Page 68 of Love Is…?

Maz could definitely kiss. It was a good kiss. It really was. But it wasn’t a great kiss, because a great kiss would involve Jayde’s lips.

Maz nibbled along Tessa’s jawline. “I’ve got so many toys,” she whispered. Maz meant to impress, and for any other woman she probably would have, but Tessa’s eyes went round. She pulled away, patting Maz’s shoulders.

“Oh! That sounds…great, Maz, but I’m sorry, I’m not…” She stuttered to a halt. How hard was it to say what she did like, instead of back-pedalling and apologising for what she didn’t like.

She felt a finger lift her chin, and held Maz’s gaze.

“Tessa, you’re incredibly attractive, and smoking hot in that dress, but I don’t think we’d be compatible tonight.”

Or any night, Tessa thought to herself.

Maz smiled. “It was lovely meeting you, though.”

Tessa exhaled. “You, too.”

“I’m going to head home, anyway. Early start tomorrow.” Maz tilted her head indicating the direction she’d be walking. She stared into Tessa’s eyes, then leaned down and kissed her cheek. “You be safe, okay? You’re very sweet, Tessa.”

Tessa watched Maz strut along the footpath, and sighed. Very sweet was code for very vanilla.

“At least she said it was lovely to meet me,” Tessa muttered, and spun around to head back into the bar.

Tessa sought out Jayde,finding her in exactly the same spot, after twisting around clumps of people to appear at her side.

“So back again. I’m like a well-constructed boomerang.”

Jayde jerked her head up, looked into the crowd, then back at Tessa. “That was quick. I thought you were on there. The pick-up. The doorway.” Jayde’s face hardened, then she seemed to work at relaxing it enough to smile.

Tessa gave a sad huff. “Maz decided she and I weren’t a happening thing tonight, or any night truth be told. Apparently I’m toovanilla.” She flicked her fingers up to quote the lastword. “Hey, at least I half hooked up. I tossed in the hook so to speak.”

She sighed despondently.

Jayde slipped her hand into Tessa’s, twining their fingers together. Tessa looked up.

“It’s her loss.” Jayde shuffled forward on her stool, so that their knees touched. “You’re amazing, and beautiful, and any woman should be glad to share a night of pleasure with you, Tess,” Jayde said earnestly. Tessa blushed, and Jayde squeezed her fingers. “It’s true.”

After contemplating those words for a moment, Tessa then straightened her spine.

“Yes. You’re right. I could be a catch. I’m good at the pleasure bit.”

Jayde bit her lip, her eyes flashed with…Tessa decided it was desire. Nothing made eyes that dark except pure lust or tropicamide. Unless Jayde had visited an optometrist that afternoon, then Tessa figured it was the former. She contemplated their joined hands in her lap. “Do you want to stay or…?”

“Let’s go. It’s been kind of a weird night.”

Tessa plucked her keys from her tiny bag. “That’s for sure. Let’s go.”

The driveback to Jayde’s house was quiet. Meditative. Tessa could almost hear the thought cogs grinding in Jayde’s head. Probably just as loud as in hers. Jayde was right. It had been a weird night. Not nearly as fun as the speed dating, or the food trucks, or the bowling night, or the now numerous moments—weeks—of hanging out at Abby and Sam’s place.

She locked her car and followed Jayde to her front door.

“Thanks for being my bar buddy. Tonight was enlightening, that’s for?—”

“Do you want to come in?” Jayde captured Tessa’s eyes, holding them fast. It was almost as if she was holding her breath in hope.

Tessa didn’t look away. “Yes. That’d be nice. We can debrief over ice cream.”

Jayde let out a soft whoosh of air—Tessa had been right about the hope—then grinned, and opened the door. “Luckily, I have emergency tubs in the freezer.”

“Emergency ice cream. I knew I liked you,” Tessa replied, and walked behind Jayde into the small kitchen.

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