Page 5 of Game Plan
“Is that why you’re suddenly so hot in the face?” Dani looked around the bar again, “What am I missing? You keep looking around and Iknowit’s not for a stool!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about Dani, I told you, my feet are killing me and I’m just tired. I think I’m getting a headache.” April said, raising her glass to her cheeks and temple to hide the blush that wouldn’t move, while she glided her cold glass against her skin for relief from the warm bar.
“Oh no, really? We can head back to mine now if you want, it’s no trouble.” Dani said, the concern in her voice and features making April feel a little guilty at not telling her best friend about the really hot woman to April’s left that she just couldn’t help but keep looking at. Because if she told Dani, she’d be coming out to her very first person. While Dani’s sister was gay and she fully accepted her, April couldn’t help but feel that tiny flicker of uncertainty about how her best friend would react tohercoming out.
“It’s ok, honestly. I might just go to the bathroom really quickly, then grab some air for a minute. Keep an eye out for a table with stools, ok?” April made her way over to the back of the bar where she joined the line to the ladies’ bathroom, giving herself the perfect opportunity to escape Dani’s gaze...but enjoy a look at the woman who had most definitely caught her eye. But she was gone.
The line moved closer to the door to the bathroom and April was aware that the woman behind her was standing a little closer than she’d typically be comfortable with. Yet the smell of her cologne was drawing April in. She’d never come across a woman wearing anything other than perfume before. She decided to take a chance and have a quick peek over her shoulder to see whom that scent belonged to, only to be met with a pair of emerald eyes. And hair like fire.
She quickly turned back to face the line again but was aware of the gentle chuckle coming from the woman behind her. April couldn’t decide what she wanted more: for the ground to open up and swallow her whole, or to be brave enough to turn back around and properly engage with the woman who was currently making her heart race a little too fast for comfort.
Chapter 5
Jade
Jade couldn’t believe her luck. The woman she’d had her eye on for most of the night was standing right in front of her. Granted, it was with herbackto her, but Jade could work with that.
Leaning forward slightly, Jade spoke in a soft voice, “Hi”, and leaned back. She knew what she was doing.
The woman turned slightly, glancing over her shoulder, “Oh, erm, hi.” She turned back and lowered her head slightly. Jade could see the blush on the woman’s cheek and neck as her blonde ringlets fell forward, and the woman swept them behind her ear.
“I really love the color of your top,” Jade said, keeping the conversation going without pressuring the woman in any way that she’d feel uncomfortable.
“Thanks, I borrowed it from my friend.” The woman looked flustered. Jade loved this part of the dance when meeting someone new.
“I’m glad you did. It really suits you,” Jade continued, “I would say your friend has good taste, but only if she suggested that was the one you wore tonight. But if you chose it yourself, then it’s you who has the good taste.” Jade smiled as the woman slowly turned to face her and pinned her with the most incredible icy blue eyes Jade had ever seen.
“Then I guess I’ll say thank you for the compliment.” The woman said and smiled as they both moved another space down the line toward the bathroom. The woman’s eyes ran over Jade’s body quickly, not for the first time that evening. Jade had noticed.
“They’re vines. My tattoos.” Jade lifted her arm from her side toward the woman for her to see them more clearly. “I noticed you looking earlier and knew that you wouldn’t be able to make them out at a distance. The vines are generic, the leaves are a variety of plants, but the flowers belong to either the favorite flower or the birth month flower of those who are important to me.”
The woman tenderly reached out and touched Jade’s forearm where a vine wrapped its way around the curve of her muscle. Jade’s eyes sprang up to look at the woman’s when their skin touched; an electric charge rippled through her body from the point of contact. Their eyes met immediately.
“Beautiful.” The woman all but whispered after she lifted her eyes from Jade’s arm up to her eyes. “You’re, I mean,theyare beautiful.” The blush ran rampant across the woman’s face, neck, and chest. “Sorry.” She averted her gaze from Jade’s.
“Don’t be. And thanks, for the tattoo compliment, and the other one too.” Jade smirked, knowing exactly what she was doing. “The tattoos are all fine line, which is why they’re not clearly visible from afar, and they only come out when I’m not visiting my parents or have any chance of meeting someone they know.” Jade let her smirk soften to a smile when the woman relaxed and her blush eased. “I’m Jade by the way, sometimes go by Jae, and it’s great to meet you.”
“It’s great to meet you too, Jade.” The woman turned back toward the line with a smirk on her own lips. Not giving her own name, on purpose. Jade liked her even more.
“You know, I haven’t seen you here before. Not that I’m here very often at all, but it seems like you’re new enough to maybe not know the customs of meeting new people. I’d just hate for you to leave a bad impression on the next person lucky enough to meet you.” Jade said with a smile.
“Is that so?” The woman said over her shoulder, but this time kept her head turned to the side to keep listening to Jade.
“Oh yeah, I mean, I’d hate for them to think anything negative about you when I could have helped avoid that by pointing this out to you just now.” The woman turned around to face Jade and smirked.
“How thoughtful of you. I appreciate your looking out for my reputation, Jade. So please, tell me how I can improve my people skills?” A wink. Jade wassurethat was a wink. This woman was definitelyherkind of woman.
“Well, it’s customary when someone meets you for the first time and gives you their name, that you provide your name for them to use when talking to you going forward.” Jade tried to contain the smile from dancing on her lips.
“Ok Jade, thanks for the tip, I must remember that for next time.” The woman turned back around. Her shoulders shaking told Jade she was enjoying this as much as Jade was.
“You’re going to make me ask outright, aren’t you?” Jade caved.
“Yes, I think I am.” The woman said, again over her shoulder.
Jade took a breath to settle the laughter that was currently threatening her diaphragm. “I’d love to know what your name is, because since I first saw you in the bar over an hour ago, I’ve not been able to concentrate on the conversation with my friend. She’s now upset with me about it because it’s our first night out in three weeks, and I’ve been so distracted by you that I should at least be able to provide her with the name of the woman who’s been pulling my attention all this time.”
“It would be a decent thing for me to do. I mean, to help you apologize to your friend, if nothing else.” Jade had not had this kind of banter with a woman in alooongtime. Yeah, she was special.
