Page 1 of Love Is…?

Chapter

One

It wasTessa Connor’s strongly held belief that half the population of Canada had stowed away in her suitcase. It had to be the only reason why she was currently applying the grunt-heave-foot-under-the-base-double-hand-grab technique to drag her luggage into the apartment.

“Can I help?” Angel’s voice drifted out of the kitchen.

Tessa rolled her eyes, and gave a final yank. “Oh no, I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”

“If you’d said you were going to the storage unit, I would have helped,” Angel, her cousin, said, wandering into the lounge room. She stopped and shoved her hands into the pockets of her eye-wateringly neon tie-dyed pants. “That suitcase has been sitting in storage for a month since you got home from the land of maple syrup.”

Tessa leaned the suitcase against the wall, where it promptly slid sideways and thudded to the floor.

“I left it because it had all my winter jumpers in it and I didn’t need any of them at the end of a Melbourne summer.” She walked over to join Angel on the couch, lifting her legs and dropping her feet on the coffee table. Then rested her head back. Being inside storage units always made her feel gross. Like everyparticle of dust in the world had magnetised itself to the pores on her skin. Even her hair felt ick. Her normally neat hair with edges that swung along the line of her jaw. Not at the moment. Like unexpected daytime bed head.

“You’re wallowing.” Angel’s exasperated voice broke into her thoughts.

Tessa rolled her head to look at her cousin. The neon pants were accessorised with a white shirt that announced that sex was great and that kindness was free. An interpretation of make love, not war, Tessa supposed.

“I know, I know. It still feels weird to be back after so long. Six years, Angel.”

“Which were awesome years. Seriously, Tessa, babes. The twins were lucky to have you. In fact, the whole Parker family was lucky. And, far out, how many celebrities did you meet?” Angel lightly punched Tessa’s shoulder, which made her smile.

“I shouldn’t have told you anything. I totally broke confidentiality doing that. Yvonne Parker hired me to look after her kids and not breathe a word to anyone about the famous actors on her mini-series who would just randomly turn up at the house or just randomly walk by when I was with the twins on set or whenever.” She glared at Angel, who laughed.

“It’s fine. I didn’t tell anyone. That information is between you, and me?—”

“And the Russian satellite that operates Skype,” Tessa finished, deadpan.

Angel cracked up. “God, you’re so cynical in your old age. Never knew that turning thirty made you such an old fogie. Wait until you get to my age.”

“You’re thirty-nine. You hardly qualify for a pension. But I am not an old fogie. I am young and highly qualified with a Bachelor’s degree and multiple certifications and well-sought after as a child chaperone and unemployed because the kidsgrew up and upset because I spent six years loving them like my own and sad because Yvonne and Malik are wonderful and were dismayed to let me go and single because my Canadian girlfriend thought being a child chaperone was stupid and…” Tessa smooshed her lips together to stop the bottom one wobbling.

“Oh, babes.” Angel scooted over to drape an arm about her shoulders. “Yes, all of that is true. Well, except Olna, who should have known that your job is exceptionally important because people need you and trust you. And besides, you’re a hot, elf-sprite-woman who should be worshipped and she missed out on that opportunity.”

Tessa smiled a little. “You know I loved her, Angel. I told you that after we’d been going out for three months.”

Angel nodded slowly. “And I said, as the wise woman that I am, that you actuallycan’tlove someone after only three months.”

Tessa rolled her eyes and grunted. “You don’t think anyone can love anyone at all.”

Angel pulled her arm away. “Rubbish.Youcan love a person. There are some of us who are immune as we have been vaccinated by the realities of life.”

Tessa shook her head and threw a quick smile at her cousin.

Angel pointed. “Babes, you need to hook up. Have random, anonymous sex. Seize the day.”

“Seize the day.” Tessa’s smile grew into a grin.

“Yes. Are you still crushed beyond repair?”

“No.”

“Good. Seriously, you’re a bit Disney princess about love so Olna reducing your heart to sand was beyond the pale. I wanted to reach into the ether and strangle her.”

“I would have let you.” Tessa delivered a good dose of side-eye to her cousin. “I am not a Disney princess.”

Angel turned square on. “I’m sorry, but what?” She slapped her hand onto her chest. “Oh, Angel. Love is such a wondrous thing,” she began in a highly affected voice. “Love is the opportunity to float in exquisite weightlessness.”

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