Page 15 of Game Plan
“That’s the thing. During the entire night we kept a bit of mystery going and agreed at the start not to talk about our jobs, families, or swap surnames to not put pressure on her because she’s not out.”
“Oh!”
“Yeah. I can’t stop thinking about her though, that’s completely new to me.” Jade admitted.
“I know you don’t usually see anyone for longer than a couple of dates, and I know you’re going to roll your eyes at me because it’s your sister I’m talking about.” Jade exaggeratedly rolled her eyes and laughed, then held her hands up to apologize and let Ivy continue. “But, when you meet the person whose face you see when you close your eyes at night and whose voice makes your heart skip a beat even when it’s over the phone, there’s not another feeling like it in the world.” Ivy paused, "Cleo and I both went years without love in our lives because of the pain we carried in our hearts. When we finally went on that first date? I’ve never felt so whole, so quickly. I knew after that first date that she had been worth the three-year wait.”
“So, I’m not getting carried away by thinking anything even remotely close to that after our first evening together? I mean, I think it was a date? It definitelyfeltlike one, even if the evening didn’t start out that way.” Jade had thought about that a lot over the weeks that followed that night. She had also decided that if she ever managed to find April, she’d letherdecide whether or not it was their first date. She really hoped it was though, given how absolutely perfect it felt.
“Sometimes those are the best kind. The unexpected, slightly messy, but completely magical ones.” Ivy said, almost knowingly.
“That’s exactly what it was,” Jade replied. “We walked around the city for over five hours talking about everything, well,almosteverything. I kissed her. I didn’t know until after that it was her first kiss.”
“With a woman?” Ivy asked.
“Withanyone,” Jade answered.
Ivy’s eyebrows rose slightly, then her face relaxed. “Well, when I went on the picnic with Cleo, that was my first ever date. So, I can somewhat relate. And so can Cleo. I know you don’t like opening up to her very much, but she might be able to give some insight into that part for you.”
Jade pouted slightly for effect, “I’ll think about it.” Then she smiled as she thought of those kisses with April again. “There’s just one problem though.” She added with a sadness she could no longer fight.
“Which is?” Ivy asked, knowing full well what the answer would be.
“What’s the point in talking to her about it if I’ve no way of getting in touch with April?” Jade dropped her head against the back of the couch.
“I think you’re looking at it all wrong, Jade. The real question you should be asking yourself, is whether you want to try and find her, to make this work, even with her not being out and having a world of firsts ahead of her.” Ivy gave Jade’s hand a gentle squeeze.
“I do, Ivy. I really do.” Jade said, looking her future sister-in-law, and current close friend, straight in the eye. “I think she’s it for me, I don’t know how else to explain it, but I can’t get her out of my head. All I know is that even if I could, I don’t want to.”
“Then tell me all about her, and we’ll see if we can figure out a way to find her from there.” Ivy looked at Jade with an enthusiastic smile. “Make it quick though, Cleo will be here soon, and you know how she likes to interrupt.” Ivy winked, and Jade began describing her night with April.
Chapter 14
April
April stretched out her back while lying on the floor in Dani’s living room. She rolled onto her side and scrolled through movie selections on several streaming platforms while her best friend finished cooking dinner.
“What about that new one with the guy who was in that court one you liked?” Dani shouted from the kitchen.
“How do people trust you with their careers with a memory like that?!” April laughed back at her friend.
Dani came through from the kitchen with a heaped bowl of veggie chilli sin carne in each hand. “You know, Matt asks me that at least once a week. I remind him that while he’s a lawyer, I still bring in more money than he does and then make him begme for forgiveness before threatening to have him sleep on the couch.” Dani grinned. “So, what can I do to you...oh yeah, get out!”
April laughed, “ok, I get your point. I’m so sorry, Lady Dani, sports manager to the stars.”
“You laugh, but I expect nothing less than that title whenever I receive a card from you now.” Dani placed the bowls on the coffee table and went back to the kitchen. “What about a good old-fashioned sports movie?” She yelled from the other room.
April had been spending more of her downtime thinking about Jade. Or more accurately, wondering who her best option would be to open up to about the time she’d spent with her. She didn’t want to come up with some big speech to announce to people, or to make a big deal out of it, because it didn’t change who she was. But having taken a look online, she figured it might be easier to gauge people’s views before working out what their reaction might be. And she knew exactly how to do it with Dani.
“What aboutBattle of the Sexes? The one about the match between BJK and Bobby Riggs with the beginning of the WTA?” April said, trying to keep her tone and face as neutral as possible.
“Thewhat?” Dani asked, confused.
“Dani! You work in the world of sports. I shouldn’t have to explain it’s the Women’s Tennis Associationevery time!” April laughed.
“Oh yeah. Wait, is that the movie with the woman who’s in that other movie with the guy everyone is always fawning over?” Dani asked as she returned with two spoons and two glasses of water.
“If I blindly say yes while not having a single clue who you’re talking about, will it save me from getting kicked out of your apartment?” April laughed and reached for her bowl and spoon.
