Jennie
Lisa goes on her annual Thanksgiving weekend trip with Rafa and Nico to her Lake Bellis cabin, leaving me alone to process how it feels to be without her. After seeing Lisa almost every day, I feel her absence already during the first day—a shocking development to say the least.
My mom, Ellie, and I binge the latest season of our favorite telenovela together, which keeps my mind occupied for a day or two, but it never fixes the empty feeling plaguing me since Lisa left for the cabin.
Because she fills a void that nothing else can.
A terrifying realization after everything I've been through over the last year.
You knew something like this could happen.
Yeah, well, knowing and experiencing are two very different things.
Despite my fear of getting hurt, my feelings are becoming difficult to ignore, especially now that I know how she feels.
I'm falling in love with you.
I've replayed the memory a hundred different times this weekend, expecting the buzz to go away, yet it remains throughout the weekend and well into Monday.
My heart slams against my rib cage when Lisa walks into the Founder's house kitchen with a paper bag I instantly recognize.
I ditch the tile samples and run up to her to confirm the name stamped on the side of the bag.
"No freaking way!" I squeal as she passes me a takeout bag from Aomi. "I thought they didn't offer takeout?"
"They don't."
"Then, how?"
"They make exceptions."
"For a price?"
She nods, and I laugh at the insanity of it all.
I place the bag on the counter and rip it open.
"I ordered a few different rolls since I didn't know which one you liked most."
"Are you kidding? I'd eat anything from there." I reach inside and pull out the first container with a sigh. "How is this possible? They're in New York."
Aomi is the most luxurious and expensive sushi restaurant in the U.S., with most meals costing over a thousand dollars per head since they import fresh seafood directly from Japan. I only went once at my television network's expense and never returned because I couldn't justify the price or trip.
She avoids my gaze. "I hired a guy to pick it up."
"With what? A private jet?" I laugh off the idea.
Her lips form a thin, white line.
My eyes widen. "Oh my God. Tell me you didn't."
Her silence says enough.
"That's terrible for the environment."
"Are you going to make me promise to never do it again?"
"Hell no. Next time, we'll have to go together to make it worth the carbon footprint."
She shakes her head. "You never cease to surprise me."
"That's why you like me. Challenge, remember?"
She kisses my forehead before stepping away. "Enjoy your lunch."
The excitement I felt about eating seven-hundred-dollar sushi rolls disappears as Lisa walks toward the door.
"I haven't seen you all weekend," I say to her back.
She turns. "Did you miss me?"
I bite down on my tongue.
"You did." She smirks.
"Shut up," I snap.
"When you're ready to admit you couldn't stand being away from me for four days, come find me." Her eyes glitter as she moves toward the archway.
"Wait!"
She pauses. "Yes?"
"Fine. I missed you. A lot."
"Me too. I considered ditching Nico and Rafa on the second day."
"And that right there is why I'm the favorite godparent." I stick out my tongue.
She spares me an icy glare. "It was for their safety more than anything. I nearly poked Nico's eye out while making s'mores because I was busy daydreaming about the other night with you."
My cheeks flush.
She nods toward my container. "Hope the food is as good as you remember. I'll stop by later and check on you once I'm done with the molding in the dining room."
"Will you join me?" After spending a whole weekend without her, I want a little more than three minutes of her time.
"I was hoping you'd ask." She winks. My whole world stops spinning for a second before I gather my bearings again.
"The house is coming along." She stands on the opposite side of the island.
I glance around the half-finished kitchen, taking in the grand, warm oak cabinets Ryder and his team hung last week.
"I like the color of the island." Lisa glances over at the deep blue wood paint. "And the waterfall counter adds a nice touch."
"What about the pendant lights?" I tilt my head toward the lampshades hanging above the off-white quartz counters.
"Fits the blend of modern and Victorian you're going for, although I like the vintage light above the sink most."
"Me too. I found it at Another Man's Treasure and knew we needed it."
She steps away from the counter and checks out a few paint swatches. "I like this one." She points at my least favorite one.
I must make a face because she asks, "No?"
"Too dark, especially if we're trying to balance out the island."
"Good point."
Lisa and I spend the rest of our lunch break discussing other parts of the house while stealing pieces of sushi from each other's containers. Compared to Kai's go-to you got this, babe reply and general apathy toward my design process, Lisa not only seems interested but also gives opinions. We have become a team.
At one point, she smacks my chopsticks away with her own before lifting the piece to my mouth herself. Goose bumps spread across my skin as she feeds me, turning a casual lunch into our own version of foreplay.
I love the little ways she shows she cares, like giving me the last piece from her favorite sushi roll or only stealing a single bite of dessert before handing it over, although I know we both suffer from the same unfortunate sweet tooth.
As a thank-you for today's meal, I lift the spoon and feed her the last bit of dessert. Her eyes darken as she steals a kiss, flooding my mouth with the taste of peaches.
