She placed her hands on top of Lizanne’s. “I’ve been attracted to you since before I met you,” Rose said. “It’s embarrassing and Quinn will never let me hear the end of it, but it’s true.” She looked at her. “And I’ve been falling for you since the wedding. Since you went down on the ground for Daisy without a second thought. The attraction was true before then, but the falling for you emotionally started then.”
Lizanne just looked at her, her long lashes blinking.
“I know it’s crazy,” Rose said. “But it’s how I feel. I want this.” She wasn’t sure if it was the sudden reminder of the crappy life she’d lived with Jeremy, or something else but in that moment she knew she had to be honest. Totally honest. “I’m falling in love. No. I am in love with you. I adore you. I…love you, Lizanne.”
“Oh, Rose…” Lizanne leaned forward and placed a kiss on her lips.
Rose kissed her back. It was quieter than the wedding night, quieter than the sunroom. It felt different. But right. When they parted, Lizanne continued to hold on to her hand.
“I was thinking we could have a real day after that. Just the three of us. No cameras. I overheard Daisy talking about wanting to see the sanctuary in Malibu, the one with the rescue animals.”
The fact that Lizanne had paid enough attention to know this melted Rose’s heart.
“She’ll talk about it for a month if we take her there.”
“Good. I want to know her better. I want to…The day she said her friend and two dads and so she should have twomoms….” Lizanne looked out at the garden. “I didn’t realize how much I wanted this until then.”
“I wasn’t sure how to talk to you about that,” Rose admitted, because that little outburst had been on her mind as well. “I’m glad it’s out now. It’s what I want too. But we need to go slow with her. She’s six. We don’t put the weight of this on her yet.”
“Slowly,” Lizanne agreed.
Then, she grinned. “Speaking of slowly, am I insane or is there something brewing with Kayla and Quinn?”
Rose rolled her eyes. “I caught them making out twice already. Yes… They are definitely hooking up and maybe more. At this rate, we’ll need to rename the showFrom Wedding Planner to Bride featuring From Assistant and Unemployed Actor to Power Couple.”
“That’s a mouthful. I don’t think they’ll go for that.”
Rose laughed. “Probably not.”
“Also, I love how everyone is mentioned in the title but me.”
“You mean, the actual star.”
Lizanne poked her tongue out. “I mean…I am the only one with an Emmy Award.”
The two stood in the kitchen hand in hand, and laughed and the card with the elephant slipped from Rose’s mind once and for all.
***
By nine the guests were gone. The terrace was clean, the food was put away, and Daisy was in bed with Biscuit and the new bear she’d named Professor. After saying goodnight to Quinn, who was texting with Kayla.
“I’m…”
“Heading over for a booty call. Got it.”
She threw a pillow at him from the recliner. “I’m not the only one.”
“Oh, Kayla and I are more than a booty call. As are you and Miss Movie Star. Speaking of which, I’m taking Kayla to the beach tomorrow. You’re ok with Daisy?”
“We’re taking her to the sanctuary to see the animals.”
“Aww a family outing. How sweet.”
Rose rolled her eyes. If she’d had another pillow she’d have thrown it, but as it was, she had to content herself with the prospect of seeing Lizanne. All of Lizanne.
Except…Her head throbbed and the unpleasant tickle in the back of her throat announced the onset of something unpleasant. Something that would definitely prevent the kind of activity she and Lizanne had in mind.
Lizanne sat on the edge of the bed. She looked up when Rose came in, and Rose walked over to kiss her. However, Rose pushed her backward just as a horrific sneeze escaped her.
