Chapter 3
Jade
Jade would never get used to the effect her best friend, Emily, had on a room whenever they went out together. They walked into the bar together, and there was no doubt in Jade’s mind that the large number of eyes that were suddenly drawn in their direction, were not looking at her.
While Jade was drawn to an androgynous style, knowing exactly how to dress for her muscular body type, and depending on whether she wanted to hide or show her tattoos, Emily was all curves and elegant style with flawless hair and make-up.
Being a make-up artist came in handy, because no matter how many times her friend tried to explain blending and contouring, Jade remained clueless.
So, they’d gotten ready at Emily’s apartment ahead of their night out so that Jade could be made to look her absolute best. Just in case a girl or two caught her now very smoky-looking eyes.
“Oh look, quick, grab that table near the bar!” Emily squealed as she noticed the current occupants getting up and putting on their jackets to leave. She grabbed Jade’s arm to pull her over in the direction of the now vacant space.
“Great! What do you want? First round’s on me.” Jade said as they claimed the table just before a couple of men got there.
“I’d love a Manhattan; it’s been a week,” Emily said with a sigh as she sat down on the stool farthest from the bar so that Jade could hover between the table and bar while placing their order. Then nobody would think Emily was there on her own.
“Coming right up,” Jade looked around the bar area before adding with a chuckle, “in about ten minutes judging by the size of the crowd.”
15 minutes later, the pair sat with their drinks as they took in their surroundings.
Emily had spent an hour doing her hair; her rich brown hair was braided and bound together in an intricate up-do that Jade would never have any hope of replicating.
Not that she’d want to. She was still undecided about chopping off most of her hair and really leaning into her androgynous style.
Her Mom would cry if she cut her hair as short as she was considering.
That’s the only real reason that was holding her back.
That, and the fact that she already had almost an entire body of tattoos which she’d managed to hide from her parents–the haircut might just tip them over the edge if they found out about both.
“I feel like it’s been forever since we last had a night out,” Emily started, “between my work keeping me on night shoots for the past few weeks, and you busy working on patients through the day, I’ve barely had time to text, never mind go on a night out.
” Jade could hear the frustration in her oldest friend’s voice.
“Yeah. It must be, what, three weeks now? How does it feel having turned nocturnal?” Jade laughed.
“You may laugh, but it’s true. I didn’t know I’d be working nightshifts for as long, or I’d have taken the other job instead.
I hate working nights. The actors get cranky, the production team gets even more stressed than they do through the day because they’re more tired than usual, and between me and the rest of the hair and make-up team we’re always expected to be ‘on’ and take whatever attitude is thrown our way without complaint.
” She let out an exasperated sigh. “I’m just glad the next jobs I have lined up are all during the day, even if they’re not all local.
” Emily took another sip of her cocktail.
“When do you next head off for work?” Jade asked her friend before taking a sip of her bourbon. The spice of the drink warmed her throat on its way down.
“Oh, I have a couple of weeks doing a few local jobs, then I fly to New York on the 27th for a few days with Claire Dunlop? Remember, I did some work for her back in March?” Jade noticed Emily looking at her expectantly, waiting for her to respond before continuing.
Jade nodded once in acknowledgement. “Well, she’s doing some promo work over there for her new book and asked me to go with her for the short part of the tour.
If that goes well,” she took a sip of her drink before continuing, “then I’ll fly with her to LA for the round of interviews she has lined up out there. ”
“That’s great Em, I can’t believe you’re such a jetsetter now!” Jade laughed. It was a running joke between them because Emily hated flying even more than she hated seeing people who had let their make-up stop in a clear line along their jaw.
“Urgh, stop it! As much as I hope this pans out the way I want and I can get further high-profile work from it, surely there’s a better way to travel than flying.
I mean, trains can’t be all that bad, can they?
” With that, Emily dipped her head down into her hands, and Jade spotted a striking blonde over Emily’s dropped shoulders.
“Stay there,” Jade said through a smile, “because as much as I love your face, I think I might love hers, even more.” Jade ignored the grumbling response she received from Emily.
Probably something about being a rubbish friend and not feeling her pain about flying.
Jade was far too preoccupied taking in the woman standing a short distance behind her friend.
The woman seemed a little younger than Jade, with blonde ringlets cascading down her back.
She was too far away to see what color her eyes were, but the midnight blue cap sleeve top and dark blue eye shadow she was wearing made Jade think maybe that was a clue.
The fitted jeans down to her strappy sandals, ending with pale pink painted toenails intrigued Jade.
The fit of the jeans let her know the legs they covered were extremely toned and muscular.
The main draw of Jade’s focus, other than the woman’s face, was her arms and shoulders.
No woman had that level of definition unless she was an athlete.
Not some gym bunny either. No, this woman absolutely knew what she was doing in a gym.
The snap of Emily’s fingers beside her ear caught Jade’s attention.
“Right, Casanova, is this what tonight was about for you? Even after you promised I wouldn’t be leaving here in a taxi on my own? You know, like the last four times?” Emily raised her eyebrow and was short of putting her hands on her hips to prove the level of her protest.
“I promised, didn’t I? Have I ever broken a promise to you before?” Jade knew the answer to that. “Wait, don’t answer that. Point is, that’s not the reason we’re out tonight. But if she comes over, then I can’t really stop her, now, can I?” She gave Emily her best grin.
“I’m serious Jade, I’m not going home by myself tonight.
I can’t be the unlucky friend who’s constantly your wingman.
..woman...person...whatever. The point is, my mom already thinks my job is a ‘lifestyle unconducive to finding a partner’ as if I never actually work with guys.
You know, they’re the ones who typically need the most time in the chair before being ready anyway.
So, really, it’s the perfect time to meet someone and spend quality time getting to know them.
Unless they’re a total douche, in which case it’s the longest time known to man before I can get them out my chair.
” Emily huffed a breath. “Regardless, please don’t leave me tonight? ”
“Unless I find you someone first?” Jade asked with a mischievous grin.
“Chance would be a fine thing,” Emily mumbled as she finished her drink, “I’m going to get another, I’ll get you one because I’m nice, but if you leave me for whoever you have your eye on tonight, you owe me an entire night of drinks next time.”
As her friend walked away, Jade replied with a laugh, “deal!”