Complicated?Was that code for Ria got her heart broken and bailed on her work responsibilities?
“But we’re not here to talk about me,” Ria said quickly, once again shutting down Lissa’s chance to get a straight answer.“We’re supposed to be letting destiny guide you.I’ve never been to Pride before, which means you’re going to have to show me around.So, what sounds like fun?What is calling to you?”
Lissa pondered the question for a second.Maybe it was the margarita whispering sweet nothings into her ear, but she suddenly felt like setting her mission aside for the day to just have a little fun.Besides, Ria wouldn’t tell her anything until they bonded a bit more.So what Pride activity would be the most fun and help Ria loosen up in the process?
Lissa grinned.
“Uh-oh,” Ria said.“That looks like the kind of smile that’s going to get me in trouble.”
“Oh, my little Elixir Enchantress.You have no idea.”
Hourslater,Lissaflungherself into a booth at the back of BB’s Bar, dragging Ria down beside her.In a fit of giggles, both women struggled to sit upright.
“Oh my gosh,” Ria breathed out between hiccups of laughter.“I don’t think I’ve ever been in a bounce house before.Now I know why kids love them so much.”
“Right?”Lissa gasped out.“Though I was surprised you didn’t lose it when your boob popped out!”Gosh knows Lissa’s jaw had hit the floor and bounced back up.
Ria’s hands flew to her chest.“I might have if that one lady wasn’t full-blown naked!Nobody cared about my tiny titties with her massive jugs flopping around!”
They both collapsed against each other, unable to talk through their boisterous laughter.
Lissa couldn’t even remember the last time she had so much fun.In the past, Pride tended to be all about Daria desperately trying to prove how much of an ally she was while Lissa kind of took a back seat to decision-making.Getting to drag Ria through the festival and actually indulge in all the fun activities though?Fuck, she’d missed this—living and laughing and saying screw it to her responsibilities for a little while.
Unfortunately, the reminder of those responsibilities sobered her up enough to feel the twinge of guilt tugging at her chest.Lissa might have started the day off with less than honorable intentions, but she hadn’t expected to have so much fun with Ria.She’d thought for sure the shy, awkward woman would protest doing things like going down the giant waterslide headfirst or doing shots off the drag queen’s chest.After that first margarita, Ria became a whole different person.
As fun as the day had been, though, she actually found herself glad to be tucked into a quiet booth so they could talk.Wild Ria was fun, but she was fun in the way Lexi was fun.Great in small doses, but eventually Lissa wanted to come back to earth.And earth was where she needed to be before she forgot her entire plan.
A task that would be a lot easier if her head would stop spinning.
“I’m so glad you invited me today,” Ria said, leaning back against the booth and rolling her head over to look at Lissa.“I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun in my life.It was just so freeing.”
“Kind of like those naked moonlight rituals?”Lissa waggled her eyebrows.
Ria laughed.“You know, you’re probably not far off.”
Leaning back against the booth to mirror Ria’s position, Lissa stared at her, letting her gaze drift down the witch’s body in a much slower perusal than she allowed herself earlier.Before she could stop herself, she reached out and traced her fingers over one of the rainbow starbursts on Ria’s shoulder.
“These are so gorgeous,” she murmured.
Ria glanced down and smiled.“Thanks.They were pretty much my only contribution to this ensemble.I had a glass sculpture in my old apartment that would cast a burst of color on my kitchen wall.My ex stole it when she left, but I always loved the way the light shone through, like science and magic coming together to create something incredible.”Ria looked up, then quickly dropped her gaze.“Sorry, that’s probably a little too woo-woo for you.”
Lissa used one finger to tip Ria’s face back up.“Not at all.I know exactly what you mean.In fact, I think I’m starting to come around on this whole witchy stuff.Today was definitely something special.”
Ria nibbled on her lip, drawing Lissa’s attention to it.“Yeah, today was incredible, except I was supposed to be helping you find your true love,” she pointed out.“You didn’t talk to anyone except me all day.”
Lissa watched, hypnotized, while Ria chewed on her lower lip a bit longer before letting it pop back out, all red and puffy, her rainbow lipstick long faded away.Inching closer to the witch, Lissa’s fishnet-clad thigh rubbed up against Ria’s bare one.
Ria glanced down at their touching legs but didn’t move away.Maybe Lissa was dreaming, but Ria seemed to lean into it a little.
When Ria looked back up, Lissa saw something in her eyes.Something heated.Something that told her she wasn’t the only one feeling the pull.
It’s just the alcohol, her buzzkill brain argued.Don’t do anything stupid because of a pretty face.
And a rocking body,her vagina added.
And an incredibly sweet personality that couldn’t possibly be responsible for your studio’s downfall, her heart cooed from the background.
“Lissa?”
