“And now?”
“Aye, I think so.” Warmth settles in my chest, nestling around my heart as I think of everything Rory has done for me since we reconnected. Like staying up all night and texting me to keep me calm while Niamh was in labour. “I want to kiss him, but at the same time, I’m terrified and want to run away.”
“Do you trust him?”
That one was easy to answer. “Yes.”
“Does he know he’s the first guy you’ve kissed?”
I nod.
“Then trust that he’ll take care of you and won’t do anything you’re uncomfortable with. As I told Quinn, life’s too short not to take risks. Things might turn out amazingly. They did for Quinn and Stefan. Maybe they could for you and Rory too.”
Quinn stirs, and his eyes flutter open. “Did someone say my name?” He sits and rubs his eyes.
“I was talking about you, not to you,” Rubin says teasingly. He smiles at me. “Did any of that help?”
“Yes, thanks.”
“What are you going to do?”
I look at the ceiling and breathe in deeply. “Take a leap of faith.”
“Oh, you gave him that speech,” Quinn says.
Rubin laughs. “Yup.”
“It’s a good speech.”
“I know, right?”
“Thanks.” I stand. “Both of you.” I rub my hands together slowly. “Leap of faith.” I puffed out the breath I’d dragged into my lungs as I’d made that decision. “Would you mind keeping this between us for now?”
“Our lips are sealed,” Rubin says.
“Thanks.”
I leave them and go back upstairs. Rory is sitting on the bed, his fingers threaded together.
He looks up at me. “You came back.”
“Yes.”
“And?”
I sit beside him. “I want to kiss you again.”
Rory smiles, leans in, and kisses me.
16
RORY
“That was nice,” Callan whispers as our lips part.
“Was that what you wanted?”
He nods, although there’s doubt in his eyes. “I bumped into Quinn and Rubin.” He grimaces. “Literally. Rubin had some good advice.” His eyes widen. “Oh, fuck, I hope you don’t mind? I didn’t seek them out. I really was going to go for another walk but—”
