Cherish

Casualty Of Love (17)

"Casualty of Love" --  Jessie J

And I will go down to the last round

I'll be your strength to find you when you get lost in the crowd

So I'll, I'll stand up tall, and baby if I fall

Then I'll go down as a casualty of love

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The first being Georgie noticed when she arrived at the beach house was Sasha lounging on the deck on top of a cushiony bone-shaped pillow that was twice the size of her. The puppy looked quite comfortable laying on her side as she alternately enjoyed the view and napped. Walking over to her, Georgie knelt down to greet the adorable pup. The moment she touched Sasha's side, she rolled over to her back, four paws sticking straight up in the air. She wanted her belly rubbed. Chuckling, Georgie gave her just that.

"It has rapidly occurred to me that my daughter is hedonistic." Rich laughter followed the statement.

The blonde glanced over her shoulder. "Could she be taking her mother's lead?" Giving the warm belly a few more pats, she stood, turning just in time to see Jaden's shrug.

"I guess it's possible." Smiling, her eyes fell on the bag in Georgie's hand. "Aw, you didn't have to come bearing gifts." She batted long eyelashes as she pointed toward the bag. "That for me?"

"Yup, but I didn't buy it." She handed the bag to Jaden. "I've brought back the jacket you loaned me Friday night. It's been washed, dried and folded."

Jaden inhaled the jacket's clean smelling scent. "If I closed my eyes, it would be like I was standing in the middle of a field of flowers, the wind gently blowing their fragrance toward my nose. This jacket has never smelled so heavenly."

Her friend softly laughed. "You sure know how to make a girl feel good."

Smiling, Jaden placed her jacket back in the bag. "Though I'm always thrilled to see you, you're a little early for our Sunday surf lesson. Anxious to get started, huh?"

"Actually, I needed to tell you something."

Studying Georgie's face, the singer questioned why she hadn't noticed the red and swollen eyes. Reaching for her hand, she squeezed it. "Honey, what's wrong?" When she didn't answer in a timely fashion, Jaden pulled her inside the house and into the den where they sat on the couch. Quietly following the pair, Sasha took purchase on another bone-shaped pillow she had. However, this one was a different color. She closed her eyes as though she didn't want them to think that she had followed to eavesdrop on their conversation.

Releasing Georgie's hand, Jaden repeated her question. "What did you need to talk about? You realize that you can tell me anything, right?" When Georgie nodded, she softly smiled. "Okay, so whenever you're ready, just let it out." A full minute passed and she had yet to speak. "Would you like a glass of water?"

"Please," Georgie immediately answered, uttering her first word since being on the deck. Water sounded good. It might help relieve her parched throat. "Tap is fine."

"Nope, we don't believe in tap water in this house. Sasha and I only drink bottled water and that's what you'll get."

"See? You're spoiling her just like Bell and her brothers."

"Yeah, yeah." Grinning, Jaden waved a dismissive hand as she left the room. She returned with two bottles of Dasani, giving one of them to her friend. While Jaden took tiny sips of hers, Georgie gulped half the bottle. "Thirsty I see."