Jennie

I smile at my phone, feeling strangely giddy, and Dad frowns at me. "What has you smiling like that?" he asks, startling me. My cheeks heat up and I lock my phone screen instantly. Lisa has been texting me all morning, and it's got me feeling like a teenager all over again.

"Oh, it's nothing," I tell him. "I saw a funny meme online just now."

Dad looks at me as though he doesn't believe me, and then he shakes his head. "Meme. Such a stupid name," he mutters, and I burst out laughing.

"I have no idea why it's called that either, to be honest," I murmur, getting back to the research I was doing. Lisa lets me work from home most days so I can spend my time with Dad, but today I kind of wish I'd gone into the office. I miss her. Last night was perfect, and I want more of those nights. I want more of this happiness that I thought I'd never experience again. I want to make the most of the time we've got together. My phone buzzes and I smile before I even unlock my phone.

Devil: You and me. dinner. tonight. I need some quality time with you.

I love that she still has the same phone number, even after all these years. Hers is the only phone number I know by heart. Hers, and my own.

Jennie: What about Dad? We always have dinner with him.

Devil: Enzo will look after him. Don't you worry. That's what we have so much staff for, after all.

Jennie: I know that… I meant, what will we tell him?

Devil: Tell him I'm taking you out for dinner. How about 7?

I roll my eyes and sigh.

Jennie: I'll tell him we have a meeting or something.

Lisa doesn't reply for a minute, and I'm suddenly worried that she doesn't like me not being honest about us to dad, but how could we? We both know this is temporary.

Devil: See you tonight, baby. Shall I pick you up at home or do you want to drive down to the tapas place?

I smile to myself, my heart fluttering. When is the last time I was this excited to go on a date? I can't even remember.

Jennie: I'll drive down. See you later x

I look up to find Dad looking at me, a smile on his face. "Another meme?" he asks, and I nod awkwardly.

I glance at the clock and bite down on my lip. Dinner is in two hours or so, and I still need to get ready. Dad and I have gotten into a routine of sorts. He'll sit with me as I work during the day, taking breaks to do his personal training and whatever other errands he decides to do that day. We make sure to have lunch together, and then I sit with him and work on my laptop as he undergoes his dialysis. After that we wait for Lisa to come home so we can have dinner together. We rarely deviate from our schedule, so I wonder what he'll think of having dinner by himself for once.

"Um, I just got an email about a meeting I have to attend later," I say awkwardly, avoiding his inquisitive gaze.

Dad is quiet for a while, and then he smiles. "I see. Well, you can't go in that, can you?" he says, pointing at the pajamas I'm wearing. Since I work from home, I spend most of my days wearing one of Lisa's t-shirts with a pair of leggings. I glance down at my outfit and blush. "Um, yes, I'd better get ready," I murmur, my heart racing. I'm certain Dad can see straight through me, but I'm glad he isn't calling me on it.

I'm nervous as I get ready, wanting to impress Lisa, but not wanting to overdo it either. I end up deciding on a tight black dress that looks great without making me look overdressed. I pair it with heels I know Lisa will love and put on some red lipstick. I twirl around in front of the mirror, my heart racing. I wonder what she'll think when she sees me.

I walk down the stairs, and Dad smiles at me when he sees me. "You look beautiful, Princess," he tells me.

I blush and kiss his cheek. "Love you, Dad," I murmur, and he smiles, looking just a touch emotional. He waves me off and I glance back at him as I walk out the door.

I'm ridiculously nervous as I drive to the tapas place. It's been years since Lisa and I went on a date, and I have no idea what it might be like.

She's leaning against her car when I arrive, her face tipped up at the sky, and I pause by my car as I take her in. This woman owns my entire heart. Just looking at her makes me feel so intensely happy. Words can't even explain how she makes me feel, how she's always made me feel.

Lisa turns to look at me, as though she could feel my gaze on her skin, and her eyes widen. I grin as she checks me out, and my hips sway just a little more as I walk up to her. She meets me halfway and buries her hand in my hair, pulling me close impatiently. Her lips come crashing down on mine hungrily, and I lose myself in her. I don't pull away until I hear someone whistle near us, and Lisa drops her forehead to mine.

"You look far too beautiful tonight, Jennie," she whispers. "I'm so tempted to skip dinner and go straight for dessert," she says as her lips trail down my neck. I giggle and take a step away, my hand entwining with her.

"Later," I promise her. There's no way I'll be able to stay away either, not when she looks this hot. My eyes roam over the suit she's wearing, and Lisa grins smugly when she catches me ogling her.

She tightens her grip on my hand and raises our joined hands to her lips. She kisses the back of my hand gently before leading me to the tapas place that's been here for pretty much ever.

Mrs. Henderson, the owner, lights up when she sees us walk in together. She raises her hand to her heart and smiles widely. "My goodness, Jennie Kim and Lisa Manoban," she murmurs. She opens her arms, and I hug her tightly. I spent some summers working here for her, and Lisa would always come in to annoy me. Even then, Mrs. Henderson was convinced that she liked me, and she'd tease me about it endlessly. She hugs me back and pulls away to look at me, her eyes moving between Lisa and me. "You're finally back, sweetheart," she says, and I nod. It's little things like these that make me feel so at home here, in a way I never did in London. It isn't just the memories either. Mrs. Henderson looks up at Lisa, and she smiles so motherly, so adoringly, that my heart fills with tenderness. She's giddy as she leads us to a table. Rather than asking us for our order, she insists on surprising us, and Lisa winks at me as she walks away.

"I didn't think it'd be possible, but she's more excited to see you than I am," Lisa says, laughing. She grabs my hand and lifts it to her lips, and my heart skips a beat.

"Do you know what this reminds me of a little?" I ask, a thousand memories with Lisa flitting through my mind.

She grins and presses another kiss to my hand. "La Familia," she murmurs, and I look up at her in surprise. How does she always know what I'm thinking?

"Yes, La Familia," I murmur, thinking back to the restaurant we used to frequent back in college. "I'd love to go back there one day, you know? I wonder if Lita will even remember us."

Lisa looks away and sighs, her smile melting away. For a second she looks hurt, as though she too is thinking of everything we've missed out on.

"We'll go," I tell her. "We'll go together. Maybe we can do a little weekend break."

Lisa smiles, and relief rushes through me. I don't want tonight to be tainted by memories and regrets. I just want us to be happy.