Page 35 of Game Plan
"Hey,” she smiled back at Jade as she got out of her car and locked it. She followed Jade to her car and got in, clicked her seatbelt in place and turned to face the world’s most beautiful human who she got to call hers. That was when she noticed.
“Babe, your hair!” She gasped and her smile grew wider as she saw the confidence grow in her partner at the acknowledgement. April reached over and ran her hand over the shaved skin that was now on display on the sides and back of Jade’s head. Her beautiful fiery curls still present in a top-knot bun resting on the top of her head.
“Surprise! Do you like it?” Jade asked, a hint of uncertainty and insecurity in her voice and eyes.
“I didn’t think it was possible for you to get any sexier, butbabe!” April couldn’t remove her hand from the extremely short hair that ran around Jade’s head. She took in the clean line that curved from the side to the back and disappeared out of her view around the far side.
The grin that grew on Jade’s face was so enticing, April nearly forgot where she was as she went to lean in and capture that sexy grin with her lips. The flash of caution in Jade’s eyes caught her just in time.
“Can we go somewhere quiet before heading to your parents? Do we have time?” April asked, a smirk dancing on her lips.
“You know we don’t, but I’ll let you make it up to me later.” Jade winked and laughed at April’s eyeroll.
It was a game as established for her as tennis by this point in their relationship. Jade said something to test her boundaries and laughed when April inevitably rolled her eyes in response. She liked it though, their back and forth. It was part of their foundation as a couple. She knew that Jade had been a complete and utter player before they met and enjoyed the ridiculous pick-up lines and flirting that had become so ingrained in her personality. April knew it wasn’t something that Jade could just switch off, so April just had to embrace it. She enjoyed their flirting, and it reassured her that Jade was continuously interested in her.
They drove off and shortly arrived outside Jade’s parent’s home less than ten minutes later. There were already three cars parked at the address.
“Oh, looks like the whole gang’s here already, we’re the last ones.” Jade said as she turned to April with a grin, which swiftly dropped as she saw what must have been a myriad of emotions making their way across April’s face.
“Babe, look at me,” Jade moved her head slightly to catch April’s eyes. “I know this is a huge step for any relationship, particularly one with as much pressure as ours. Cleo and Ivy know exactly who you are and will help us through this. The rest of my family just know that I’mfinallybringing home someone for them to meet who has completely captured my every waking thought, who is called April. There’s no lies here. Plus, my family are the best, most accepting bunch of humans I’ve ever come across. And that’s only a tiny bit biased.” She smiled that heart-melting smile that made April relax.
“They won’t make a big deal out of, you know, me not being out yet, or who I am, or anything?” April worried at her bottom lip while Jade responded.
“Are you kidding me? My Mom practicallyweptwhen I said there was someone I wanted her to meet.” Jade reached over and took April’s hands in her own. “I’ve never done this before, so it’s new for both of us. C’mon,” Jade motioned her head toward the house, “we can do this.” With a wink and smirk, Jade got out and rounded the car before opening the passenger door to help April out.
April had worn a capped sleeve summer dress in a dusky rose color, and plain white trainers. She was the complete opposite to Jade in her fitted jeans that stopped just above her ankle, a pair of classic Chucks and a perfectly tailored long-sleeved shirt.
“Aren’t you melting in those?” April asked as they made their way up the path to the front door.
“No choice until I unveil all the lovely artwork across my body.” Jade chuckled before adding, “why do you think I cut off so much of my hair? I have to let the heat out somehow.”
Jade opened the front door, and they were welcomed into the cool air of the house. Voices sounded from the kitchen as they removed their shoes and made their way down the hallway. They stood under the arched entrance to the kitchen.
“That’s not fair, you can’t ask two questions, we’re supposed to take turns!” A young girl with slightly browner fiery hair than Jade stated, hands on her hips, while she stared down a slightly older version of Jade.
“That’s usually true, but you didn’t let me finish the first one before answering, so I figured you should ask a second one for cutting me off.” The woman said with a smirk, not too dissimilar to Jade’s.
“That’s my niece, Sophie, and that’s my sister, Cleo.” Jade placed her hand on the small of April’s back, leaned over and whispered in her ear while they stood together in the doorway, taking in the scene. “They have a science question competition going on that’s been running for years at this stage. They’retrying to ask a question the other doesn’t know the answer to.” April felt her heart swell at the sound of love and pride in Jade’s voice when she spoke about her niece.
“The woman laughing behind Cleo is her fiancée, Ivy. Beside her is Toni, Evan’s partner. Willow, her daughter, should be somewhere,” Jade looked around the kitchen, “Ah, there she is helping my mom, Fiona. Hovering outside the backdoor is my dad, Rob, and my brother, Evan. Probably trying to avoid helping and looking forward to eating.” Jade chuckled in April’s ear, her warm breath sending a shiver down April’s spine.
“Are you ready to meet everyone?” Jade asked gently.
April took a breath, “No time like the present, right?” She turned to Jade, hoping to get some strength from her partner. Jade held April’s gaze and without breaking it took April’s left hand in her right, lacing their fingers together. April wrapped her right hand around Jade’s bicep and gave it a gentle squeeze before letting go and walking forward with Jade; their fingers still interlocked.
“Hey everyone, we made it!” Jade announced, and all eyes in the room turned to face them.
All except Cleo and Ivy who had turned to catch the looks on the other’s faces.
“Damn sis, you said you were dating a girl called April, you didn’t say you were datingwaaaayout of your league with AprilWalker!” Evan said with a grin as he made his way back into the kitchen.
April turned to Jade and could tell her emotions were caught between wanting to kill her brother, but pride over the acknowledgement of her partner at the same time. It was clear that these siblings were close.
“You mean exactly like you’re dating above your level with Toni?” Jade retaliated.
Before anyone else got a word in, Ivy had made her way over and stood in front of April, “It’s so nice to finally meet you. I’m not huge into sports but I feel like I know you after how muchthis onehas spoken about you.” Ivy looked at Jade with a warm affection.
“Well, at least she toldsomeoneabout you, love. Because it wasn’t me that she was speaking to.” Fiona came over, “Do you hug? I’m a hugger.” The woman was practically bouncing with the level of control she was showing to contain the urge to throw her arms around April.
