Bella leaned over to look at them in the back seat. “Oh, that’s too bad, so sad for them,” and gave them each a wicked grin and a fist bump.
Jack saw the whole thing from the rearview mirror and grinned.I’ve got rizz. Whatever the hell that is.
After the movie, they went out to eat at Jack’s favorite Chinese restaurant. After being seated, the waiter came over to take their drink orders, and Bella decided to try their Ginger Pear Martini, while Jack stuck to water since he was driving. Placing their orders - Kung Pao Chicken for both Jack and Bella - while Piper had Crispy Honey Chicken and Sloane went with Orange Chicken - they settled in to talk more about the dance, and the film they’d just seen.
After a few minutes, a woman approached the table. Jack prepared for what would come next - it was par for the course being an astronaut in Houston - he was recognized a lot, with people asking for photos and thanking him for his service. Turning towards the woman, he turned with his most patient smile.
“Excuse me. I’m so sorry to interrupt, are you by any chance the woman behind Bella Pelle? You look just like her.”
Woah - I wasn’t expecting that, he thought.
“Yes, I am, my name is Isabella Genovese, it’s nice to meet you,” said Bella, extending a hand to the woman.
“I thought so, I hate to bother you while you’re at dinner with your family, but I just had to tell you how much I love your products - they've genuinely changed my skin. I tell everyone at my country club they have to try them."
“Oh, that is so sweet, thank you so much. If you have a card or want to give me your address
so I can have some of our upcoming products sent out to you, so you get a sneak peek before anyone else.”
“Oh, that would be wonderful, thank you so much. Here is my card, I appreciate that so much. Well, I will let you get back to your family. Thank you again,” the woman said as she left to return to her own table.
The moment the woman was out of earshot both girls dissolved into the laughter they'd been desperately holding in.
“Ha Ha Ha - Dad thought she was coming over to see HIM, you should have seen your face when she recognized Bella and not you,” Piper said.
“It was pretty funny, Jack,” said Bella.
“I’m being ganged up on over here - Sloane, help your dad out.”
“Ha Ha no way, that was hilarious.”
They laughed for a few more minutes, and when the food arrived they all quieted down to eat. Bella felt a gentle squeeze on her knee and looked over to see Jack give her a wink.This has been a great day, she thought.
Sunday morning they went out to breakfast before Bella left to go back to Dallas.
“Jack - are those new shoes?” Bella asked, with raised brows and a hint of a smile.
“Yeah, he made us go shopping with him for shoes. It was nowhere near the fun we had shopping with you, Bella. Men’s shoes are so mid,” Sloane said.
“Well, those are nice shoes - I like them. Are they Adidas Japan shoes?” Bella asked.
“Jeez Bella - is there a pair of shoes youdon’tknow?” Jack said, laughing.
“What are you doing for Thanksgiving Bella?” asked Piper.
“I’m flying up to Boston, to spend a few days with my oldest daughter, Angela. She attends Smith College, and it isn’t too far from there. My youngest is in school in London, so it’s too long a trip for her but she will be home for Christmas, and we will see her then.”
“Oh wow, London! Does she like it? Does she have a British accent?”
“She is getting one. We moved there when she was eight, so she’s been there long enough to have picked one up.”
“Do you have any pictures of them on your phone? Can we see?” Sloane asked, wanting to be a part of the conversation.
Bella pulled her phone out and scrolled through the many photos of the girls.
“Oh, they are so pretty! Is that Primrose? She is a cute dog too, but not as cute as Daisy.”
“Piper - that’s not nice.”
