Page 55 of Love Is…?

Which was exactly what she was doing now, early Tuesday evening, along with blinking vacantly at the wall. She closed her eyes and touched her lips, reliving the kiss, the push and pull, the tongues, the heat. Reliving how hot their connectionwas; a connection that continued to be fuelled by daily texts, sometimes half a dozen times or more. Inconsequential or not chat. Random emojis. A couple of memes. The odd FaceTime where they would talk for a few minutes but express surprise at how an hour had gone by.

Like the hour on Sunday.

“It’s pouring. Why are you outside in this weather?” Jayde watched Tessa’s face bob about on the screen. She grabbed a pillow, hugged it close, then continued. “Tell me it’s something interesting.”

Tessa giggled. “It is something interesting, but I’m not outside, thank goodness. A friend of mine makes bespoke suspenders, ties, accessories, that sort of thing.” Tessa’s hand flapped back and forth to elaborate, and Jayde grinned. “Anyway, I mentioned him to Sam, who immediately decided that she’d like to wear something like that for the wedding, so I’m on the hunt.”

“On a Sunday?” Jayde rolled onto her back as the echoes of people’s shoes in a covered area sounded through the phone.

“I told Sam I’d check with Hugo to see what he’s up to. I think he’ll let me take photos,” Tessa said, her tone unsure. “Maybe. Anyway, I said I’d find out.”

“I would have come with you,” Jayde said quietly.

The sound of rain filled the air as Tessa nodded, a slow smile lifting her lips. “You should have. Those purple suspenders are imprinted on my mind.”

Jayde laughed. “Excellent. I was aiming for imprinting.”

“So, my willing student, how goes the homework?” Tessa said, her head cocked to the side, then she righted her head and poked the AirPod back into place.

Jayde stared at Tessa’s image. The vibrant smile, the eyes to drown in. Her fingers itched to touch Tessa’s hair, to smooth her fingers across Tessa’s lips. She blinked.

“Homework. Right. The homework where I have to sit through an entire rom-com without uttering one single negative comment, scoff, or even raise an eyebrow?”

Tessa’s laughter, high pitched and delightful, produced wonderful goosebumps. Raising her phone slightly so Tessa wouldn’t see, Jayde crept her hand under her t-shirt and rubbed the skin on her stomach.

“Yes. That homework.”

“I’ll have you know that I watched Abby inIt’s Not You Or Even Youon Friday night and managed to complete all aspects of the task. Not even a single eyeroll.” Jayde grinned at Tessa’s image.

“You are such an overachiever, Ms Ferguson.”

“Mind you, my dad was with me so he was able to offer valuable insight and analysis throughout.”

Tessa’s quick giggle was intoxicating. “Thank goodness for Oliver. Looks like I’ll have to step up my end of the bargain, then.”

“We are going toQueerBeerswhen you’ve got a night free, so you’ll be able to put into practice all that amazing flirting.”

Tessa stopped, the phone settled, and she looked up and away from the screen.

“Tess?”

Tessa looked directly into the phone. “I’m not sure.”

They stared at each other. “Tess, you don’t have to do anything if you don’t want to.”

“But I…I do want to. You’re being such a good sport about the romantic fall in love with love business that?—”

“I’m enjoying it.” Jayde exhaled quickly. “Tess, I’m enjoying being romantic with you, even if it’s just two friends daring each other to try new things. I like trying out new things with you.”

That didn’t come out quite the way Jayde intended. So much accidental innuendo.

“I’m enjoying you, too,” Tessa said, and Jayde’s lips quirked at Tessa’s reply.

Tessa continued. “I liked kissing you the other night.” Her gaze flicked down, then back.

Jayde blinked, and pressed on her stomach as if holding butterflies at bay.

“I did, too."

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