Chapter 24
April
April had been there a few times before with various friends and family and had never been recognized or interrupted for an autograph.
With that in mind, she’d decided to bring Jade there for their proper, second official date after the boutique.
They sat in a curved booth at the back corner of the restaurant.
Although there were brightly colored artworks on the walls, the dark wood paneling around the lower half of the walls and Edison bulbs emitting low lighting over each table made the place darker than most other eateries around.
This also meant April knew she could place her hand on the seat between herself and Jade, and not-so-subtly encourage Jade to reach out and hold it with her own. The feeling of Jade’s hand holding her own, in public, was one she wasn’t expecting.
She had been excited to be able to do this small gesture.
The one that every couple of every age participated in.
The one she’d spent endless nights dreaming about while they were apart for all those weeks.
She thought she’d be fine with it. She’d planned her choice of restaurant carefully for this very reason.
She knew it was dark, and nobody could see from any of the surrounding tables. Not even the servers could see.
She was freaking out!
Her body tensed as soon as Jade’s hand touched hers. She set her fork down and reached for her water, and Jade must have noticed her fingers shake because not even a second later she removed her hand from April’s.
April was about to say something when Jade leaned forward to catch her eye and didn’t say a single word.
She just let her eyes do all the talking.
April felt her body slowly regulate as Jade’s reassurance quietly rolled over her like a gentle wave.
She didn’t realize they had reached that stage already, but she was so glad that they had.
“So,” Jade said before reaching out to spoon more spiced rice onto her plate, “Do you need to get anything else for the wedding? Or do you have everything to go with your dress and shoes already?”
April smiled, wedding talk was much easier to do than fear of being outed.
“I’m not sure really. I mean, I have a few bags at home that I’ll check and see if they’ll go.
The dress color is so unique that it’d have to be silver, I think?
I can check with Dani and see what she has, too.
She has waaay more accessories than everyone else I know combined!
” April laughed as she reached for a forkful of chicken.
“Like your very own personal boutique to raid when you need to?” Jade laughed.
“Exactly! It’s just a pity we’re different body shapes or I’d have a boutique’s worth of clothes to choose from too.
” She took a drink before elaborating when she saw the raised eyebrow Jade was throwing her way.
April had learned over the past few weeks that Jade was not one to accept April being hard on herself about her body in any way.
“Dani and I have been living out of each other’s wardrobes for as long as I can remember.
She borrows my clothes because she’s not as broad shouldered as I am, but I get to borrow any number of jeans and accessories that I want. It balances off really.”
“I never had that with anyone,” Jade admitted.
“Although it’s not something I felt like I missed out on, either.
I had such a specific way of dressing when not in sportswear, that nobody I knew even vaguely reflected.
Cleo was older than me by so much that by the time I fit into any of her old clothes, they were way out of style.
I was more likely to raid Evan’s wardrobe for something to wear though.
That comes as a shock to you, I’m sure.” She laughed as she took a drink.
“Emily has always been the most femme girl you could ever meet. Growing up she tried to teach me about make-up, but just like my mom did with cooking, she gave up and does it for me when needed for nights out. I don’t think she even owns anything other than skirts and dresses.
Understandably, I’m not going anywhere near her wardrobe for ideas. ” Jade added with a laugh.
“I think your style is perfect,” April said matter-of-factly.
“I love that you know exactly who you are and are comfortable enough to confidently wear what you do without any apologies. I’ve never once seen you pull at your clothes, straighten out a crease, or adjust anything you’re wearing.
You obviously know how to buy the right clothes for your body too, and you fit them so well. ”
“You seem to have spent a lot of time paying attention to my clothes,” Jade said through a smirk. “And their...fit.”
“I will neither confirm nor deny that statement,” April blushed as she reached up to fix a loose curl behind her ear.
“Go on, admit it. You’ve been checking me out,” Jade sat back and watched as April squirmed in her seat.
April cleared her throat, “So, remind me, when are you off to get the wedding outfits for Cleo and Ivy’s wedding?”
“Nice segway,” Jade shook her head with a chuckle.
“We’re going to one of Emily’s designer friends to get our outfits before I leave for London.
I’m then off for two weeks before we're all over the US and Canada for the guts of the following seven weeks until after the US Open. By that time, we should have full sketches to approve before they start making them for us.”
“That’s great you’re getting custom outfits made. I’m surprised Dani didn’t go that route for Matt and his best man.”
“Well, Cleo wants a fitted suit, and I want something similar but obviously not the same, and we have to get something related for Cleo’s best friend who’s really girly. So, custom really was the best option. We were just lucky that Emily knew someone who could help.”
“Will you, you know, send me a photo when you’re in it?
” April blushed, but she meant it. She wanted to see her partner dressed up even more so than she was today.
She loved the way Jade dressed herself. Part of her even got a kick out of knowing that other women enjoyed Jade’s look too, but they weren’t the one who got to kiss her.
Because, damn, did Jade know how to kiss.
“It’ll be a while until they’re ready, but once they are and we go back for the fitting, I’ll send you a photo. That is, if you send me one once you’re all done up for Dani’s wedding?” Jade’s eyes burned with such intense fire; there was no way April could deny her that.
“That I can do.” April agreed.