Her brows furrow, and her voice is muffled against my palm. I drop my hand, but I don’t step back.
“You wantmeto promiseyou?” Ollie says, staring at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Vince, I kissed YOUR girlfriend!”
“And I forgive you,” I practically yell, trying desperately to get through to her.
“Well, I don’t forgive myself!” Her hands fly out to the sides with what appears to be an equal level of frustration.
A laugh escapes my throat before I can stop it. “You’re so fucking annoying sometimes!”
Ollie shoves my chest, but I catch her wrists before she can pull away. Her pulse thrumming fast.
“Kat is in there waiting for you while you’re out here arguing with me about how much we want you here.”
Ollie’s jaw tenses, and her eyes flash with something I can’t quite read.
“Jesus, you’re really not mad?” she says, clarity finally hitting her.
“Nope,” I say, gentler this time. “I promise. I’m honestly more confused than anything?”
“Confused?” She repeats, and as if I’m watching it happen in slow motion, I can see her, the real her, bubble right back up to the surface. “Oh my god! You liked it? You pervert!”
Ollie’s face twists in mock disgust, but her eyes are bright with something dangerously close to excitement.
“You’re such a bitch,” I say, shaking my head.
“Watch your tone with me, I’ll kiss your mom next,” Ollie threatens, her smirk returning as she pulls her wrists from my grip. “You could use the authority of an evil stepmother in your life.”
“You’re literally the worst,” I say, but I’m grinning like an idiot.
The tension between us seems to have melted into nonexistence, and I can breathe again.
“Just…be gentle with her and remind her how much she loves me when you're done blowing her mind.”
The color drains from her face as I turn and descend the steps to the driveway.
“What? Hang on! I thought you were joking!” she calls out.
“Give her what she wants,” I say simply. “I’ll be about half an hour. I’m sure that smartass mouth of yours will think of something.”
I don’t turn around. I don’t look back. I get in my car and drive off, leaving the cabin and the two women I love more than anything in the world, alone.
Together.
FIVE
OLLIE
I watch Vince drive away. The tail lights disappear around the bend, and my pulse hammers in my ears, drowning out the birdsong and the distant hum of the wind through the trees.
Kat's inside. Waiting. For me?
Every instinct in my body is screaming at me to run to her. So why am I standing here like a fucking idiot? I should go inside. I should talk to Kat, but my feet stay rooted to the porch, my hands gripping the railing like it's the only thing keeping me from floating away.
I take a deep breath, the crisp mountain air filling my lungs, and force myself to move.
One step.
Nothing outrageous has to happen.
