- Jason -For the next two months or so, Joelle and I spoke without fail every single day, and her calls became the most cherished moments of my day. Each conversation only fueled my anticipation for her return, as the past year without her had felt like an agonizing journey through hell. Uncertain of how she would react, this time I was determined to express my true feelings to her. Deep down, I knew she reciprocated those emotions; even Kevin had mentioned it. However, whether she would openly acknowledge them remained uncertain. Nevertheless, I felt compelled to take the chance. As the days drew closer, I found myself anxiously counting down to the moment we would reunite. Soon soon, I thought. One more month and I’d be seeing her again. However, the wait seemed unbearable, and I soon realized that one more month apart was simply too long. Fueled by this realization, I impulsively logged onto the internet and booked a flight to Norway for the following week, keeping my plans a sec

- Joelle -Bzzz Bzz… My phone buzzed. “I’m downstairs. Take your time,” he told me. I smiled. He really had no clue I was behind him. My hormones were telling me to flirt, my ego was telling me to stay composed. My hormones won. “I know, I’ve been ogling your back for the last five minutes or so,” I texted back. Holy cow! I thought as soon as I hit the send button. He turned around, looked in my direction and smiled. He grabbed his glass and headed towards me. That dimple whiped off any ounce of anger I might have still had. What the heck was in that wine, I thought. “Hey,” he told me as I stood up. We kissed on the cheeks and sat down. “Looking good Madam Zammit,” he told. Are you using Kevin’s lines? I wanted to tell him but instead told him he wasn’t looking too shabby himself. He flashed me a shy smile. When did he learn to be so charming? My hormones were in a frenzy and I hoped he hadn’t picked up on it. It was hard not to, I flirted shamelessly all evening. ******** - Jason

- Joelle -I woke up to the delicious smell of toast and the sound of sizzling bacon. The bed was empty and cold. It seemed Jason had been up for a while. I got out of bed, following the enticing smells, and made my way towards the kitchen. There he was standing at my stove frying bacon shirtless. The smell was divine and the view heavenly. “That’s not a very smart move,” I told him. Frying bacon shirtless… what was he thinking? I quickly opened one of the drawers and retrieved one of my dad's t-shirts. Over the years, my dad had accumulated spare clothes at my place due to his frequent issues with lost luggage. I handed the t-shirt to Jason, who eyed me suspiciously before putting it on. He was a size larger than my dad, and the material stretched over his chest and back. I pulled him from his flanks and kissed him. “I might just hide your passport and keep you here under lock and key, I’m sure nobody would notice,” I told him. He smiled and kissed me back, then resumed tending to th

- Joelle -The final week before my return to Malta was a whirlwind of activity. With only three days between the end of my contract and my departure, I had numerous loose ends to tie up and people to see. My colleagues had kindly organized a farewell party for me, although it meant sacrificing valuable time for running errands. Thankfully, Kevin arrived a week before my flight and, as had become customary, he stayed with Aksel. Their relationship had grown increasingly serious, and it was heartwarming to witness Kevin finding someone who respected him and allowed him to be his authentic self in public. While Kevin was open about their relationship here, I suspected that very few people back home knew about Aksel. The fact that he hadn't even disclosed it to Jason, a close friend, concerned me. I empathized with Kevin's hesitation but hoped Aksel would be understanding if the truth ever came out. On the third day of his visit Kevin called me. He apologized for not calling earlier but

- Jason -“That was delicious,” Joelle said as she licked her fingers. She’d eaten an entire Ftira with tuna, olives and marinated vegetables. “I’d forgotten how much I missed this,” she continued as she sipped her cola. She looked at the time. “Right, I need to run. I’ll meet you guys here as soon as I’m done,” she told us, planting a tender kiss on my lips before setting off at a brisk pace. I watched her until she was out of sight. Then turned to Kevin. “Things seem to be going well between you,” he told me. I nodded. “Rumor has it you’re a jealous guy,” he continued. “Now wait a minute…” I interrupted. He lifted his eye brows as he sipped his beer. “Is this about Aksel?” I asked him. “Hmmmm…. Yes!” he answered. “Who is the dude anyway?” I asked trying to sound less interested than I was. He took another sip, pausing for a moment before answering. “Let’s put it this way,” Kevin said. “He has absolutely no interest in Joelle. Zero. Nothing. Nada. At least not in THAT way,” he emph