I walk her over, keys jingling softly in the stillness. She turns to face me, lingering just close enough that I can feel the warmth of her body through the layer of sweatshirt.
“I had a really good time,” she says.
“So did I,” I reply, and this time there’s no hesitation.
We hug. At first it’s easy, familiar. Then she settles into me, her arms sliding around my waist, her cheek resting against my chest. I tighten my hold without meaning to, my hands moving up her arms, anchoring her to me.
Too long for friendship.
She pulls back just enough to look up at me, and the moment takes over. My hands trail up her arms to her neck. I cup her cheeks in my hands and thread my fingers gently into her hair.
Her breath catches.
I lean in slowly, giving her every chance to pull away. But she doesn’t. She leans in, and my heart nearly explodes.
My lips brush over hers tentative, soft, asking rather than taking. Testing the waters before wading in too deep. When she exhales against my mouth, I deepen the kiss, tasting her sweetness. Her hands curl into my jacket, holding me in place.Grounding me. The kiss lingers, charged with promise and restraint.
When we finally pull back, her eyes are dark, searching.
“It’s late. I should go,” she says, her voice unsteady.
“You don’t have to,” I say, equally shaken, but sure of what I want.Her.“You can stay. If that’s what you want.”
She watches me thoughtfully. And if I know anything about Kari, a thousand possible outcomes are playing through her mind right now. The what ifs, maybes and buts.
“What do you want?” she asks quietly, almost unsure.
I don’t hesitate. The time for that is long gone, because she’s asked the one question I can answer with certainty.
“You.Onlyyou.”
Kari
For a second I’m afraid I’m delusional, hearing things. Asking me inside… to stay… it’s a linejust friendsdon’t cross. My brain stutters, tripping over itself in a dizzying spiral.
He can’t possibly mean… surely doesn’t want…me.
My mind immediately goes to my soft belly, mentally cataloging everything that jiggles when I move. My chest tightens, my skin flushes hot from the inside out, like someone’s struck a match to a pool of gasoline. My pulse skitters and my breath comes in shallow waves.
I scramble to find the logic in what’s happening. Grey’s the one person I shouldn’t want, shouldn’t feel this way about. What would Darby think? Would she be furious with me, protective of him? Does she even have to know?
That thought lands with an odd feeling.
Maybe she doesn’t have to know. Maybe no one has to know. Maybe it’s a one-time thing. Just getting something out of our system. Once it’s done, everything goes back to normal. We’re adults. That could happen.
Right?
I don’t have to solve everything tonight.
“What do you want?” I ask, hoping I haven’t read his intent wrong.
“You. Only you.”
I search his face for doubt, for hesitation, for any sign he’s about to walk it back, but he stares at me with certainty in his eyes. He barely blinks.
Heat keeps spreading through my chest, my belly, settling low and insistent at my core. Something inside me breaks, like a damn that’s grown weak from holding back heavy waters.
I step closer, drowning out the noise in my head. His breath brushes my cheek. My fingers curl into the front of his shirt. I fist the fabric in my hands, holding on to steady my own heart.