I tug her closer, not wanting to let her go.
"People are working upstairs." She pulls me to her.
I reach for her shirt. "We can be quiet."
"You just don't want me to go."
Not at all. The more time I spend around Lisa, the less time I want to spend apart, and that kind of reliance on someone else is what scares me most.
After Lisa went out of her way to bring me sushi from Aomi earlier, I almost feel bad about the prank Ellie and I have planned.
It only took me finding one of the crew members laughing at my video for me to remember today's mission. Ellie assured me the plan is still on, so I need to get Lisa into position and let the rest fall into place.
The flaps of the tent slap together after I walk inside. "Oh, good. You're still here."
Lisa looks up from the half-carved wooden post. "Yeah. Why?"
I walk around the makeshift woodshop. Based on the number of balusters stacked in neat columns beside her, I doubt Lisa has taken much of a break since she arrived at noon.
"I was wondering if you had plans tonight."
"We both know I don't." She wipes her damp brow, spreading sawdust across her forehead.
I walk up to her and wipe it away. "Do you want to get out of here? I'm hungry."
She leans into my touch. "Sure."
"I was thinking we could grab something to eat on the way back to your place."
Her brows jump. "Where are you thinking?"
"Nothing too fancy."
"That's a relief, seeing as the upscale restaurant options in town are probably closed for the night."
"Maybe another time." I wink.
"What about Early Bird?"
"That's perfect."
Lisa holds the tent flap back for me, turning my stomach into a ball of knots.
It's not too late to cancel everything.
I give my head a hard shake. There is no way in hell I'm skipping out on the opportunity to pull the ultimate prank, especially after what she did to me in the attic.
"Should we go in two cars or one?" I bat my lashes.
Her thick swallow nearly makes me drop my cover. "You could drop yours off at your house, and I'll drive us to the diner."
"Sounds good to me."
I pull out my phone and shoot Ellie a text.
ME: Plan is a go.
My phone vibrates from an incoming call from my agent before we make it out the front door.
"Give me a second," I tell Lisa before answering. "Hey, Jamie."
"Jennie! How are you?"
"Good. And you?"
"Doing well. I know it's late, but I couldn't wait until tomorrow to call you."
My heart rate increases with each beat. "What's up?"
"We got a new offer."
"Really?"
Lisa's face strains as she tries to listen, so I put Jamie on speakerphone to save her the trouble. "An offer from who?"
"Archer Media."
"No way." The Creswells always complained about their growing web of networks and record-breaking viewer numbers.
Lisa pulls out her phone and taps away while I process Jamie's news. Until I have a contract in my hand, I probably won't believe Archer Media wants to work with me, especially after being burned once before.
She laughs. "They're in the market for a show like yours for their fixer-upper network."
"Wow."
"And the best part? They're willing to pay you double what you made with your last contract."
My lips part.
"I can get started on discussing logistics with filming in San Francisco. They seem eager to get started as soon as possible."
Lisa gives me her back, either out of privacy or to shield her disappointment. My excitement dies with every rise and fall of her shoulders.
"If you're interested, we can schedule a meeting with them to discuss everything."
I shake my head to clear my thoughts. "Yes. Of course I'm interested."
Then why do you sound less than enthusiastic about the offer?
Probably because while renovating the Founder's house, I fell in love with the one who bought it.
Are you considering giving up a television opportunity like this for Lisa?
Yes? No? Probably, although I hate admitting it. As much as I love connecting with families and helping make their dream homes come true one television episode at a time, I also love working with Lisa and her team. Just like I love being back at Lake Chrysanthemum with my family.
San Francisco has been my home since I started at Stanford, but Lake Chrysanthemum has my heart…and Lisa along with it.
But after spending years of my life catering to someone else's needs, I'm afraid of repeating the same mistake.
Jamie rattles on. "Things are going to move pretty fast because Archer wants to start interviewing potential homeowners after Christmas."
"Huh?" I shake my head. "That's in a month."
"I know. It's a lot to take in, but they're so excited about collaborating with you."
"Great." I try my hardest to muster up a cheery voice.
"They want to meet with us as soon as possible."
"I'm pretty flexible, so I can meet as early as next week."
"Perfect. My assistant can reach out once I nail down a date."
"Sounds like a plan. Thanks, Jamie."
She hangs up, and I turn toward Lisa. She is quick to school her features, but it doesn't stop me from sensing the weird energy brewing between us.
"Lisa."
"Congratulations," she says with a tight smile. "I knew it would be only a matter of time before you'd get another offer."
Oh God. She's already starting to pull away. "But—"
She silences me with a kiss. This one is fueled by a new kind of desperation that has my toes curling and my chest tightening all at the same time.
I'm hit with a wave of different emotions. Happiness. Sadness. Fear and uncertainty.
I might not have it all figured out, but I do know one thing: Ellie was right. My biggest issue isn't that I don't trust Lisa, but that I don't trust myself.