Read The Sunshine And Biscotti Club for Free Online

looking at?’ Jessica said in the end, unable to hold it in any longer.
    ‘Nothing. It’s just funny, that’s all.’
    ‘What’s funny.’
    ‘That we’ve been here mere hours and you’ve managed to make your room exactly the same as your office. Like, exactly the same. The books, the scarf, the make-up bag, that hand cream, the way the glass is on the coaster.’
    Jessica looked around and realised he was right. It was pretty much the same as her bedroom at home as well. She hadn’t realised she needed such familiarity and structure around her to feel comfortable. It was as if she had become so self-sufficient it was to the point of robotic. Carrying her life around like a snail. She frowned. ‘Well, that can’t be good, can it?’
    Dex shrugged. ‘I think it’s sweet. A bit anal, but sweet. But that’s what you’re like, isn’t it?’
    Jessica made a face. ‘Don’t say it like it’s a given.’
    Dex looked confused. ‘Well it is, isn’t it?’
    ‘No it’s not. Anal but sweet? That’s not how someone wants to be described.’
    ‘Why not? It’s what you are.’
    ‘It’s not a fact.’
    Dex shrugged. ‘It kind of is.’
    ‘Well, I don’t want it to be.’
    He half grinned. ‘Well do something about it then.’
    Jessica shook her head and, ignoring the challenge in his eyes, went back to her computer.
    They worked again in silence.
    After a couple of minutes she said, ‘Oh, and what’s this about Miles coming? Is Miles coming? Have you invited Miles?’
    Dex smirked, keeping his eyes on the screen. ‘Maybe.’
    She saw the delight on his face reflected in his laptop screen and kicked herself for asking. She looked backat her own without saying anything more, refusing to give him the satisfaction of asking again.
    After a couple more minutes Dex said, ‘It’s fun working next to you. I like it. We should do it more often.’
    ‘No we shouldn’t.’ She shook her head. ‘You breathe too loudly.’
    He snorted a laugh. ‘I do not breathe loudly. I breathe. I have to stay alive.’
    ‘It’s distracting.’
    ‘Remember that whole anal but sweet thing?’ he said.
    Jessica turned to look at him, one brow raised.
    ‘Perfect example.’
    She scoffed.
    ‘I’m just telling it like it is,’ Dex said with a grin, then he leant forward and peeled the film straight off her laptop screen before she could stop him.
    Jessica gasped. Dex laughed, waving the sheet of plastic triumphantly. So she reached over and, grabbing his dad’s credit card from the table next to him, she chopped it up with the scissors from her makeshift pen pot and chucked the four little bits into her waste bin.
    Dex jumped up from his seat and stared down at the bin, his hand on his chest. ‘I can’t believe you just did that.’
    ‘You’re much better without it, Dex.’
    He looked forlornly at the quarters of credit card.
    Jessica patted him on the shoulder. ‘You’re much less vacuous without the money.’
    He glanced up at her, then laughed. ‘It’s all coming out today, isn’t it?’
    ‘Let’s finish this work,’ she said.
    When they’d wrapped it all up and sent it off, Jessica turned to Dex and said, ‘I don’t really think you’re vacuous. You used to be, but you’re not any more. You’re probably the most solid person I know. Like, inside,’ she said, ‘you’re good.’
    He looked at her, surprised.
    She shrugged. ‘I just, you know, thought I should say that.’
    Dex nodded. ‘Thank you, Jessica.’
    ‘You’re welcome,’ she said, closing her laptop. ‘You’re now welcome to say that I’m not anal and sweet. If you wanted.’
    Dex thought about it for a bit, studying her with narrowed eyes. ‘No,’ he said. ‘No, I don’t need to say that.’
    ‘Oh for god’s sake,’ she huffed, bashing him on the arm. ‘Take it back.’
    He laughed. ‘But then I’d be lying.’
    ‘That’s fine.’
    ‘OK, Jessica, you are not anal and sweet.’
    ‘Thank you.’
    ‘You’re welcome,’ he