Page 41 of Game Plan
“Well, I’m guessing that if you’re calling this morning to let me know how last night’s meeting the parents went, that wasn’t the only first to happen in the past 24 hours?” Dani said as soon asthe call connected, a sly grin dancing on her lips and mischief twinkling in her eyes. For the first time in years, April was looking at her friend with her natural mousy brown hair ahead of her wedding in a few days’ time.
The blush that flushed April’s face gave Dani the answer. April knew this. She also knew her friend wouldn’t be happy until she had verbally confirmed it. “Mhmm”. April muttered, squeezing her eyes shut to avoid her friend for a few more minutes.
“I’m sorry, what was that? I couldn’t hear you over your blush!” Dani said with a laugh and a huge grin.
“Ohmigod, stop!” April begged with a chuckle. “Yes, ok? Yes, more than meeting the parents happened last night. Are you happy now?”
“Clearly not as happy as you!” Dani roared laughing, while April wanted her bed to open right up, and swallow her whole.
“Dani!”
“Ok, ok, sorry. I’ll stop. For now.” Her supposed best friend wiped tears from her eyes and calmed her breathing, all while April waited. “So, in all honesty, how did the early part of last night go, then the latter part?”
April took a moment to separate the evening in her mind. Meeting Jade’s family felt like a whole other time from what had happened back at Jade’s loft. Was it really only a few hours earlier?
“Honestly? They are the loveliest family I think I’ve ever met. I mean, Jade talks about them all a lot, but I thought she was exaggerating with how accepting she expected them to be about the situation we’re in. She truly wasn’t, not in the slightest.” April said a little stunned.
“April that’s amazing, do you even know how lucky you are for it to go so smoothly?” Dani asked. Memories of Dani explaining to April how her parents had accepted Matt more than his parents had accepted her, spring to April’s mind.
“I really do. Oh, and it turns out, Jade’s older sister, Cleo? Well, she’s Lana’s best friend!”
“What? No way!” Dani said, genuinely surprised, which April knew took a lot to do.
“I know, right? As soon as we figured that out, it was like a weight was lifted, and I just relaxed...right against Jade as she draped her arm around me, in front of her entire family...and none of them even batted an eye. They made sure as we were leaving that we knew their house was a safe space for us to be completely open as a couple, and that none of them would mention me outside of the house until I was ready for them to do so.” April smiled as warmth spread through her chest at the memory.
“April, that sounds like something far beyond the best case scenario for you, truly.” Dani said, looking at April with so much happiness in her eyes.
“It was so far beyond anything I could have ever dreamed of. And that was just the start of the night.” April said with a smile and a little less blush than at the start of their call.
“Oh yes it was,” Dani began with a grin, which slowly settled into a warm smile. “So, tell me, was she worth the wait?” April felt nothing but support from her best friend. For all she knew Dani wanted the juicy details; she also knew Dani just wanted to make sure she was happy.
“And then some.” April admitted.
Jade had been so caring and tender with her, checking in with her at every step to ensure she was comfortable to proceed. But as much as it was April’s first time, and she should have been riddled with nerves, under Jade’s warm gaze everything felt so completely natural. No nerves, just connection. Anytime she felt uncertain, Jade was right there, reassuring her.
“Does that mean you’ve found your ‘plus one’ going forward?” Dani asked with a gentle nudge.
“Dani, if I hadn’t known as much before last night, then I absolutely would today. She’s it for me. No question.” April said, wondering when she could see Jade again. Her breath. Her anchor.
“Then I hope she’s not the jealous type, because I have a favor to ask you.” Dani said with a nervous laugh.
April raised her eyebrows, “I don’t think she is because she knows there’s no-one else for me but her, but I’m still nervous to ask what you need with a look on your face like that.”
“Nothing too bad, I promise.” Dani’s face pinched slightly and she let out a defeated exhale. “Lily had booked a babysitter for Wyatt, but then Nicolette found out about astrangerlooking after him for the day and cancelled the booking without telling Lily. So, she’s freaking out because they won’t accept another booking, and she now needs to bring Wyatt to the wedding and is feeling overwhelmed at minding him for the whole day while being my bridesmaid too.” Dani started.
Lily was Dani’s older sister, and her son Wyatt was four. Lily had been divorced from Nicolette since she was six months into her pregnancy, when Lily discovered Nicolette had been cheating on her for the previous year. Now, Nicolette was continuing to cause havoc in Lily’s life to the point where she was almost more controlling than during their marriage. Much to Dani’s disgust.
“You want me to help look after Wyatt for the day? No problem, I love that little guy, you know that.” April said.
Dani exhaled in relief. “Thanks April. Nicolette is seriously pushing it with this latest power trip. She didn’t offer any alternatives to Lily either. Heaven forbid she may actually spend time with her son, instead of constantly making life difficult for Lily on purpose. She says she’s working that day, and you know how she refuses to ask her family to help in any shape or form. She says that just because she and Lily decided to start a family,doesn’t mean it’sherfamily’s responsibility to raise the child for them. Urgh!” Dani vented.
“What a piece of work! She always pulled power trips on Lily, but it really seems to have gotten worse since the split. I mean, she doesn’t evenseeWyatt, so why go out of her way to cause such drama? I don’t get it.” April said, genuinely confused about the relationship this womanwasn’thaving with her adorable son.
“Anyway, Mom will mind him during the ceremony, as Lily will be standing up at the alter with me, but if you could help with him through the rest of the day, you’d be a total lifesaver.” Dani said.
“Lily literally saves lives as a nurse in the ER every day. Helping her by hanging out with my favorite little guy for a day is no problem at all. Tell your mom, I’ll mind him during the ceremony so she can enjoy it, and I’ll help whenever they need me through the day.” April said.
“Great, I’ll let her know you’re happy to do it,” Dani said, a smirk making its way across her lips before continuing. “You know, let you get some practice in for your future kids with Jade.”
