This time Skylar turned all the way around so he was looking at my back. “What problem?”
Now that we were at this part of the conversation, I found it hard to get the words out properly. I’d rehearsed this monologue in my head but when it came time to actually say it, I balked.
“Um. The… you know, your, uh--”
“Are you talking about me getting pregnant?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Yeah.”
He was quiet for a second. “Go on,” he said gently.
My brain felt like it was lurching at mach speed. The words poured out of me like a bucket of spilled water, and the more I talked, the dumber I felt. “Well, I was thinking that, if youweren’tpregnant--which you might be, I guess we don’t know yet--that if you weren’t, maybe I could… help somehow? I know that sounds stupid, and--actually, you know what? Just forget it, it soundsreallystupid now that I said it out loud, and--”
Skylar took me by the shoulder and turned me around to face him. I stopped talking instantly. He gazed into my eyes. They were wide, his pupils blown, and all traces of fatigue were suddenly gone. He was highly alert.
“Go on,” Skylar said.
He still wants to hear my plan even after how stupid I just sounded?I thought incredulously.
“Well,” I began, swallowing hard. “Just like I said. If it turns out you’re not pregnant, I’ll help. I mean,” I added quickly, frantically, “only if youwantme to, obviously.”
Skylar stared at me for a long beat. It was only now I realized how close we were, barely a few inches between us. His warmth radiated like the sun. His hand was still on my shoulder. His lips were full. I couldn’t stop staring at them.
Skylar leaned in.
He kissed me.
9
Skylar
His lips were warm and tasted sweet. The scratch of his stubble felt pleasantly rough against my skin. The kiss elicited a soft, sharp noise from Rafael that sent a jolt of electricity down to the pit of my stomach.
I didn’t want to pull away.
The chaste kiss seemed to last an entire minute, and when I broke it off, the sensation lingered on my lips. I blinked down at him, trying to discern his reaction. Did he like it? Did he hate it? Did he want more?
I realized in a rush what I’d just done. I backed off, blushing furiously. What the hell was I doing, inviting Rafael into my bed and then kissing him? We were just friends.
We were just...
“Oh my god,” I said. “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”
Rafael blinked and licked his lips, like he was trying to savor the leftover feeling. “No, I… It’s okay. Don’t be sorry.”
His cheeks were a shade darker, and they deepened the longer he looked at me. My heart hammered, feeling too thick for my chest.
“Did I make you uncomfortable?” I asked.
“No.” He chuckled. “Not at all.”
“That was stupid of me,” I muttered, shaking my head. “I’m just tired and stressed and feeling crazy.”
“Sky,” Rafael said, putting his warm hand on my wrist. “I said it was okay. Are you even listening?”
His words sunk in.
“It’s okay?” I repeated.
