The Bet "JENLISA"

22. By Any Other Name

third person pov.

Jennie was cooking breakfast for Lisa. She was in a very good mood. Last night left her feeling rejuvenated. She played music as she cooked and thought about the rest of their day. Sunday's were usually reserved for relaxing and doing chores around the house but maybe they would go out to see a movie or visit a museum. Whatever Lisa wanted to do, Jennie thought. She was in her own world as she chopped, mixed, seared away in the kitchen. She hadn't noticed Lisa standing in the doorway. When she glanced up, she had to double take. 

"Do you just like watching me cook?" Jennie asked. 

"I do. It's when you look the happiest." Lisa said. She was wearing Jennie 's robe. She knew she was breaking the rules, but it was just unbearably cold. 

Jennie smiled. "Nice robe." She preferred to see Lisa naked but she knew it was really cold. Even Jennie felt the chill in the air and she was always warm. She forgot to turn the ac down last night and so this morning the house was an ice box. At least she was wearing pajama pants and a hoodie so it wasn't as bad but she could only imagine how it felt for Lisa, who was already perpetually cold. 

"Thanks. I stole it." Lisa said smirking. 

Jennie laughed and sucked the syrup from her fingertip. She plated Lisa's breakfast and put it on the table. Lisa sat down. It smelled amazing. "Wait. Is this sausage? Like real sausage?" Lisa asked surprised. 

"Ugh. Yeah. Don't tell the vegan police I made that for you." She said smiling and wiping her hands on a dish towel. Jennie didn't care what other people ate. She knew everyone in the world wasn't going to be vegan. It was unrealistic. She just didn't want to partake. 

"Your secret is safe with me." Lisa winked at her. "Oh. Speaking of secrets. Can we please  discuss...." 

Jennie interrupted her. "Nope." 

Lisa laughed. "Oh come on!" 

"Eat your breakfast." Jennie said as she stroked Lisa's hair. "I told you before I even said that I didn't want to talk about it." 

"Yeah but I didn't know it would be that." Lisa said. "Wait. You so had a crush on me! Why didn't you tell me?" 

"Would it had made a difference?" Jennie asked. 

"Maybe! We could be married by now." Lisa teased. 

Jennie laughed. "Right!" 

"As if I could maintain a wife with my work schedule." Lisa pulled her phone from the pocket of the robe she was wearing and scanned the plethora of emails she had received from work since Friday evening. "She'd leave me." 

"Then you should probably marry someone who values their work as much as you do." Jennie dumped the ingredients for her smoothie into the blender and turned it on. She thought to herself as the machine whirled. She turned it off. "Like Cameron. She likes playing little miss Law and Order, doesn't she?" 

Lisa turned around and looked at Jennie . She was trying to figure out how genuine the question was or if she was just being a smart ass. Jennie's face seemed serious enough. "I guess, but it's a little early to start picking out a dress. We haven't even been out yet." 

Jennie sipped from her cup and mulled over her feelings about Lisa and Cameron. Did she really have a right to feel anything? She wondered what Lisa was thinking. Was she excited about seeing Cameron tomorrow? What if things really took off between them? Jennie would have to call off the bet. She wouldn't stand in the way of her friend's happiness. 

"What are you thinking?" Lisa asked after she swallowed the food in her mouth. "And before you lie to me, please remember you gave me your word to be vulnerable with me."