Jacob said, picking up the ketchup bottle. “Thanks.”
“Holler if you need anything,” Stephanie said with a smile before heading back inside.
I stared at my burger trying to digest what I'd just learned. Jacob had had his heart broken .Jacob knew about my dad. But, most importantly, he was definitely single.
“What about you?” he asked, mumbling around a bite of hamburger. He swallowed. “Is there a special someone in Chicago?”
“A what? Oh, no.” I shook my head. “No, no, no.”
He took a bite of his burger and raised his eyebrows waiting for more. I sighed and cut my burger in two so it would be easier to eat.
“There was a guy a few months ago, but it wasn't serious,” I told him. “Turns out that he discovered he likes guys.”
“That happens sometimes.”
“Yeah.” I took a big bite of burger and my mouth sang a happy little song. Betty's burgers were seriously the best in the world. “It's okay, though. It made the decision to move out here a lot easier. Being single's not so bad.”
Jacob nodded, a small smile on his face. He quickly took a bite of his meal and smiled a little bigger. He must have been enjoying his burger. I know I was.
“To being single,” he said, holding up his glass for a cheers.
“To being single.” I clinked my glass against his and we both drank.
We sat in comfortable silence for a moment. The warm breeze drifted across my skin and I felt relaxed for the what felt like the first time in months.
Coming home was definitely the right decision, I decided. I felt a tension I didn't even realize I had melting out of my shoulders. I ate slowly, not wanting to hurry this moment. I wanted this time with Jacob to last for as long as I could.
“Tell me about Denver,” I said, purposefully setting down my burger so I would have an excuse to stay longer. “I've never been. Is it good skiing?”
“In Denver?” He chuckled. “You don't ski in Denver. You have to drive two hours to get to the mountains to ski.”
“What? I thought that was Denver's thing!”
“Nope. It's a city, and it's not even in the mountains.” He shook his head and chuckled. “But, the view there is amazing. The mountains at sunset are breathtaking.”
I grinned and leaned back as he told me about his adventures. The night grew darker around us and Stephanie came out and refilled our drinks at least twice, but I swear it only felt like a few minutes. It felt like those times in biology lab back in high school.
It was perfect.