Page 53 of Game Plan
“Cleo, please, just give me a few minutes, ok?” Jade pleaded.
“I don’t like seeing you hurting like this, Jae. You’re hiding yourself, and it’s not like you.” The concern was written all over Cleo’s face and in her voice. “I get that what has happened isn’t what you expected, but it doesn’t change who she is or what she means to you.” Cleo dipped her head to catch Jade’s eye. “You just have to remember, the only reason this happened isbecauseof what you mean to each other. Those people only brought it up because it was obvious you were more than just friends simply walking side-by-side. That’s a good thing.” Cleo said with a smile.
“Yeah, I know.” Jade agreed softly.
“So, with that said, get your backside through to the living room and come watch TV with everyone.” Cleo said, “I’ll even let you sit beside me. On the floor. The mini humans have claimed a chair each. Unless you want to help me move them?” Cleo smirked.
Jade caved and smiled a little, “Let them keep their chairs, I’m happy enough on the floor.”
She followed Cleo through to where the rest of her family sat watching the TV.
“Hurry, it’s about to start!” Ivy said from her seat on the floor in front of Sophie.
“What’s about to start?” Jade asked as she and Cleo joined Ivy on the floor.
“Ssssh,” Jade’s Mom said and simply pointed at the TV.
Jade watched, as the popular interview talk show started. The host, Blair Collins, began the show as always introducing the three guests who would be involved that night. But as that night’s guests were introduced, the room fell silent.
There, in the show’s greenroom, alongside a legend of cinema and a popular comedienne, sat her partner. On TV. Looking as breathtakingly beautiful as she ever had. Looking exactly the same as the first time Jade laid eyes on her. Actually, shewasdressed exactly the same. Except for one small addition: the star-shaped diamond necklace Jade gave her to wear at Dani’s wedding.
The air left Jade’s lungs as she saw the necklace, and a smile grew on her face. She felt Ivy’s hand reach out and squeezed her knee, followed by Cleo’s resting on top.
“Jade!” Willow exclaimed, “April’s on TV!”
“Yeah, it seems that way, Wills,” Jade said, disbelieving her own eyes which she couldn’t tear away from the screen.
The room fell silent as they watched the first two guests getting interviewed. They listened comfortably to the actor who they had watched in numerous movies throughout their lives. They laughed at the comedienne’s stories and the interaction between her and the actor who she was clearly fangirling over.
Then it was April’s turn. As the final guest, she would be given the shortest amount of airtime. Jade wondered what she would say in those short few minutes.
“Now, April, am I right in saying this is your first time doinganytalk show?” Blair asked.
April smiled nervously, “yes, that’s right.”
“With all you have going on just now, winning quite a few titles this year so far, missing out on others by the skin of your teeth, and now about to compete in the US Open starting this weekend in New York, you’re a busy young woman,” Blair began. “I don’t know a great deal about tennis, but I’d imagine with all that training and travel and competing, you don't get much downtime?”
April laughed, “there’s not a great deal of it, no, but I don’t compete at every tournament. That allows me to have recovery time.”
“Oh, I’ve seen those awful ice baths, do you have to use those?” Blair asked with a laugh, the other guests joining in.
“Yes, I have to use them, they’re not my favorite, I’ll say that much,” April laughed. “I also schedule time off to train on the different surface types ahead of the tournaments I compete at. Clay would be the trickiest for me, but it’s also my most successful in terms of title wins. But I also take time off for select family things, like attending my best friend’s wedding a few weeks ago.”
“Oh, I do love a good wedding! So, tell me, did you fly solo for the wedding, or did you enjoy a special someone’s company there?” Blair asked.
Jade gasped.What was she going to say to that?Was April really about to do this? She edged closer to the TV screen, as if sitting closer would help her hear April’s answer before everyone else.
“Well, for the wedding I flew solo,” April answered, before adding with a smile as she touched the necklace. “My special someone had to work.”
And there it was. Jade’s eyes filled, her mom let out a squeal before her hand flew up to cover her mouth, Evan sat forward on his seat, and she felt Sophie’s arms wrap around her neck in a hug.
“That’s you, Auntie Jade,” her niece whispered in her ear.
“Yeah, Squirt, that’s me,” Jade said with a teary smile.
“Ssssh”, Toni demanded, “listen.”
“Are they a tennis player like you? Are you the next power couple of the courts?” Blair asked with a mischievous grin.
