But with Landon? I wanted it all.
I wanted to wake up holding his hand. I wanted to have sickly sweet dreams about us growing old together. I wanted to explore his body and have him explore mine. Make him come undone with my hands and then with my mouth too. We could spend long nights together, naked between the bedsheets and then clean each other off in the shower, and then?—
“Kira?”
All three of my friends stared at me expectedly. My phone buzzed again, and I was dying to check it, but I knew I had already missed a question.
I blinked. “What happened?”
Britney pretended like she had just been stabbed in the chest. “We’ve lost another brave soldier to the daydreaming of a man.”
I rolled my eyes. “You guys are ridiculous.”
“Maybe,” said Ariadne. “But we know a lovey-dovey face when we see one. We’ll be taking that as our cue to go.”
“Oh, you don’t have to go,” I said, annoyed at myself for ruining the night.
“Don’t worry.” Britney patted my shoulder. “I need to study before bed anyways.”
“And I need to go find the strongest earplugs in the world before attempting to sleep tonight,” said Ariadne.
Macey and I walked them to the door, where we exchanged hugs. I pulled their sweaters off the hanger and passed them over. “Okay, but don’t forget about the mural painting tomorrow.”
“We’ll be there,” Ariadne assured me.
“Can’t wait to meet your boyfriend!” Britney winked as the door shut.
It was just the two of us again, and we immediately jumped into tidying up the living room.
“Tomorrow should be interesting,” Macey said lightly.
We were finishing the mural at the diner tomorrow, and I thought it would be nice to complete it in the presence of family and friends. Everyone could have a role in it. My friends meeting Landon, myboyfriend, was a side effect I hadn’t considered until now.
“Yeah, it’s exciting.” I dropped the paintbrushes and cups into the sink. “The diner will be ready to open soon.”
“That is exciting, but not what I was referring to.” Macey wiped down the table with a washcloth. “You and Landon, back together again. Can’t say I didn’t see it coming.”
I rinsed off the cups, putting everything in its rightful spot on the drying rack. “Looking back, it was kind of inevitable.”
“Sometimes, love is like that.”
We finished cleaning the apartment in silence. “Good night, Macey.”
“Good night.” She added slyly, “You really do have a lovey-dovey face.”
I hid my face with my hands until I reached my bedroom.Finally, a moment to breathe. Sitting on my bed, I glanced at the text that had been sitting unread in my pocket.
Landon: Not just your face.
Landon: Kira Park, are you trying to sext me?
My heart kicked up its pace so rapidly it felt like it was going to beat out of my chest.
Kira: I’m not sure. I don’t think I’m very good at sexting.
Landon: Maybe we should practice then.
Kira: I don’t know where to start.
