The Science of Growing Apart

6- Casey

I turned back toward my monitor to pull up the file of documents I had. Not to show him the actual research, but to let him see the amount and the type of research I created. I thought it was a stupid request, but I saw this as a compromise. Once I opened up the folder to show him the document titles, the little display of the time at the bottom of the screen caught my eye and I realized that I was supposed to leave a couple of minutes earlier.

"Crap, I have to go," I rushed out, shooting to my feet as I locked my computer screen and effectively shutting off Boris's access to my screen. "Let me know tomorrow if you want my help or not."

As I was frantically throwing my blazer over my blouse, I saw him glance down at his expensive watch and then say, "It's five. Don't you usually stay until seven?"

"I have a meeting," I informed him curtly. Even though I did usually stay later, I had already worked my eight hours and the rest of the time was overtime, so it wasn't like I wasn't putting in my work that day and I didn't appreciate his condescending tone. Again, it was just something I had to let go. Especially since I was running late and I wanted to give myself time to arrive at the restaurant early to provide ample time for me to panic in my car before meeting Casey again.

I didn't tell Eleanor very much about Shiloh, but I learned a lot about her during our last meeting. I learned that she just started going to school in the city, she wants to be an elementary school teacher and a clarinet tutor. She is very close with her mom and maternal side of her family. Overall, she seemed like a well rounded, happy girl who just wanted some justice for how terribly her mom was treated after her conception.

I wanted to give her that justice, and that was why I was doing this. I continued to remind myself of that all the way to the restaurant.

But I couldn't help but wonder what Casey would think of me after all this time. When he saw me, would he think I looked different or if I aged well? Will he think that I changed too much?

I wore my hair in a half up/half down style that day to keep my fly aways under control, my outfit consisted of straight legged khakis, low heeled sandals, a black blouse, and a black and white striped blazer. I would have gone home to change out of my business casual work outfit if I had time, but the restaurant was on the opposite side of town as my apartment, and it didn't seem worth it to pack another outfit.

I didn't want to care about what Casey thought of me after all this time, but I did. I couldn't help it.

Rushing into the restaurant, my best coping mechanism was to just move full steam ahead and focus on what we came here to accomplish rather than getting sidetracked with the awkwardness I felt toward Casey.

I saw Eleanor first as I entered the small Korean restaurant and a moment after, saw a tall man standing beside her. At first, I thought it was Micah. She'd told me earlier that she didn't plan on bringing her husband, but maybe there was a change of plans. Until I got closer, and I recognized the blond hair and soft pale skin. It was Casey. Not the awkward eighteen year-old Casey that I remembered, but a full grown, twenty-four year old man who towered over his sister and filled out his clothes to the seams.

"Sorry I'm late," I tried to ignore the panic that I felt rising inside of me as I hurried toward them. When I reached the two standing near the hostess booth, I greeted Eleanor with a short hug and refused to look in Casey's direction. "Something came up at work."

"No worries, we just got here," Eleanor assures me. "They're getting a table ready for us."

After a few quiet moments, I decided that I had to address him or things would be even more weird than they already were. Glancing up into his hypnotizing blue eyes, I just said, "Hi, Casey."