operation tamleah: GO!

Austin bounces his leg rapidly, thoughtfully hunched over on the couch.

“Would you stop that?” Jessica rolls her eyes. “I can’t work like this.”

“Sorry!” Austin quickly crosses his legs. “I do that a lot when I'm thinking.”

“Huh.” Jessica sets down her pen, curious. “What're you thinking of? Is it the President? What'd you end up doing with her, anyway?”

“No, no, not that,” Austin says. “We just got her to reopen that shoddy burger chain and adopt some dogs or something.”

“Ah. So that’s why it’s opening again. Well, if it isn’t that, what then?”

Austin twiddles his thumbs. “It's Tams and Lei. I don’t know if you’ve noticed it, but Lei likes Tams…”

“Oh, don’t worry — everyone has noticed it,” Jessica scoffs. “I see Leah making googly eyes at Tam every time they’re in a room together.”

“Yeah, you’re right; she’s not really discreet about it,” Austin agrees, watching Leah follow Tam around Plunkett Street from out the window. “Anyways, I’m pretty sure Tams likes her back, but neither of them have realized it yet.”

“Hmm, I suppose I have heard Tam talk about her differently recently.”

Outside the window, Tam nearly gets run over by a car while playing catch with Gabby. Leah screams something inaudible while Tam sheepishly rubs the back of her head. And then Leah worriedly casts a spell to heal the nonexistent injuries. And then Tam gives her a hug as thanks. And then Leah’s face turns as red as a tomato. Typical gal pal stuff.

“They’re pining so hard it’s growing an entire forest!” Austin says, shooting up from the couch. “We’ve got to make them realize their feelings for each other!”

“Why not just tell them directly?” Jessica points out. “Wouldn’t that be easier?”

“Jessibles.” Austin places a hand on her shoulder with a determined flare in his eyes. “You have to understand. It’s more meaningful when they realize it themselves and get to properly proceed! Don’t you know how awkward it is for another person to tell you someone likes you?”

“No, not really,” Jessica says, scrunching up her nose. 

“Really?” Austin blinks. “Wait, am I the only one who feels this way about secondhand confessions?”

“No, I mean—” Jessica sighs and shakes her head. “Forget what I said. I see your point. It would be best if it was natural.” Lifting her hand, she places it on Austin’s shoulder in return. “I’ve decided: I’m joining your wingman operation.”

“Who’s wingmanning now?” Charles asks, entering from the back door just in time.

“We’re going to get Tamsters and Leifei together!” Austin chirps.

“S’bout time,” Charles chuckles, also placing a hand on Austin’s shoulder. “Alright, count me in!”

The front door opens, and in walk Tam, Leah, and Gabby, right into the scene of the trio with their hands strangely on each other’s shoulders.

“Did we miss something?” Tam raises an eyebrow.

“We were just agreeing to go to the grand reopening of that crappy burger place in Grey County,” Austin lies.

“Oh, to visit Margaret?” Leah asks.

“Yeah, sure.” Jessica shrugs. “That.”

“Let’s go get the others, then!” Tam suggests, already stepping out of the shop again.

As the group exits Murray’s Antiques, Austin winks at his two partners-in-crime, and they wink back. It’s official: Operation Tamleah is a-go!