"I can't wait to meet him. I want to see how hunky he is," Kris said.
"You know what I can't wait to see?" Sam asked.
"What?"
"His house. I wonder how big his kitchen is."
"I can't wait to see it either," Jasmine said. "Hey, instead of staying in a hotel when you guys visit me in Sydney, you can stay at Kane's house. I'm sure he won't mind."
"Sam and I have our heart set on a nice five-star hotel with a swimming pool, spa and gym," Kris said. "But if your kitchen is big enough and exciting enough for Sam, then we may take you up on your offer to stay at your house instead."
"It's not my house," Jasmine retorted.
"It will be when you marry him."
"He hasn't even proposed yet!"
"Aha. Did you hear your slip of the tongue, Jaz? You said yet. That means you're expecting him to."
"Well, I'm hoping he will. But I don't want to jinx anything by expecting it, so let's stop this talk about proposal and marriage. And don't you dare mention it to him."
The security buzzer rang and Kris ran to answer it. "Is this Jasmine Allen's hunky lover?"
"It better be," came the reply.
They giggled at Kane's response.
"Come on in, then."
"Look at you," Sam said to Jasmine laughingly as they waited for Kane to walk up their floor.
"What?" Jasmine asked.
"Not more than two minutes ago you were teary because you were leaving us and now you can't keep that grin off your face."
"Sorry," she responded. "It's been three weeks since I last saw him."
Sam walked to her and gave her a big hug. "I'm really so happy for you, Jaz. I'm glad you've fallen in love with someone who seems crazy about you. And I'm glad your dream of becoming a full time writer has come true."
She returned her best friend's hug fiercely. "Thank you, Sam."
Kris joined them for a group hug. "Things are not going to be the same without you here, Jaz."
"I know, Kris. But will you two promise me you'll work towards your dreams too?"
"What dreams?" Kris asked.
Jasmine rolled her eyes. "Your dream to run a dance studio, Kris, and your dream to open your own café, Sam."
"Yeah, right. Maybe when we win Lotto," Sam responded.
A rap on the door interrupted their conversation.
"I'll get it," Kris said. "I want to check him out and make sure he's good enough for our Jasmine."
"Of course he is," Jasmine said confidently.
Kris opened the door, placed a hand on her hip and looked at Kane up and down in an exaggerated fashion.
Kane spread his arms wide to his side. "Do I pass?" he asked.
"Only if you promise you'll always look after Jasmine," Kris responded.
"With everything I have."
"Then you may enter our humble abode," Kris said theatrically.
"Thank you, Kris," Kane said as he entered the apartment with an equally theatrical bow.
Kris glanced at Jasmine in surprise. "Hey, he knows my name. You get full points for that, Kane."
"Thank you. Hi, Sam," he said waving to Sam, who was checking something in the oven.
"Hello, Kane. Get used to my cousin because you'll see a lot more of her from here on in."
Kane chuckled and turned his attention to Jasmine. "Hi, baby," he whispered, his face full of tenderness.
"Hi," Jasmine responded, snaking her arms around his neck and lifting her lips to his.
Their kiss was way too brief for her liking but she could wait until they were alone. For now, she wanted to enjoy her last night as a Melbourne resident with her best friends and her boyfriend.
"Wow, Sam. Jaz wasn't exaggerating when she said you're a good cook," Kane commented.
"Thanks, Kane. You do know there's no need to score points with me. You already have a perfect ten."
Jasmine and Kris groaned.
"Just say 'thank you' and then stop, Sammy," Jasmine chided. To Kane, she added, "She never thinks people are serious with their compliments."
"I was being serious!" Kane said with an affronted look.
"Okay, fine, thank you. Really," Sam said, blushing.
"Sam has something to ask you, Kane," Kris said.
"Sure."
"I do?" Sam asked her cousin.
"Yes. You want to ask him about his kitchen."
"Oh, right. How big is your kitchen, Kane?"
"It's pretty big," Kane answered.
"Do you cook a lot?"
Kane laughed. "No. I don't cook at all, so the kitchen is hardly used."
"Jaz loves cooking. She's a pretty good cook too."
"I know," Kane said fondly, smiling at Jasmine.
"I can't wait to see your house, baby," Jasmine said.