After a few seconds, Jade resumed, “Yeah, I did get to the path, entering it through West 55^th , by Pier 95…”

“And you’re now in …”

“Just jogged past Pier 40 …”

“Wow! That seems far! You started on 57^th and Broadway, right? From Fabienne’s condo?”

“Uh huh. Maybe 3, 3 and half miles …” Jade answered, breathing easily.

“What?!  And you’re jogging back?” Rian asked in an incredulous voice.

“I’ll take my time, babe … and I still feel good, so I may just make it a roundtrip right after I cross into the financial district. Or I may grab some breakfast first, and then shower in the gym of a hotel near Battery Park that Fabienne said I could use, if I got as far as Battery Park, and then …” Jade answered confidently.

“Oooohhh, the girl’s extending privileges to you already, huh?” Rian teased.

Jade felt her cheeks begin to heat up, and not from the exercise, either.

“What’s the matter? I’m right, aren’t I? And you’re blushing?” Rian added. Teasing her about this feels odd, I gotta say. Alright, I did say I was happy for her when she told me excitedly about meeting this Fabienne chick. But that was because she’d seemed out of sorts for a couple of months after she and Ali had broken up.

Jade blew a breath out.

“We’re not as serious as you think,” she said slowly.

“Serious enough for you to drive down to New York to spend Thanksgiving with her and her family, though,” Rian retorted.

“But that’s because my brother was having his in-laws over, and they’re basically as numerous as a small town,” Jade answered. “Seriously, he himself lost count after 20 ….”

“Just teasing, honey,” Rian said softly.

Jade’s heart lurched again. Honey. Baby. Sexy. Sometimes, she uses these names unconsciously. And I just can’t help but …

“All the same,” Rian added, “it’s a good sign that she feels comfortable enough with you to have you join their family celebrations …”

Okay, let’s be honest. I don’t like it, but, it does seem that Jade and this girl are getting serious.

Fuck.

“Hardly family celebrations in the classic Americana sort. They’re basically French, after all,” Jade answered, with a light laugh. “Besides, her dad has those restaurants and hotels, like the one in Battery Park, so it’s a really busy time for their family…”