“Who would have thought our little Mel would be having dinner with the Turners,” Tate teased.
“Or that they’d love her so much,” Jordan added as they finished.
“Ah that one was a given, everyone falls in love with Mel,” Tate said heading out before them.
“I’ll meet you at the office?” she said turning to Jordan as they closed the door.
“Hang out at school today. I don’t know how long the meeting will last and you can take your time getting ready; I’ll head back here afterwards and pick you up.”
“You’re up to something but I’ll go with it. I’ll see you later,” she stated reaching up for him to kiss her cheek. He gave her a hug and walked her to the Jeep giving her another kiss before shutting the door and waving her off.
“Damn girl, tell me he’s not in love with you,” Tate teased as she drove them to school.
She hated first days of school. They were boring and everyone pretended they had the best summer possible though they really hadn’t. She on the other hand had an absolutely amazing summer. Jordan’s parents had been surprised by their marriage let alone everything else about her situation to say the least, but they had welcomed her, and she finally saw what it was like to be part of a whole family.
Tate’s mom died when he was little, so it was just him and his dad, for the most part. His grandmother had stayed with him when his dad had to be gone for tournaments when they were younger, but she was in a nursing home now, and not really around. Tate and his dad were her family yes, but they weren’t a family in the same way Jordan’s was.
She and Jordan found a little house that was perfect for them and Jordan had decked it out with everything possible. Tate quickly declared it his new hangout not that she minded. Shehad her two favorite guys with her all summer long and they had made sure she enjoyed herself. She worked during the day with Jordan and then came home to hang out with him and Tate.
“So we’re finally seniors,” he said as they headed down the hallway towards their class.
“Yes we’re finally seniors and did I mention…”
“What?” he asked as they slid into the table in the middle of class.
“I have a credit card with no set spending limit, and I need a new dress for dinner tonight. So since I’ve already got permission to leave early and you have a free period after lunch and your last class, come on, you’re not going to do anything in there,” she added when he balked a bit. “Please come shopping with me.”
“Still know how to forge my dad’s signature?”
“Like they’re going to notice a difference? I’ve been signing notes and letters for you for four years now. I’ll slip it into your locker if you don’t want to ditch but come on, it’s the first day no one’s going to care.”
“That’s right Indy, no one cares if you’re here or not. Though it seems like your tastes have changed. Two at once Indy? Really? Naughty, naughty girl…”
“What the hell are you talking about Steph?”
“Well it seems as though you have some very early mornings. So Tate, are you into groups?”
“You have no idea what you’re talking about Steph, and I suggest you shut up,” Tate told her.
“It’s fine Tate, I don’t have anything to hide. It was bound to come out sooner or later.”
“You want to do this now? Mel, are you nuts?” Tate whispered to her.
“No, there’s no point in hiding it after all I’m sure more than just Steph has seen my Jeep outside the house and it’s not likeI’m ashamed or anything. Yes, I’ve moved and my boyfriend likes to drop by for breakfast, it’ssoscandalous.”
“Where’d your mom get the dough?” Stephanie demanded to know.
“I don’t know; I didn’t ask.”
“Welcome class,” Ms. Simmons stated closing the door. “Miss Augustan would you care to take a seat?”
After that, the day got even better and when lunch rolled around she and Tate headed into the city. They stopped into their newest favorite spot, a tiny café that served a million different things and as they waited for their food Tate remarked, “I thought you were going to admit the whole thing that you’re married and to who.”
“A tiny part of me nearly did, wanted to pretend that Jordan and I are head over heels for each other…”
“You are,” he smirked interrupting her.
“So you say, but I don’t know, I kind of like it being between us. Everyone who needs to know does and I guess we’ll just see how things go. I mean what on earth would they think if they saw Ford and Gabrielle Turner show up at graduation? Can you see the expressions on people’s faces?”
