Chapter 7
Jade
Jade reached out and took April’s hand in hers to shake with a warm smile, “April, it suits you.”
They locked eyes and hands for what seemed like hours, the tingle of electricity shooting up her arm from the feel of April’s hand in her own.
That had never happened before. Jade had a lot of experience meeting women, a lot, but this was the first time her body had ever felt so alive from a mere handshake.
Jade cleared her throat and April dropped Jade’s hand to push her blonde hair behind her ear again. Damn, Jade really wanted to keep holding that deceptively strong hand in hers, but she knew April was nowhere near ready for that.
“I have a proposition,” Jade said with a slight smirk, causing April to tilt her head and raise an eyebrow.
“Oh? And what might that be?” April said with a chuckle.
“Well,” Jade began as she turned back to the street and started walking again, April by her side keeping step, “I don’t know about you, but I usually would grab something to eat on a night out.
Yet I’m not hungry for food as I only had two drinks and left early.
So, I propose the next best thing.” Jade ended with a grin, just to see how April reacted.
April turned her head slightly and narrowed her eyes, yet the smile on her face made her look absolutely adorable. Jade was a goner. She could feel it. “Please, enlighten me as to what you think the next best thing in this case would be?”
Jade brushed the back of her hand against April’s as she leaned in closer to April’s ear and whispered, “Dessert, of course.” Jade pointed ahead to a line of various food trucks.
April laughed. It was the most magical sound Jade had heard in her life. Goosebumps rippled across her arms and down her spine.
“So? Am I right?” Jade grinned.
“On this occasion, yes. Just don’t go getting too used to it, I’m extremely competitive and don’t like to lose, even at being right.” April craned her neck to see what options for dessert were available. Jade forgot they were even there; all she could see was April.
“If we’re going to sit and eat, I suggest the churros, but if you’re happy enough to keep walking and talking then gelato all the way.
That’s my suggestion anyway.” Jade hoped they would keep walking so that April could relax and not spend her time watching those around her, but she was happy in her company either way.
“Gelato sounds great, so long as they have the best flavor available,” April said, until she noticed the raised eyebrows on Jade’s face for her to continue. “Pistachio, of course.”
“Oh April, no! You’re breaking my heart!
Nobody picks a nut flavor as their favorite, it’s just not right.
” Jade chuckled as April’s mouth dropped open, and her eyebrows shot up to her hairline with a laugh.
“Don’t get me wrong, you were ticking all the boxes up until that point, but you’re getting close to a deal breaker here.
” Jade reached out and wrapped her hand gently around April’s wrist to stop her walking on.
“You can redeem yourself though, but it’s a big ask.
Are you ready for this?” Jade theatrically removed her hand from April’s wrist and brought it to her chest in a fist to overexaggerate a cough to clear her throat.
“What are your opinions on Cookies and Cream gelato, and Coffee gelato?”
April played along, crossing her arms over her chest, squaring her shoulders and biceps rippling, distracting Jade before locking onto those icy blue eyes once more.
“Cookies and Cream is my second favorite, and coffee anything tastes like vomit. Someone else’s vomit at that.” April pouted to keep her smile at bay. Failing miserably based on the mischief that was dancing in her eyes.
“I take it back. You’re perfect.” Jade said with a grin. “You can have your weird nut gelato, and I’ll be getting the only acceptable flavor of Cookies and Cream. I might even share. Maybe.” Jade laughed and nodded toward the ice truck.
A few minutes later, cups in one hand and tiny spoons in the other, they continued their walk.
“Ok then, April, let’s play a game. 20 questions? I kind of like the mystery we have going on though, so let’s avoid topics of family, work...and surnames. See how we go?” Jade wiggled her eyebrows and had the desired effect on April. There was that laugh again.
“Deal. I’ll go first. I already know gelato is important to you considering a dealbreaker was involved.
So, my question to you is this: what are three other dealbreakers for you?
You know, so we can end this right here if I meet any of them.
” April smirked as she ate a spoonful of the silky dessert.
“Oooh, ok then.” Jade took a moment to come up with her answer.
“In your own time too, of course.” April giggled. It was even more adorable than her laugh. Jade didn’t care if April did all three of her dealbreakers as it currently stood.
“Very cute. Number one has to be smoking; it’s gross. Do you?” Jade took in the shake of April’s head while they each ate another spoonful of their gelato. “Good. Number two is related, looking after your health and fitness is really important to me, so do you?”
“Yes, that I definitely agree with,” April replied, reaching out her spoon towards Jade’s dessert, taking a small scoop after Jade nodded her permission.
“Even better. And lastly, tattoos. I know they’re not for everyone and it’s not even that I need my partner to have them, but I do need them to accept them and it’s a bonus if they also like mine. So?” Jade knew the answer already, given April’s reaction to the vines down her arms at the bar.
“Oh, I think that’s a given, don’t you?” April blushed furiously and dipped her head, but with a smile spreading across her face. “How many do you have?”
“Well, technically it’s just the one, but overall, it has taken nine sittings to get to the stage it’s at just now.
The way I designed it with my tattoo artist is that they’re all connected, like a single line that covers the majority of my body.
” Jade explained. “The vine leaves vary in type, but the flowers are the more personal aspect. Those are mostly located around my torso, but the vines connect them and feed off and entwine around my limbs. Each flower that I add had the stem touching off the vine at an angle so that there’s no harsh edges or lines in the whole piece, it all just flows organically across my skin. ”
“I thought you said your parents didn’t know about them. If they’re over most of your body, how can you possibly hide them? I mean, do you wear jeans and hoodies in the height of summer?” April asked, surprised.
“It’s amazing how many leggings and long-sleeved tops you can find when you need to.” Jade laughed. “My turn to ask you a question. Favorite holiday location?”
“Well, I’ve travelled a fair amount but haven’t exactly been on vacation often.
I love South America. The energy, the food, the people.
New Zealand is stunning and the people are so friendly as well.
Though to be honest, I always love coming home and feeling rooted again.
” April sighed with a warm but distant smile.
Jade just watched, truly fascinated with the woman in front of her.
“Great answer,” Jade said, taking the empty container from April’s hand along with her own and dropping them in a nearby trash can. They turned into a quiet street. “Your turn.”
“Hmm,” April lifted her hand and tapped her index finger against her chin. “Ok, three random facts about you, and yes, I like the number three before you ask.” She chuckled.
Jade joined in before answering as she turned to face April, “I’m 26, I am a terrible cook,” she paused, “and I think I could look at your eyes all night and never get bored.” Jade froze. “Oh my god, that wasn’t meant to be my third fact. I’m so sorry.”
April laughed, “It’s fine, I’m just glad you’re feeling as nervous about this as I am.
I was convinced you were this cool character who turned the charm on any woman you chose.
But here you are, being a total dork, and it makes me like you a little bit more.
” April’s eyes danced as they held her gaze, Jade felt her chest flutter with those baby blues locked on hers.
Jade didn’t move her eyes from April’s as she narrowed them slightly to consider what April had just said before continuing.
“Then I’ll let my third fact stay.” Jade reached out and let the tips of her fingers touch April’s.
She heard the quick inhale of breath from the other woman who took a step closer to Jade. “April?”
“Yeah?” April breathed out.
“Tell me to back off and I will, no questions asked, and we’ll just keep spending the night as friends getting to know each other. But I’d really like to know if it’s ok to kiss you.” Jade held her breath and waited for April to close the gap between them.
A moment passed.
Then another.
Jade waited.