Pure Connections

Chapter 8

     "Anyway..." Justin reached for his glass of Chianti, taking a sip as everyone waited in anticipation.

      Two nights ago, when Jennie and Lisa had sat at the dining table—the garlic butter scallops golden and garnished to perfection—and Lisa had mentioned Blake and Justin would be joining them for dinner at Gia, it hadn't occurred to Jennie that it was the same Justin who worked at her father's law firm. The same Justin who was handling Irene's divorce. She hadn't gotten to know him much before tonight—she didn't go to the firm anymore if she could help it—but it was nice realizing she knew one of Lisa's friends. Even if they all found it hilarious that Jennie's dad had tried to set up her and Justin for an entire month before Justin had to politely decline on the basis that he was, well, gay, and very much in love.

      "The hard lesson is, never agree to karaoke with these two." Justin gestured to Blake and Lisa. "They will insist on a minimum of three choreographed pieces, and it's decent dancing, but the singing is...Let's just say I'm not marrying him for his musical talents."

      Blake waved off his fiancé. "And I'm not marrying you because you're fun."

      Another bout of laughter stirred up.

      "It's tough being the fun half of the couple, huh, Blake?" Jisoo chimed in. "We should start a support group. Me, you and Lisa."

      Rosie turned to Jisoo, her brows raised in mock offense. "I don't think I like what you're suggesting."

      "I don't either." Jennie nudged Jisoo with her elbow. "An hour with these two and you're ready to trade me in. Really, Chu, your sense of loyalty concerns me. And this after I single-handedly made sure you wound up with the love of your life."

      Rosie chuckled, reaching for Chu's hand on the table to intertwine their fingers. "I wouldn't say single-handedly."

      "Sounds like there's a story there," Justin remarked.

      Jisoo glanced at Rosie, both caught in a silent exchange over whether they should tell it, before Rosie nodded, beaming like she only ever did when Chu was in the room. Chu leaned forward in excitement. "So, it started with my terrible coordination, Rosie's fantastic reflexes and some accidental staring at her cleavage..."

      Jennie laughed, turning toward Lisa as Lisa leaned closer, resting one hand on Jennie's bare knee—the sequin long sleeve dress Jennie had settled on wasn't exactly risqué, but like all body-con dresses rode up mid-thigh the second she wasn't standing.

      Lisa raised her free hand to tuck Jennie's hair behind one ear, the brush of her fingers and warmth of her breath sending a chill down Jennie's spine. "Don't worry, you can be in the fun-half support club with Chu and Blake."

      Jennie's exhale came half laced with humor, half laced with something sparked by the mere proximity of Lisa and the hand she had on Jennie's leg. "You would just give up your rightful place with the cool kids?"

      "To keep that smile on your face, yes."

      Jennie's eyes flicked up to the pair of deep cognac orbs staring back at her. She'd been living with Lisa for five days—enough to know Lisa was beautiful first thing in the morning when the curls of her hair had escaped the silk scarf of protection she'd wrapped them in the night before and after a full day of traipsing through the Mission with her camera. But tonight, she looked downright fucking radiant. With her straightened black hair swept back behind both ears, eyes smokey with the help of a little liner, mascara and shadow, her full lips accentuated by a glossy nude shade...

      Everything about her made Jennie so increasingly unsteady.

      "That's not fair," Jennie whispered.