Cherish

Bubbly (14)

"Bubbly" -- Colbie Caillat

I've been awake for a while now

You've got me feelin' like a child now

'Cause every time I see your bubbly face

I get the tingles in a silly place...

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Standing with them at the door, Jaden tugged on one of the silky braids. "I know I've mentioned it before, but your hair is so cute, Van. Kind of reminds me of Bo Derek's braids in the movie 10."

Giggling, Vanessa once again thanked her for complimenting Max's work. "This was the best slumber party ever. Thanks for inviting me."

Jaden smiled down at her. "Even if I lured you over here to help me paint a room?"

"Hey, it was for the kids." She winked. "And I had fun doing it."

The six of them had the activity room finished an hour before the deliverymen arrived. Jaden had pretended not to notice her sister's increasing frown as purchase after pricey purchase was carried into the house. Considering how much she bought, Jaden could have opened her very own toy store.

"Do I get a hug before we leave?"

"As if you really need to ask me for one." Jaden spread her arms. "C'mere." While they embraced, Georgie smiled. Her smile broadened when the musician pulled her in for a hug.

"Thank you both for coming. I enjoyed having you." Looking over Georgie's shoulder, she smiled at the woman approaching them. "And you too, Ronnie. You're one heck of an I've Never player. I'm impressed that by the end of the game you'd only lost your bra." Since she didn't have socks or slippers on, Sharon had to reach underneath her nightshirt to pull off her bra when Heather said 'I've never had fantasies about a platonic friend'. In fact, everyone except Heather had to reveal more of themselves and not a single woman found it necessary to name names.

Sharon grinned as she hugged the musician. "Good thing I decided to leave it on."

By the time Jaden returned from walking the three women to Georgie's car, she found her last remaining guest sitting in a patio chair out on the deck, which contained a pool and a Jacuzzi large enough for Dumbo the elephant to relax comfortably in. Two chilled bottles of root beer in her hands, Jaden offered Max one before occupying the chair next to hers.

Twisting the metal cap from her soda, Max took a thoughtful sip of the fizzy beverage. "So..." By the way she pronounced that one word, Jaden suspected that she had an agenda. "I like your friends."

"Glad to hear it," Jaden replied, trying to keep the suspicion out of her voice.

"Georgie's a cutie."

Uh oh. She knew where this was going. "Van and Ronnie aren't going to scare anyone either..." Raising the bottle to her mouth, Jaden barely tasted the liquid rolling over her tongue as she waited for her well-meaning friend's next words.

Chuckling, Max agreed with that. "What are your intentions toward Georgie?"

"Why? Are you thinking about making a move on her? I'm not sure how that fine husband of yours would feel about it."

The African-American woman grinned. "Believe me, if I were a lesbian..."

"Max..."

"Jae..." Setting her root beer on the glass table in front of her, Max studied her. "You've been alone for too long."