Page 86 of Love Is…?

Both Angel and Jayde hummed in agreement, then all three reached into the enormous bowl of Smarties, and fossicked for their favourite colours. Tessa discovered that blue was Jayde’s colour of choice, which was the same as hers, and she laughed to herself. They’d be fighting over that elusive colour for the entirety of their relationship.

Tessa, clutching a handful of the chocolates, froze. The entirety of their relationship. That sounded… more than just tomorrow. It sounded absolutely perfect. And impossible.

She slowly eased back into the cushion. “Anyway, Grace’s theory is that love is owning your words. She reckons that love is only real when you’re being a truth.”

Jayde and Tessa held each other’s gaze. “Beingatruth? Isn’t that just being truthful?” Jayde murmured.

“No. Being a truth.” Tessa lifted her hand to run her fingers through the hair hanging at Jayde’s temple. “Being a truth,” she repeated.

“I’m right here, by the way, stealing all the Smarties.” Angel’s snark cut through the moment.

Tessa laughed. “Grace’s friends think I’m the greatest of all time for suggesting the idea.”

Angel cracked up. “You’re a GOAT, babes.”

“She is,” Jayde said, squeezing Tessa’s hand. “You convinced Grace to subvert the situation and take back her power. It’s genius.”

Tessa blushed. “Well, Abby and Sam are on board which is really good, because Sam is just as leery about social media as Grace. Abby likes the idea because it’s about giving the fans whatyou feel is enough, but not opening a door so that everyone can take what they want. She’s in awe at how Isabelle walks that fine line looking after her socials.”

“Well, Abigail Taylor Industries is her job so it’s probably easier.” Angel shrugged, then grinned. “You know I’m still,still, hilariously and embarrassingly fangirling over the idea that you roam around Abigail Taylor’s house.”

“I don’troamaround,” Tessa said, frowning. “That makes me sound like a hyena, lost in the Kalahari desert.”

Jayde and Angel fell about laughing, then Jayde threw her arms about Tessa’s shoulders and pulled her in for a hug.

“I love—” Jayde started, then seemed to inhale the words. Tessa stiffened, and slowly pulled away. With a whoosh of air, Jayde finished. “I love your idea. When is she posting it?”

Tessa contemplated Jayde. A tiny flash of something had zipped through Jayde’s eyes before she’d completed her sentence, but then Tessa dismissed it. It could have been anything.

“After the wedding. She doesn’t want to take away from Abby and Sam’s special day with Michael getting his arse handed to him by the internet.” She grinned. “That’s poetry right there.”

Jayde relaxed into Tessa’s side. “She’s such a cool kid. Abby must be proud of how Grace is dealing with all of this.”

Angel uncrossed her legs and leant over to scoop up another handful of Smarties. “You know,” she said, picking out the green ones from her small collection. “Love is the admiration of strength in their person and the happiness that they can wield it without hinderance.”

Tessa blinked at her cousin, her hand hovering over the bowl. “That’s incredibly profound.”

“It’s the chemicals in the fertiliser. Mucks about with my synapses,” Angel replied, then, still clutching her now rapidly melting sweets, stood, and pointed a finger at Jayde. “Stick thatone in your book. Meanwhile, I’m off to see a man about a horse.”

Tessa absorbed her cousin’s intense gaze, then realised what Angel was actually saying.

“Oh! Yes. Thanks.”

Angel shoved the entire handful of Smarties into her mouth, then spoke around it. “Don’t wait up. In fact, don’t wait at all. See ya.” She strode over to the door, grabbed her coat, and with a slam, exited the apartment.

Jayde and Tessa turned to each other.

“Angel is not a subtle person.”

Jayde grinned. “No.” She continued to look at Tessa. “So.”

Tessa smiled in return. “So.”

“You go first, and don’t start with an apology.”

“Well, that’s mind reading.” Tessa inhaled elaborately. “We both need to talk because I like where we might be going.” She flapped her hand between them. “I’d like to see how this goes.”

Jayde’s smile grew, then she held Tessa’s still-gesturing hand.

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