“I’d love that,” Mom said as she coaxed a reluctant Junie out of the kitchen.
Demi made a beeline for the platter of cookies and grabbed a few—one of which she immediately shoved into her mouth. With half of it still hanging out, she mumbled, “These are good.”
I laughed and snatched one from her hand. She was more adorable than I’d ever imagined a woman could be. And it was going to be my undoing.
“These are my favorite.”
“I know.”
“I suppose my mom told you.”
“No.” She swallowed. “Remember the year I creepily watched you? Anyway, I just remember from then.”
I didn’t think it was creepy. Honestly, I felt flattered. I just wished I hadn’t screwed up the first time we met.
“If roles were reversed, I would’ve creepily watched you,” I said, trying to make her feel better, and then winced. Not as charming as I’d hoped.
Demi giggled.
“That came out wrong,” I groaned before taking a bite of the cookie.
“I appreciate the sentiment. Should we go outside? Cassie has charmed the place, so we should be safe.”
I was coming to appreciate Cassie’s hexing habits.
I nodded, savoring the cookie as we walked toward the door. I didn’t know what Demi had done to them, but they were the best I’d ever tasted.
“Wow. These are amazing.”
“It’s the extra vanilla,” she said. “Mom always said the secret to the best chocolate cookies is good vanilla.”
“Your mom sounds like a smart woman.”
I opened the door for her.
“She was.”
Demi nudged me gently as she stepped into the still night. Crickets chirped in the background.
We sat on the steps together, close but not close enough. I didn’t want to be forward. And I liked to torture myself and see how long I could go before giving in and devouring her lips and running my hands over all her curves. It was a sick game, but one I loved to fail at.
Demi handed me another cookie. “So, what did you want to talk about? I have a feeling it’s not to ask what my favorite flower is. It’s dahlias, by the way.”
“Duly noted.” I snatched the cookie. “I wish this were another getting-to-know-you session, but those might be coming to a close soon.”
She whipped her head my way, eyes wide. “What? Why?”
I let out a slow breath and stared out at the mountains. Their silhouette barely visible beneath a sky full of stars. And that damn moon—bright, watching, ticking down the days. Come the next full one, if Demi didn’t find her true love, who knew what would happen.
The thought made my chest tighten.
“Demi,” I said quietly.
“Yes.” She scooted closer. Her bare legs brushed against me. Tempting me. Always tempting me.
I gave in and rested a hand on her knee. Her skin rose under my touch, which didn’t help the situation any.
Why now? After all these years of knowing each other, why choose now to light fires we might not be able to put out? There was no version of this where I walked away clean. Regret and longing would be my companions either way.
