Heart Trouble by Jae

Author:Jae
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: lesbian fiction
Publisher: Ylva Publishing
Published: 2016-05-20T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16

A few days later, Laleh was curled up on Hope’s couch after having successfully introduced Hope to her favorite postapocalyptic TV show. She glanced over at Hope, who was sprawled over her side of the sofa, her feet up on the middle cushion, lightly brushing Laleh’s, and her hands wrapped around a mug of hot chocolate.

Laleh had noticed that Hope wasn’t normally the type of person who could hang out on the couch for long. Her mind and her body seemed to be in constant motion. But when they were together, Laleh felt a calm spread through Hope, and she couldn’t help wondering if she was having this effect on her. After witnessing her struggle with their emotional connection, Laleh hoped their link could do some good and get her to relax a little.

“What?” Hope asked without looking away from the TV screen, where the closing credits were playing.

“Nothing.”

“I can feel you looking at me. No faking, remember?”

Oh yeah, Laleh remembered that conversation from last week only too well. She’d surprised herself—and obviously Hope too—when she’d asked such a personal question. At least she thought so. She still wasn’t sure how to interpret that interesting mix of emotions that had filtered through their link, but she’d thought about it repeatedly.

“I was just thinking that I like seeing you so relaxed,” she answered.

Hope grinned. The hint of a chocolate mustache on her upper lip made Laleh want to reach out and wipe it away. “Must be my newly decorated condo.”

Laleh glanced around at the splashes of color and soft materials she’d added throughout the apartment. “You know what? There’s still one thing missing.”

“Oh yeah?” Hope flicked off the TV. “What’s that, oh great interior decorator?”

“You”—Laleh pointed at her—“need a Christmas tree. If we move the couch all the way into the corner, it’ll fit over there.”

Hope vehemently shook her head. “I don’t do the tree thing. Ever.”

“Why not?”

“I just don’t like them.”

Laleh nudged Hope’s toes with her own. “Oh, come on. Don’t be such a grinch. Who doesn’t like Christmas trees?”

Hope raised her hand. “Me. They’re impractical. Needles everywhere.”

“But they smell so good, and the lights look so pretty. Putting up a tree makes the season even more special.”

After flopping onto her side, Hope put her head in her hand and regarded Laleh with that intense gaze of hers. Her blue eyes made such a striking contrast to her dark brown hair that Laleh couldn’t help staring back any time Hope looked at her like this.

“Aren’t you a Muslim?” Hope asked. “Why would you be so eager to celebrate the birth of Christ?”

Laleh shrugged and smiled. “I’m Persian. We celebrate anything and everything. Not as a religious holiday, just as a time for family, friends, and good food. Let’s face it, Christmas isn’t about religion for most people anyway.”

“You’ve got me there. So your family always had a tree when you were growing up?”

“I wish. We exchanged gifts, but my father drew the line at getting a tree, no matter how much we begged.

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