Exactly What I've Been Waiting For

Chapter 25

A/N: I think you may want to hold your breath for this one...

Jade got home and placed a bunch of new flowers on the dining room table. The new burst of colors immediately brought attention to the old ones within the house. Obviously, it's been a while since she brought flowers home.

She took off her jacket and put it in the closet. Walking over to the mantle where she had a photo of her dad, she grabbed the vase beside it and brought it to the kitchen.

"She's coming today." She said, aloud. "It's been a while since she did. The last time was when you were at the hospital." She usually had these little conversations with the photo, knowing in her heart that he'd be listening. Sometimes, she could even predict his answers to some of her statements and questions.

"Leigh and Jesy think I'm crazy. And the truth is, I am." She poured fresh water into the vase and transferred the new flowers. "Here's this girl who's smart, funny, and amazingly good looking. She's sweet, genuine, brings gifts just for the sake of giving it, and after all of this, she's not pushy or interfering. She's giving me space when I need it, and gladly takes what I give without asking for more." Jade walked back into the living room and stood in front of her dad's picture. "But I'm never going to know if this is what you want for me. Do you want me to get married now to a girl whom I'm madly in love with, or do you think I should wait a bit longer? Do you think Perrie's marriage material, or is it just a right-now kind of relationship and the sparks will eventually turn into smoke? Or do you think we're better off as friends? And what happens if I openly give my heart to her and something happens? I barely survived when I lost you, if something would've happened, I don't think I could ever come back from it." Jade sighed. "So maybe I'm just overthinkig things, as always. I know, I know, my mouth is faster than my brain's capacity to understand, but I don't have you to tell me what to do."

The clock caught her eye and she realized it was 6:09. "Crap!" She gave a quick kiss to the photo and could picture her dad laughing, 'you're leaving your old man to have sex with your girlfriend, aren't you?' he'd say.

"You're the only one who'd never leave me," she turned. "Love you! And never forget it!"

Walking to her closet, she tried to decipher what to wear. Would they get right into it? Or take it slow and have dinner together? "Screw it," she sighed, and grabbed an off-shoulder shirt and some shorts.

Half and half, she thought. She was fully clothed, which was acceptable for dinner, but she would leave Perrie drooling with all the exposed skin.

She let her hair fall loose from her updo, leaving a waterfall wave effect. After applying lip gloss and a citrus body spray, with one last look at the mirror, she was pleased with herself.

She looked at the time. 6:17. She frowned. Didn't they agree on 6:15? Nevermind that, Perrie's coming. Shaking her head, Jade went to the kitchen and looked inside the fridge.

Wine? Check. Beer? Check. Breakfast? Eggs, bacon, orange juice, coffee? Check, check, check, check. At least she didn't quit preparing for an overnight date. Which reminder her. Sprinting back to her bedroom, Jade opened her nightstand. Toys? Check.

When she heard the front door open, she smiled. Taking a deep breath, she walked back to the main room.

When she got there, Perrie was already casually making her way into the kitchen. Opening the Chinese take-out bags, the blonde placed the food around the counter.

Jade could tell she ran up the stairs, seeing how her chest breathe up and down rapidly. But the brunette had to applaud her for keeping her face composed.

Perrie looked up and met her gaze. "Looks like I came on time."

"What's all this?" She asked, taking a seat in front of the blonde. Perrie looked so at home in her house, she noticed.