Page 78 of Love Is…?

“So,” Jayde said. “Thank you for the intel on Tess. It helps answer the riddle, I guess.” Jayde inhaled then blew out a breath.

“Like I said, you’re a potential girlfriend and all evidence says that Tessa is looking for a gift box to give away her heart.” Angel rolled her eyes. “Don’t freak out. Tessa is attracted to you, Jayde. It’s bloody obvious. You two are doing all the right things. Dinner.” Angel tapped her finger. “Getting to know each other.” She added a second finger. “Tessa’s smiling at the tingles all that Jayde-ness inspires. She’s been smiling like a goof for ages.” She tapped her finger again. “You’d kiss and I know that’s happened, then you’d have sex and this is where Tessa would hope shewouldn’t bore you because that’s what she thinks, mate.” She lowered her hand. “Then rinse and repeat until you get the 'I love you’ but she isn't going to do that one because, even though you’re a potential girlfriend, you made things perfectly clear the first time I met you.”

“Made what clear?” Jayde frowned.

“You don’t fall in love.”

Jayde swallowed thickly. What if she did?

“But what if I did?”

“Did what?”

“Did fall in love.” Jayde held Angel’s gaze

After a moment, Angel sighed. “Ah, crap. You’ve got heart eyes.” She tossed her hands. “Tessa will be thrilled.” She pressed her fingers into her temple. “You two really need to talk. You need to tell her, you know.”

Leaving that instruction to sit by itself for a moment, Jayde tapped her thigh. “We do need to talk.”

“Definitely. A major conversation, mate.” Angel splayed her fingers, palms up. “What are you bringing to that conversation?”

Jayde tapped her thigh.

Angel matched the gesture, then she grumbled. “Sorry,” she said. “That’s none of my business. You two are adults.”

Jayde paused. “No, it’s a fair enough question, particularly because you’re her family and you want the best for her. I don’t mind sharing my stuff. Call it cousin privileges, because Tessa knows my story.”

Angel smiled. “Cousin privileges. I’ll use that next time Tessa and I are debating who cooks dinner.”

They grinned, then Jayde sobered, and with hums of disappointment and sympathy from Angel, Jayde delivered the potted version of her family’s history since her father’s accident.

“Ten years is a long time to hold a grudge,” Angel said, her mouth turned down.

Jayde nearly stood in frustration. “It’s not a damn grudge!”

“What is it then?” Angel asked, gently.

Jayde curled her hands into fists and ground her knuckles together. “It’s hurt. It’s anger. It’s disillusionment. I’m angry for my dad, because he got hurt both physically and emotionally in the accident, then hurt emotionally again when my mum left. I got hurt!”

“Okay.” Angel leaned forward. “So, you’re fab at constructing walls.” She gave Jayde a pointed look. “Thank you for telling me. You two are going to have one heck of a conversation. But…”

“But?”

“I reckon your heart is emerging from hibernation to breathe relationship air with my cousin.” Angel threw another pointed look. “Please look after her. She likes you a whole damn lot.”

They held each other’s gaze, then Jayde nodded. “I like her a whole damn lot as well.”

“Oh, I know.” Angel smiled, then her grin widened. “I hadn’t meant for this to turn into a therapy session.”

Jayde laughed, then stood. “You’re good to talk to. My friends are always trying to rescue me, which is lovely but frustrating. This was nice.”

Angel rose as well, and walked to the front door. “I’m nearly ten years older than you, therefore I have gathered years of wisdom to bestow upon fresh souls,” she said, over her shoulder. Then at the door, she turned and grinned. “Your friends sound like keepers, but you don’t need rescuing. You’re not a ramshackle old house that qualifies for a home renovation TV special. It sounds like you’re finding yourself all on your own.”

“Maybe I am,” Jayde replied.

“And you’re letting Tessa see that. Nice. As the elder statesman, I deem that acceptable.” They shared a grin. “Anyway, mull everything over, and think about what you want to say when?—”

“Tessa’s back from Wherever-The-Hell National Park,” Jayde said, deadpan, then laughed along with Angel.

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