Page 48 of Love Is…?

“You need to stop,” she whispered, clutching the counter top, and staring at the paint underneath the top cupboards. Her heart box of ‘I love yous’ was open and hurling off its polystyrene peanuts ready to launch an assault on Jayde Ferguson. “No. Thisis pretend and not real and impossible because she’s Jayde and you’re you and it’s?—”

“First sign of madness, apparently.”

Tessa squeaked, spun around, and glared at Angel. Then she rushed forward, clutched her cousin’s shoulders, and squeezed then let go. “Oh my God,” she breathed.

Angel hummed. “I owe myself ten bucks.”

Tess frowned. “What?”

“I had a bet with myself about how long it would take for you to get to”—she spun her finger at Tessa—“here.”

Tessa bared her teeth. “I shouldn’t be here, whereverhereis,” she said quietly.

Angel shook her head in resignation. “And yet, here you are. Go on. Go out and pretend that you’re not here and chat to your date. I’ll bring in the tea.”

Tessa had assumedthat Jayde would only stay for one cup, but to her delight, Jayde had snuggled into a corner of the couch, and made herself completely at home.

“So what other celebs or wannabes have you interviewed?” Angel tucked one leg under the other, and grinned at Jayde from the other end of the couch. Happy tingles fizzed in Tessa’s stomach from where she sat on the armchair closest to Angel.

Jayde laughed. “Well, the mayor of Greenside might qualify.”

“In which category?”

“Both,” Jayde said, deadpan, and Tessa giggled. She gazed at Jayde, who returned the look then winked, a small smile playing on her mouth. Tessa bit her lip, thrilled by Jayde’s response. It was so ridiculously sexy when her eyes went dark.

Angel leapt up, and pointed to both Jayde and Tessa in turn. “Gosh, it’s getting hot in here. Might be time to break out some ice cream.” She marched into the kitchen. Tessa heard the freezer door slam then Angel fossicking about in the cutlery drawer.

She returned with two small tubs of ice cream; mint chocolate, which Tessa knew was half empty because mint chocolate was therapy food as far as Tessa was concerned, and chocolate chip, which she passed to Jayde along with a spoon. Angel pointed her own spoon at Jayde.

“You and I are sharing. That okay?”

Jayde shrugged. “Absolutely. The ancient dessert scrolls tell us that sharing is caring.”

Angel nodded wisely, then looked at Tessa. “I like this one. Can you keep her, please?”

“I think Jayde’s in charge of that,” Tessa murmured, and stared down at the green and brown swirls of ice cream.

“Tess, why aren’t you eating this one?” Jayde asked, pointing at her tub with the spoon. Angel’s eyebrows rose at the shortened name, and Tessa ignored her. She knew that would be a point of interrogation later. “We could all share,” Jayde said with a shrug.

“I don’t do threesomes.” Tessa stared directly at Jayde, whose mouth dropped open. There was a beat of silence then Angel’s raucous laughter filled the room.

“Like I said, can you please keep her?” she chortled, then grinned at Jayde. “That’s it. You’re in the fold.”

Conversations between new people can be quite stilted, but Tessa glowed with joy at how seamlessly Jayde slid into Angel and Tessa’s little world. It was as if the three of them had been friends for years. Tessa and Jayde’s long looks continued, the glances that were caught and held, and the repeated questions from Angel became louder when she found her original oneignored because Tessa’s brain was buzzing with all the new and fabulous.

“Tessa!”

Tessa started. “What?” All she’d been doing was admiring Jayde’s eyes. The dark brown that sparkled in the overhead lights. She rolled her wrists at her cousin in a “what’s the problem?” gesture.

“I wanted to know if you’re finished with your green slush. Jayde’s had enough, and I’ve eaten my fair share. I’m packing it up, then I’ll be back.” Angel stood.

“Right. Yes. Thanks.”

With her hands full, Angel took a step towards the kitchen then spun back. “Actually, I’m going to head off to bed. Jayde, it was awesome to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you as well,” Jayde said, grinning.

Then Angel tilted her chin towards her bedroom. “So, I’m going to bed which is in my bedroom which is separated from Tessa’s bedroom by the bathroom, which, despite featuring excellent acoustics, is apparently quite soundproof so it’s not like I?—”

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