#sbl03w20

Jennifer: So... no more pushing me away?

Delilah: No. That’s not what I want. But Jennifer my job-

Jennifer: We don’t have to tell anyone in the house! Not if you don't want to. They don’t need to know about us, especially when we’re not really sure what us would even be

Delilah: You really think you can lie to your family?

Jennifer: I am the black sheep of my family. At this point in life they don’t often ask what’s happening in mine. We’ll be keeping us private more than secret. I’ve made sure not to call you princess when you’re on duty right? You can trust me not to ruin your life. I want you to be able to make that dream dessert that makes the weight of the world go away

It was that. That point where she proved she had been listening to me, remembering me, that’s why I took the risk to trust her. I prayed it would be the right one.

Delilah: Alright. We can try

She smiled at me and I felt like I could fly. It made me smile to.

My first date with Jennifer had been nice. We went to the food stalls in the park, and then wound up sitting on a bench chatting.

Jennifer: You’re really not mad that I have my gym clothes on?

I didn’t mind at all. She still looked hotter than hell. The clothes hugged her curves wonderfully. Several men we passed ogled her but she seemed not to notice. I guessed she was probably used to people falling at her feet.

Delilah: I’m not mad

Jennifer: Well Delilah... you look worried about something

Delilah: *sighs* It’s just me being silly

Jennifer: Hey, I thought I told you, you’re not a joke to me. What are you so worried about? Please, tell me

Delilah: I’m worried about what people might say if they find out about us

Jennifer: I thought you said you told your mama we had a date today?

Delilah: I did. I don’t worry about my family. I guess... I guess I worry about yours. Your mother is scary and Brandon...

Jennifer: He made a pass at you, didn’t he?

Delilah: After the interview as like some kind of test. I mean he took it back and hasn’t done anything inappropriate since but... he still tells me not to let my guard down around you

CW: Death mention

Jennifer: Can I touch your face for a bit?

Delilah: Huh? Yes, why?

Jennifer: *smiles* I remember you’re sensitive about touch

She pulled my chin up until my eyes were looking directly at hers. Normally I found eye contact a bit uncomfortable but with her... I couldn’t make myself look away.

Jennifer: You need to stop caring about what others think, decide for yourself. At the end of the day, you are the one who has to live with your decisions. My mother, my brother, they can say what they want but they aren’t you. Here, now, what do you think about us?

I didn’t dare tell her what I thought. How I’d already had daydreams about what I wanted her to do with me. What I wanted her to tell me to do. But she must have seen it all in my eyes. She smiled and ran her thumb over my lips making me shiver.

Jennifer: Ask me if you can, or I won’t

Delilah: *shakily* Can... can I kiss you?

Jennifer: *tuts* Manners. Ask me again, better

Delilah: *sighs* Please, Jennifer, can I kiss you?

The words were hardly out of my mouth before her lips were on mine, stealing my breath and my heart away.

Jennifer walked into her mother’s office feeling like she was on cloud nine. Delilah liked her back! Part of her had worried that it was impossible. She had checked at the fundraiser that Delilah was single but that didn’t mean she was guaranteed to be interested in her.

Katlyn: Did you hear what I said?

Jennifer: Hmm? No I wasn’t listening. But rarely for me it wasn’t deliberate

Katlyn: *sighs* You look like a slut. Not enough to show your knees in the workplace but half your thighs to? How do you expect to do business in that outfit?

Jennifer: Firstly, it’s like a thousand degrees outside. I am dressed for the weather. Secondly, am I or am I not the one who is overseeing the escorts? Why not dress like their mascot?

That earned Jennifer a snarl but she smiled. If she had to suffer her mother’s venom then her mother would suffer hers. She had no qualms about offending someone as immoral as Katlyn.

Katlyn: Jennifer, you are my daughter, you are not a prostitute

Jennifer: Huh, I hadn’t realised those were mutually exclusive. That must be a new development

Art: Can I help you into the lounge? Now you’re all old and grey

Layla: *laughs* Shut up

Art: So you don’t want a ride on the chair today?

Layla laughed and sat down in Art’s lap.

Layla: Oh, I think you want a ride today by what I can feel

Art: I want you feeling comfortable with your age

Layla: Well menopause was a bitch, but somehow you’re still attracted to me so I guess I have to accept my role as woohoo goddess

Art: You do

Layla: *sighs* You don’t mind me being grey? Are you sure?

Art: Yes. It’s you, natural and beautiful, the woman of my dreams in my arms

So yeah Gran was an elder now but you wouldn’t know it from the way she and Gramp flirted with each other when they thought we couldn’t hear them. When Dylan told me her theory on why they got rabbit tattoos I just about died.

Yawning, I climbed into bed. My thoughts naturally drifted. I had been trying to keep my distance from Jennifer but it was hard. So, so hard. Every time she walked into a room I caught my breath as her smile disarmed me. But Nguyen was right, I needed to stay in the good graces of her mother and brother. Luckily she seemed to have been busy with work, and Nguyen served the meals to the family, so I hadn’t had a proper conversation with her since Bunny Day anyway.

Sighing, I closed my eyes and listened to the sounds around me. The rain was still falling but I could also hear Isaac’s slow breathing. On top of that I could hear the hum of the equipment for Reginald’s tank. The sounds created their own symphony that lulled me back to sleep.

CW: Death mention