Exactly What I've Been Waiting For

Chapter 23

It's almost Christmas, so I might as well give this as a gift.

Camila offered to close the shop so Jade could go home and change into a different outfit. Chosing something simple, she went out wearing a gray halter dress with a black wrap and matching stilettos.

The meeting ran quick, but not quick enough. Jade sold her product as best as she could, but the real excitement in her stomach arrived when one woman left, and the other walked in.

Entering the restaurant, Perrie arrived in a three floor crop top paired with a pleated silk skirt and a pair of nude-colored sandals. Standing up, Jade kissed the blonde on the cheek. "It's like our first date."

Putting a hand on the small of the brunette's back, she said, "This is definitely not our first date."

The two of them took a seat in the intimate booth Jade asked for, purposely. For a moment, Perrie stared into her hazel eyes, seeing how much courage it took for the brunette to actually ask her out tonight. Perrie could tell from the way the brunette fidgeted with her fingers that the worry was eating away at the girl.

Perrie took Jade's hands into hers. "Breathe, Jade. It's just me. We've been out plenty of times... and stayed in." She winked. "I hate to see you so uncomfortable around me, but I am glad you asked me here tonight. I've been dying to see you."

Smiling, Jade said, "There's a place I want to show you. It's not too far from here."

"Well, why didn't you just say so?" Perrie asked the waiters for their coats, and were on their way out.

The blonde started walking towards her car, but Jade grabbed her hand, stopping her. Trying her best to ignore the jolt, Jade said, "Let's walk."

During the stroll, Perrie continued holding onto her hand, and she didn't mind one bit. The familiar contact gave her a sense of relief that she didn't forget everything about the blonde. "I asked you tonight because I was talking to Camila and she made a good point."

"Which was?" Perrie probed.

"I'm the romantic one. I'm the one with all the love advice; or I used to be. And I'm always the one pushing people to get together, playing matchmaker. But when it was staring at me right in the face, I completely ignored it. I ignored you... I'm not ignoring you anymore." Jade let Perrie's hand go and pulled away, walking into the darkness.

She stared after Jade, confused. "Jade?!" She ran after the brunette.

"Dad found this," she started when she heard the blonde's footsteps approach her. The moonlight spread across the field, illuminating the large, abandoned land. "When I turned twenty-one, he brought me here and told me this dream of his. He hated my place, and wanted me to build something right here. It's secluded, but not in the middle of nowhere." She bit her bottom lip. "A three-storey house with a black gate. I want windows everywhere, and a balcony for every room. I'd need a backhouse to probably do some inventory, and then a humongous backyard for my garden. I can see it overlooking the city. Maybe cut down some of the trees, but keep a couple to keep the rustic, forest intrigue of it all." Jade shrugged. "I haven't thought about the logistics or the details, but the plan is there."

Perrie walked behind Jade, wrapping her arm around the girl's waist. Her lips right by the brunette's ear. "A place to call home?"

"A place to start over." With you, Jade added silently. She spun around, "What do you think?"

"It's a good place to start." Her hands tickled the brunette's neck. Closing the gap, she kissed the brunette's lips. "If you're still hungry... " she whispered, trailing off. "We could order Chinese. At my place?"