better days, before her heart programmed to serially kill relationships prevailed again.
It has been three years since those three years, was the last thought drifting through Nat’s mind before she dozed off. Maybe it was time to get her act together.
* * *
The next day, while crafting an elaborate email to Sophie in which she raved about Isabella—an easier task than expected—Alex stormed in.
“You’re up early. Date with the muse?” She joked. She had that satiated look about her only young lovers display during the first months of courtship.
“You know me too well, Pizza.” Nat flipped the lid of her laptop down. “Actually, I’m working on a master plan plotting the happiness of one Miss Isabella Douglas.”
“Really?” Alex settled on a chair opposite from Nat. “Are you making arrangements to offer yourself to her on a silver platter?”
“Nice try.” Nat pouted her lips. “But we both know I’m in no state to fit into anyone’s plans during their pursuit of happiness.”
“You’d be surprised.” Nat noticed scratches—old and fresh ones—on Alex’s shoulder. “And don’t sell yourself short like that.”
“I’m arranging a blind date with her and Sophie from my book club.”
Alex raised her eyebrows and wolf-whistled. “You’re setting yourself up with some stiff competition there. Sophie’s gorgeous.”
“That’s the whole point. And let’s leave me out of the equation, please. I know you and Maddie are desperate to go on double dates with us once the novelty of your affair wears off, but it’s never going to happen. I like her, just not in that way.”
“Whatever you say, Orange. But remember, I know you too well.” Alex shoved her chair back and rose. “Want to grab some lunch?”
“Not today. I’ll be living a more indoor lifestyle for the next two weeks.” Nat opened the lid of her laptop again, the email to Sophie brightly flickering on the screen.
“What the hell is going on here?” Alex planted both her hands on the wooden table top. “What have I missed?” She fixed her eyes on Nat.
“I made a deal with Isabella last night.” Nat hesitated a split second too long and Alex jumped in.
“Last night? When? I thought you went out?”
“I ended up having a late night conversation with Isabella and we agreed that I could organise a date with Sophie if I refrained from picking up girls for two weeks.”
Alex sank back down into her chair. “This is a historic moment, Orange.” Alex reached across the table and grabbed Nat’s arms. “It took her one conversation to get you to do what I’ve been trying to accomplish for months.”
“Apparently you don’t seem to have the same powers of persuasion.” Nat shook Alex’s hands off her. “And don’t go making more out of it than it is. I’d like to keep Isabella as a friend.”
Alex held her hands up in defence. “You have my word, roomie, I swear. If Isabella’s friendship has this effect on you, who am I to question something so powerful?” Alex’s eyes glowed, maybe with hope or compassion, but most probably satisfaction.
“If you will excuse me, Pizza. I have a blind date to arrange.”
ISABELLA
When it came to picking other people’s dates, Nat had impeccable taste. The woman sitting across from Isabella at Le Petit Duc, another brand new French restaurant catering to the ever-growing French population of Hong Kong, was a real stunner. Milk chocolate skin stretching tautly around almond-shaped eyes. An Irish accent to die for, curls for days and not half bad at conversation either.
“This city is not exactly littered with eligible bachelorettes of our persuasion,” Sophie said, before taking another sip of the Bordeaux Isabella had chosen.
“About that.” Isabella cleared her throat before continuing. “I don’t know what Nat has told you about me but I may not be the full-time lesbian you take me for.”
Sophie smoothed the napkin in her lap before speaking. “She
It has been three years since those three years, was the last thought drifting through Nat’s mind before she dozed off. Maybe it was time to get her act together.
* * *
The next day, while crafting an elaborate email to Sophie in which she raved about Isabella—an easier task than expected—Alex stormed in.
“You’re up early. Date with the muse?” She joked. She had that satiated look about her only young lovers display during the first months of courtship.
“You know me too well, Pizza.” Nat flipped the lid of her laptop down. “Actually, I’m working on a master plan plotting the happiness of one Miss Isabella Douglas.”
“Really?” Alex settled on a chair opposite from Nat. “Are you making arrangements to offer yourself to her on a silver platter?”
“Nice try.” Nat pouted her lips. “But we both know I’m in no state to fit into anyone’s plans during their pursuit of happiness.”
“You’d be surprised.” Nat noticed scratches—old and fresh ones—on Alex’s shoulder. “And don’t sell yourself short like that.”
“I’m arranging a blind date with her and Sophie from my book club.”
Alex raised her eyebrows and wolf-whistled. “You’re setting yourself up with some stiff competition there. Sophie’s gorgeous.”
“That’s the whole point. And let’s leave me out of the equation, please. I know you and Maddie are desperate to go on double dates with us once the novelty of your affair wears off, but it’s never going to happen. I like her, just not in that way.”
“Whatever you say, Orange. But remember, I know you too well.” Alex shoved her chair back and rose. “Want to grab some lunch?”
“Not today. I’ll be living a more indoor lifestyle for the next two weeks.” Nat opened the lid of her laptop again, the email to Sophie brightly flickering on the screen.
“What the hell is going on here?” Alex planted both her hands on the wooden table top. “What have I missed?” She fixed her eyes on Nat.
“I made a deal with Isabella last night.” Nat hesitated a split second too long and Alex jumped in.
“Last night? When? I thought you went out?”
“I ended up having a late night conversation with Isabella and we agreed that I could organise a date with Sophie if I refrained from picking up girls for two weeks.”
Alex sank back down into her chair. “This is a historic moment, Orange.” Alex reached across the table and grabbed Nat’s arms. “It took her one conversation to get you to do what I’ve been trying to accomplish for months.”
“Apparently you don’t seem to have the same powers of persuasion.” Nat shook Alex’s hands off her. “And don’t go making more out of it than it is. I’d like to keep Isabella as a friend.”
Alex held her hands up in defence. “You have my word, roomie, I swear. If Isabella’s friendship has this effect on you, who am I to question something so powerful?” Alex’s eyes glowed, maybe with hope or compassion, but most probably satisfaction.
“If you will excuse me, Pizza. I have a blind date to arrange.”
ISABELLA
When it came to picking other people’s dates, Nat had impeccable taste. The woman sitting across from Isabella at Le Petit Duc, another brand new French restaurant catering to the ever-growing French population of Hong Kong, was a real stunner. Milk chocolate skin stretching tautly around almond-shaped eyes. An Irish accent to die for, curls for days and not half bad at conversation either.
“This city is not exactly littered with eligible bachelorettes of our persuasion,” Sophie said, before taking another sip of the Bordeaux Isabella had chosen.
“About that.” Isabella cleared her throat before continuing. “I don’t know what Nat has told you about me but I may not be the full-time lesbian you take me for.”
Sophie smoothed the napkin in her lap before speaking. “She
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