BLISSFUL ENCOUNTER [Jenlisa FF]

Part 3

"Hi."

Jennie did a double take, stared at the woman in front of her. "H-hi," she stammered, wide-eyed, glad she had the door-frame to hold onto. She wasn't sure she wouldn't faint any moment.

She frowned, looked down for a moment, but Jennie had already seen the faint flush of embarrassment. When her head came up again, she cleared her throat. "I ... uh ... You probably don't remember me..."

'What? Not remember her?'

"... but ... we ... uh ... met, well, kinda. At that party. You know, the one where you attended with your friend. Irene."

'So, she did remember Irene's name.'

"Ah. I mean ... uh ... I do. Remember, I mean." 'God, and maybe I should just shoot myself. Now she thinks I'm some idiot who can't form a coherent sentence.'  She didn't even want to contemplate what might have happened hadn't Irene warned her in advance.

"Oh." she seemed relieved. "That's good." A little laugh escaped her lips, but her eyes were still serious, and - as she'd seen before - much too old for a face that young. "I'm Lalisa. Lalisa Manoban."

"I know. Lili," Jennie replied, smiling too.

Lisa rolled her eyes, "I'm sorry you ever heard that," she told her. "Jackson likes to use it." she sighed. "Still."

Her brows quirked curiously, "Still?"

"Uh-huh. My mother used to ... uhm ... call me Lili." Again, embarrassment showed on her face, and Jennie found herself irresistibly drawn to it. "Jackson used it to tease me."

She nodded. "I think it fits."

Again, Lisa rolled her eyes. "Well, if you really like it...," she let the words trail off, but the message was clear. she'd just given her permission to use that name. Suddenly she seemed to remind herself where they were. She in front of her apartment door. "I ... uh ... didn't want to disturb you. But I ... uh ... wanted to see you again. And as Irene only gave me your address...," she gave her an apologetic smile.

'Smooth move, Bae, very smooth. Don't give her my phone-number. Give her my address instead.'

'Address?' Jennie frowned. "Irene told me she gave you my private number."

"No, she didn't," Lisa insisted. "She gave me your address."

'Just wait, Bae. You're going to pay for this.' "Oh."

"Yeah. Uh ... I really don't ... I mean..." she took a step back.

"No," Jennie said quickly. Hoping her voice sounded casual, she added, "You don't have to leave. Do you want to come in? Maybe have a cup of coffee?"

'Oh yeah, very smart, Kim, invite stranger into your apartment.'

Lisa's eyes lit up. "I'd like that."

'Uh-huh.' "Well, then ...," Jennie made an inviting gesture, and she stepped over the threshold.

"Nice," Lisa commented once she was inside and looked around. "Seems you're doing well."

She laughed, and when she saw her looking at her quizzically, she grinned, "You sounded like my mother. 'You're doing well for yourself, Jennie.'"

Lisa grinned, too, and it made her heartbeat speed up. "I see. Well, if it's any help, my mother only rolls her eyes and I'm sure each Sunday she lights a candle to pray for me."

She laughed out loud. "You want coffee?"

"Not really. It makes me jumpy. So, I'm restricting myself to two cups in the morning. Do you have a glass of wine?"