“Phantom,” Jules said in an exasperated tone from behind her.
“He lives up to his name, doesn’t he?”
“He sure does. He’s always slinking around.” Jules lifted the cat out of the cabinet and set him on the floor. He was out of the kitchen in a flash of black fur, darting behind the curtain that surrounded Jules’s bed.
She and Sophie walked to the living room, where Sophie sat in the chair and Jules took the couch. Her apartment was as warm and bright as Jules herself. The windows overlooking the street let in plenty of natural light, and the walls were painted a muted gold. The rest of the room was done in various earth tones. The beige couch was offset by bright orange and burgundy throw pillows, and plenty of colorful paintings adorned the walls.
Sophie let her gaze wander the room. Maybe she was just trying not to stare at Jules. The other cat, the gray one, hopped up in the chair beside Sophie, and she reached over to pet him. In the corner, a tabletop Christmas tree twinkled with white lights and branches laden with shiny, colorful ornaments.
“Going home for the holidays?” Sophie asked.
Jules nodded. “Can’t wait, honestly. I’ve had enough of this weather, and I need some time with my family.”
Sophie smiled. Even now, despite the comfortable warmth of her apartment, Jules had on a thick sweater paired with leggings. “What’s Miami like at Christmas?”
“Warm,” Jules said with a laugh. “But you probably guessed that much. I guess the traditions are what I love the most, bakingpastelitoswith myabuelita, the chance to get my whole family together under one roof. We laughsomuch, and there’s so much food.”
“Sounds amazing,” Sophie said.
Jules blinked, her eyes suddenly glossy. “It is.”
“Must be hard, being so far from home.”
“The hardest,” Jules agreed. “But I go visit them as often as I can, sometimes for weeks at the time if I’m between jobs, and they come here a lot too. It’ll be tough, duringIt’s in Her Kiss, but I mean, for an amazing reason. I’ll just have to FaceTime them a whole lot.”
Sophie nodded.
“And you?” Jules asked. “I don’t think you told me where you’re from.”
“Oh, my family’s in Syracuse, only a few hours away.”
“Is it just you and your parents?”
“And my older brother, Tanner,” Sophie told her.
“Christmas will be our last break for a while,” Jules commented, reaching out to rub the gray cat as he jumped into her lap. It was true. Once the show opened, they’d be working solidly into April, with only a day off here and there. Sophie was looking forward to it, though, and she thought Jules was too.
While they talked, they ate some of the sandwiches Sophie had brought, and then, since they were still waiting for Micki, they opened a bottle of wine and started rehearsing.
“This is a great chance for you to practice as Melissa,” Jules said.
Sophie nodded happily. “Yes.”
Half a bottle later, they were on their feet, reading the scene where Bianca confesses her feelings for Melissa. The scene ended with the now-infamous kiss, and while there was no reason for Jules and Sophie to act that part out—Jules and Micki hadn’t kissed during their previous Sunday sessions at Jules’s apartment—Sophie found herself hoping they would. There were a million reasons why dating Jules would be a terrible idea, but sharing a harmless kiss with her seemed like a really good one. Or maybe that was just the wine talking.
Jules reached out and clasped Sophie’s hands the way Kari had directed her and Micki on stage. She moved subtly closer, her gaze locked on Sophie’s as she seemed to consider how far to take this. Sophie held her breath, afraid even to blink and somehow ruin the moment. Anticipation hummed through her body as Jules leaned in.
Their mouths met quietly, just a gentle brush of lips against lips. Jules’s fingers clenched around Sophie’s, eyes fluttering shut as she lingered there, seemingly at a crossroads between acting or making this real. Sophie made the decision for her, breaking the kiss. She pressed her lips gently against the corner of Jules’s mouth in parting. Jules’s breath hitched, and then she turned her head, bringing their mouths back into alignment.
Sophie’s heart pounded as a slow warmth spread through her system, a combination of wine and lust. This was a mistake, but it was a mistake shereallywanted to make. “Jules…”
“I want to kiss you,” she whispered. “For real.”
“Then do it.” Sophie nipped at Jules’s bottom lip, eliciting a whimper. “Please.”
Jules’s lips parted, inviting Sophie into the heat of her mouth. She tasted like wine and something else, something sweet, something uniquely Jules. Their hands were clutched awkwardly between their bodies, so Sophie released them. She brought her hands to Jules’s waist, gently drawing her closer.
Jules gasped as their breasts pressed together. Her hands lingered on Sophie’s hips before sliding up, tracing the contours of her body, making goose bumps rise on Sophie’s skin in the wake of her touch. There was wonder in Jules’s eyes as her hands reached Sophie’s breasts. “You feel so good.”
