I stare at him, wondering if I heard him right. 

"What?" I ask.

"You and me. We could leave right now and come back in the morning. We might be interrupted because I'm on call, but we can go."

"Oh, that's kind, but you don't have to do that."

"Kate, I used to know you better than you knew yourself, and I can tell that you're struggling to handle this."

"You're right," I say, with a sympathetic smile.

"So, let's go. We can go anywhere."

"I could murder a hamburger."

"There's the girl I remember." 

I laugh. 

"I know a great spot," he continues. "It's not far from here. It's more of a dive than an actual restaurant, but I think you'll like it."

"Wait. Are you talking about Reggie's Burgers on Church Street?"

"Yeah! How'd you know?"

"I love that place." 

"Me too! Wow, I can't believe that we're living in the same city and we haven't run into each other. Especially since we go to the same burger place."

"I guess you have a point."

"I just have to stop by my office quickly, then we can get some decent food," he says, standing from his chair.

"Right! I'm sorry, but the food you guys serve here is complete crap."

"I know. I never rely on that cafeteria for food."

"Then why did you tell me to eat there?" I joke as we begin making our way down the hall.

As I climb out of Jason's black Escalade, extreme hunger begins settling within me. Again, I didn't realize how hungry I was until Jason mentioned food. Even when we were teenagers, he could see right through me. Strangely, he's still able to do that after being apart for so long.
Once we're seated at the bar, my stomach begins grumbling loudly. The smell alone has me in a haze, not to mention the fact that I'm starving. Like on any regular Saturday night, the music is turned up high, to the point of being almost unbearable.

"Let me guess," Jason starts, "you still don't take mustard on your burger, and you ask for extra pickles?"

"You know me so well," I say, smirking.

"I've always been able to read you, Kate. You know that."

"I do. I just thought you would be a bit rusty after fifteen years."

"Fifteen? It hasn't been that long, has it?" he says sarcastically.

"Don't be a smartass, Mr. Neurosurgeon." I say, mockingly.

He laughs.

"So, how are you, other than, you know? What have you been up to the last fifteen years?"

"Well, I'm a paralegal at Swanson Dell, a law firm that specializes in human advocacy cases, such as divorce and property settlement – that kind of stuff."

"Interesting. Even when we were kids, your life always seemed perfect."

"Oh, Jason, my life is nowhere near perfect."

"How do you mean?"

"Well, career-wise, I'm not where I wanted to be. When I graduated business school, my dream was to become a lawyer, but that damn L-SAT kicked my ass – more than once, I should add. So, I ended up settling for what I thought was the next best thing: a paralegal. I do all the grunt work that the "big-shots" don't want to do."

"Ah, like scut."

"Yeah, kind of."

"You do know what scut is, right?"

"Please, Jason, I've watched enough hospital dramas to know what scut is."

"You're as funny as I remember," he says, jokingly. 

"Am I?" I ask, jokingly.

"So, what about you. Are you seeing anyone?" I ask.

"No, not really. I think women are attracted to the fact that I'm a doctor rather than who I am as a person."

"Oh, that sucks."

"Yeah... What about you? Are you married or seeing anyone?"

Shit.

Our food arrives before I have to answer him. Admitting you're divorced is so embarrassing, especially when that someone once believed you would achieve nothing but greatness. I never imagined being divorced at thrity-three. I thought I'd have kids by now, but the universe had other plans for me, I guess.

"How is it?" Jason asks, eyeing the burger that's currently shoved halfway into my mouth.

"Hmm?" I hum.

"Jesus, Kate," he says, before wiping his thumb across my chin, soaking up chili that had spilled out the side of my burger.

I feel heat irrupt on my cheeks. 

"Thanks," I say, forcing a napkin to my face.

He laughs as he licks his fingers, including the thumb with my face-sauce on it.

Damn, he's still so sexy.

"Don't think I forgot about my question, Kate."

Shit, the question.

"Oh, well, uh," 

Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

"So, uh, funny story. I'm divorced."

Jason gulps his coke hard.

"Sorry, you're what?"

"Divorced. Guilty as charged."

"But how? Who the hell would divorce you?"

"It was mutual, honestly. We wanted different things."

"What didn't he want?" 

He knows me too well.

"He didn't want kids, and that was a huge deal-breaker for me."

"Why'd you marry him if he didn't want kids?"

"I didn't know that at first. The whole ordeal was spontaneous and sweet, but it turned out to be dumb and reckless.

"I'm so sorry, Kate." He says, reaching for my hand.

"It's fine. I've gotten over it for the most part."

I notice his eyes move from me to my plate, and then back to me.

"Are you looking at my fries?" I ask, accusingly.

"Now who knows someone too well?" he mocks.

We both irrupt in laughter. His laugh is the same dimple-filled laugh I remember from years ago. God, he is so handsome, even more so than he was fifteen years ago. It completely baffles me that he's still single. What woman in their right mind is stupid enough to walk away from a man like Jason? Clearly, the women he's dated aren't of right mind.

"You're the only person I know who can cut the tension with food," I say, still laughing.

"What? It's a skill I'm rather proud of." 

This only makes me laugh harder. I'm sure the rest of the place is looking at the pair of us like we're complete idiots, but I don't care. I haven't felt this way in a long time. Being with Jason has resurfaced my old self, the person I was before Kyle, and failing the L-SAT multiple times. Jason has reminded me of the person I want to be; of the person, I lost so long ago.

I smile, knowing that he's the only person who can make me feel like this. Like no matter how many curveballs life throws at me, I will still come out the other side okay. 

He returns my smile, grabbing my hand on the counter again. But this time it's different, more familiar, softer. The way he's looking at me reminds me of the way he did years ago when we were together. He then uses his other hand to push my hair back behind my right ear, being ever-so gentle. His eyes are radiantly soft, but mysterious at the same time. It's as if he's searching for something inside of me that's hidden beneath the surface, something only he can find. 

I look down his face, taking note of his plump lips and scruff.

God, that would feel so good against my skin.

I stand from my barstool, putting my body as close to him as I possibly can. His muscular thighs rub against my hips as I stand there, and then, out of nowhere, I kiss him.