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Cassandra was helping Leighanne prepare the cake when she noticed a rather good looking man approach the group by the swings. He was wearing jeans and a T-shirt with a baseball cap on. Cassandra watched him as he played with Baylee and handed him a bag with a present inside.

“Who is that?” Cassandra asked Leighanne.

Leighanne looked up and smiled. “That’s Howie.”

“Really?”

“Yup,” she said with a grin. “You think he’s cute, don’t you?”

“Well, he’s not ugly,” Cassandra said as she put a piece of cake onto a plate.

Leighanne laughed. “You will like him. He’s a really sweet guy.”

“I don’t know how about this, Leighanne. I mean, I’ve never had much luck in the guy department.”

“That’s because you shut them down before they can prove yourself to them,” she said as she laid out some forks. “Look, if I introduce him to you, you have to promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“You have to give him a chance.”

Cassandra sighed and shook her head. “I can’t promise that.”

“Okay, well, at least promise that you will try.”

“Okay, I promise,” Cassandra replied.

Brian came up behind Leighanne and kissed her neck. “Is is cake time?” he asked as he squeezed her waist.

Leighanne laughed and handed him a plate. “Yes,” she said. “Don’t go crazy with it. You‘re already wound up as it is,” she said then kissed him.

Brian grinned and took a bite out of the cake. “Mmm, cake,” he said in a goofy voice.

Cassandra laughed as she bent down and picked up Baylee. “My goodness you’re getting so heavy.”

“Cake!” he shouted.

Cassandra laughed and put his in his highchair. “You want him to have a piece now?” she asked Leighanne.

Leighanne smiled and handed Cassandra a plate. “Just give him small bites and he’ll stop when he’s full.”

Cassandra took the plate and faced Baylee. “Alright, it’s time for the birthday boy to eat his cake!”

“Yay!” he shouted while clapping his hands.

Cassandra laughed and fed him a small piece. “Mmm,” she said with a smile. “That’s good stuff, isn’t it?”

“More!” he demanded.

“Baylee,” Leighanne said in a stern voice. “It’s not polite to demand. What do you say?”

“Please!”

Leighanne laughed and nodded. “That’s right.”

Cassandra continued to feed Baylee some cake as she watched Howie come toward the table. He walked up to Leighanne and hugged her.

“Hey, you!” she said as she hugged him. “I haven’t seen you in forever. How are you?”

“I’m doing great,” he said with a smile. “Thanks for inviting me.”

“I’m glad you could come,” she said as she handed him a plate. “Have some cake.”

“Looks good,” he said as he took a bite.

Cassandra looked over at Leighanne who was smiling at her. She looked back at Baylee, hoping Leighanne wouldn’t embarrass her.

“Howie, have you met Cassandra?”

“No, I haven’t,” he said as he put his plate down. “I’m Howie,” he said as he extended his hand to her.

“Cassandra,” she replied.

“Nice to meet you,” Howie said with a smile.

“Likewise,” she softly replied.

She shifted her glance over to Brian and Leighanne who were looking at her with grins on their faces. Cassandra felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She barely noticed that Howie had taken a seat beside her as she continued to feed Baylee.

“So, are you from around here?” he asked.

Cassandra quickly turned her head and looked at him. “I’m sorry, what?”

He softly smiled and took another bite of his cake. “I asked if you were from around here.”

“Oh, yeah, I’ve lived here for a while.”

“That’s cool. I live in Orlando, myself.”

“And you came all this way for a birthday party? That’s friendship,” she joked.

Howie chuckled and put his empty plate down on the table. “I needed a few days to chill anyway.”

“I see,” she said as she put Baylee’s plate down on his high chair tray, without thinking.

“So, what do you do?”

“I’m a second grade teacher for one of the local elementary schools here in Atlanta.”

“Nice,” he said with a smile. “You must really love kids.”

“Oh, yeah, they’re great,” she said as she drew her attention back at Baylee who had drug his hands into the cake and smeared it over his face. “Baylee!”

“Yummy!” he said with a grin.

Howie busted up laughing. “Wow, he inhaled that fast.”

“I think he got more of it on him than he did in him,” she said as she looked around for a baby wipe. “Leighanne, do you have any handi wipes?”

Leighanne looked at Baylee and sighed. “Forget the handi wipes. We need a hose.”

Cassandra laughed. “I’m so sorry. That was my fault.”

“No, it’s okay,” Leighanne said as she pulled his out of the high chair. “He probably needs changed anyway. I’ll just take him to the bathroom.

“Sticky!” he said while laughing.

“Yes, son, you are very sticky. Let’s go clean you up,” she said as she walked to the bathroom.

Cassandra glanced at her watch. “Oh, shoot, I better get back home and finish my lesson plans,” she said as she turned to Howie. “It was nice to have met you.”

“You too,” he replied.

Cassandra stood up and walked over to Brian. “I’ve gotta get going,” she said then hugged him.

“Okay, thanks so much for coming,” he replied.

“No, problem. Tell Leighanne I’ll call her tomorrow.”

“Okay, see you soon,” Brian said with a wave.

Cassandra was almost to her car when she saw Howie jogging in her direction. She unlocked the car and looked at him as she opened the door.

“Listen, I know we just met, but would you like to have dinner with me while I’m in town?”

She contemplated her answer. “Well, I’m pretty busy--”

“It’s okay, you don’t have to,” he said softly.

“Well, I suppose I could make time for one dinner.”

“Great,” Howie said as he pulled out his cell phone. “What’s your number? I’ll call you tomorrow some time.”

“My number is (770)-528-8800,” she said with a smile.

“Great, I’ll give you a ring and we’ll plan it.”

“Sounds good,” she said. “Bye.”

“Bye,” Howie said then made his way back to the pavilion.

Cassandra got in her car and turned the ignition. She sat there waiting the air conditioner to cool off and thought about what had happened. Her heart jumped at the thought of going on a date. She’d tried so hard to avoid situations like this one. What was she thinking? Cassandra sighed loudly as she put the car in reverse and pulled out onto the road. She was ready to bury herself in her lesson plans so she could forget any of this ever happened.