"I don't want you to go" Jisoo stood in Jennie's bedroom, watching her toss clothes into a suitcase. "Did you hear me?" she asked when Jennie didn't respond.
Jennie patted her cheek as she brushed by and headed into her bathroom. "Careful, sweetheart, you're starting to sound a lot like your sis-in-law. Stop pouting"
Her insult barely registered. Jisoo followed, stood in the doorway while she moved around gathering her things. "I talked to Lisa earlier. She doesn't think you should go alone, either."
Jennie dropped cosmetics into her travel bag, grabbed her favorite shampoo from the shower. "Please. Like I'm going to listen to you two? Jisoo, I'm going to Melbourne on business. Besides, no one will know I'm even there. In fact, I'll be safer there than I am here. Ella's staying with my parents. Everything's fine. And I haven't even decided if it's worth it to go up to Sydney yet. I'll wait and see what my PI finds."
Yet. Jisoo had heard that little addendum loud and clear. Jennie was too stubborn. She'd been dodging her ever since their night together, and Jisoo had worked so late last night that she hadn't been able to come by and see Jennie until this morning. She was supposed to hop a flight to Queen Charlotte Sound today to get the project back on track, but since she heard about Jennie's plans, she couldn't leave until she knew she'd be safe.
"I'd go with you if I could but I can't. Damn, this is shitty timing."
"Don't worry about it," Jennie said, grabbing hairspray from a basket on the counter.
She was avoiding her eyes. It didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what was going on here.
"I know what you're doing, Jennie. You don't have to go up to Sydney because of what happened between us."
"I don't know what you're talking about." Jennie slipped a hairbrush in her bag, zipped it closed.
Yes, she did. She knew exactly what Jisoo was getting at. She'd seen it eating away at her the second after they'd made love. Forget what was happening between them. She thought she'd let her client down. "Roseanne and Lisa are not going to be upset with you over this. You're allowed to have a life. You didn't do anything wrong."
Jennie closed her eyes, drew in a breath. Emotions played over her face, but when she opened her eyes again, they were gone. She grabbed her bag and pushed past Jisoo into the bedroom. "I'll talk to Roseanne about it all when I get back."
Jisoo caught her by the arm. "Stop and look at me."
She turned dark eyes her way. Eyes that were haunted. Eyes that were guilt-ridden.
"Don't throw what's happening between us away because you're worried what someone else is going to think," she said.
"This was a bad idea. It never should have happened, and you know it. As for my going to Melbourne, it's not your call. I'll be fine... besides, we barely know each other"
Jisoo felt like she'd just stabbed her through the heart. As she released her, she tried to figure out what the hell was happening. When had she gotten so attached? She never worried about anyone besides family. When had Jennie -a woman she barely knew- became as important, if not more, than the people she loved?
Her chest stretched even tighter.
"So let's get to know each other. Stay here. Stay safe. As soon as I get back, we'll focus on nothing but learning what irritates us most about each other."
Jennie dropped onto the end of the bed. "This is a joke, isn't it? Please tell me it's a joke."
Not the reaction Jisoo had hoped for. Hell, it wasn't even the conversation she'd planned on having.
