Ria’s voice pulled Lissa’s attention out of her head and back to the conversation at hand.“I’m sorry, what did you say?I think the fifth margarita still has me a little fuzzy brained.”
“I said I’m sorry I didn’t do a better job of helping you find your person,” Ria replied, and it killed Lissa to see her sink back in disappointment.“I thought for sure today would be the day destiny worked its magic.”
“Maybe it has,” Lissa murmured, this time loud enough for Ria to hear, not that she cared.Magic wasn’t real, and while she accepted Ria might follow a Wiccan faith, Lissa didn’t believe she had any actual witchy powers.There was no destined love out there waiting to be found, but there was a flesh and blood woman right in front of her.One Lissa knew was feeling at least a little of what she felt.If she could disregard all the lies she’d told Ria, then maybe…
I said don’t do it, her brain argued.
Oh, go fuck yourself, her heart replied.
The last bit of resistance in Lissa snapped, and she leaned forward to press her lips to Ria’s, immediately sinking into the sweet ambrosia taste that made her forget every reason they shouldn’t be together.
Good luck walking away now, her brain taunted.
Chapter Eleven
Ria
Riahadsharedmanykisses with many women before.Okay, maybe notmany, but at least four.Five if you count the night in college with her roommate that may or may not have been a dream since neither said anything the next morning.Regardless, of all the kisses shared, none of them—not a single one—felt as perfect as when Lissa kissed her.
Lissa tasted of strawberries, and her lips were soft and welcoming.Ria felt herself melt into the kiss, surrendering all thoughts other than the pull she felt toward this woman.It wasn’t just perfect.It was magic.It was a moment to be savored, something to remember any time she considered giving up on love.It was the kind of kiss that changed everything.
Right up until Ria vomited.
She did, thankfully, pull back in time to keep from pukingonLissa, but Bootsy’s borrowed boots didn’t fare quite so well.
“Oh my Goddess,” Ria groaned, hunching over the end of the booth, her back to Lissa so she didn’t have to see the sheer horror on her friend’s face—if they could even be considered friends at this point.She didn’t usually make out with her friends save for that one college night that was probably a fever dream.Ria didn’t think she could get out of this situation by passing out and pretending it never happened though.
Or could she?Maybe if she sagged back into Lissa’s arms, she could fake falling asleep, and then tomorrow she could go join a convent in Siberia.A solid plan, aside from having no interest in being a nun.Not to mention she knew Lissa had to take care of a drunk girlfriend in the past, and Ria couldn’t bring herself to reopen those wounds.She’d already done enough damage for one night.
No, she would have to deal with this like an adult…by running away.
Ria leapt from the booth and booked it out of the bar.
“Ria!”Lissa called from behind her, but Ria had no intention of stopping.She didn’t know what she would see if she looked back, but it couldn’t be anything good.If it was pity or disgust, she would die of mortification.If it was anything else… Well, she couldn’t fathom any other possible reaction to the person you’re kissing violently ripping themselves away in order to decorate the floor of the bar with strawberry margaritas and partially digested funnel cakes.
Bursting through the door, she hooked a right and continued trucking at breakneck speed for fear Lissa might try to follow her.Ria made it about two blocks before her stomach reminded her it wasn’t quite empty yet, and she ducked into an alleyway to toss up the last dredges of alcohol and bile.
When there was nothing left inside her but shame, she stumbled out of the alley and slumped down against the wall.Dropping her head into her hands, she struggled to hold back the tears that were making a mad dash to escape down her cheeks.
She’d been such an idiot to drink so much.Save for the occasional glass of wine when she was stressed after a long day, she hardly ever indulged.She’d just been so nervous in Bootsy’s revealing outfit she was practically shaking.It had taken everything in her not to beg a bystander to let her purchase their coat, cost be damned.Then Lissa had arrived and looked at her with such heat Ria felt sexier than she had when she was twenty-two.
She’d long since accepted turning thirty meant she was basically a spinster.At least, that’s how the media portrayed things.She knew more than anyone marketing really only focused on the eighteen to twenty-five demographic.Short of vaginal creams or support stockings, nobody actually cared what women over thirty thought.That’s what happened when you let dumbass men be in charge of things.
So when Ria had seen that desire in Lissa’s eyes, she threw caution to the wind.Hell, she threw caution straight into a twister, never to be seen again.A decision she was seriously regretting as her stomach rumbled once more, threatening another coup.
Ria groaned.Surely, there couldn’t be anything left at this point.She surrendered her integrity the moment she kissed her client, but if she had any hope of holding onto the last semblance of dignity, she needed to get off the street fast.Pride was very much still in full swing even as the sun began dropping below the horizon, but she’d done more than enough celebrating.
She just had no idea how to get home.
Fishing her cell phone out of her vomit-soaked boot, she dialed Bootsy’s number.
“Hey, babe,” Bootsy greeted.“How’s it going?You get any yet?”
Sick, Ria wanted to answer.She’d gotten sick and embarrassed.Instead, she choked out, “I’m so sorry, but can you come get me?I need to go home.”
She must have sounded as pathetic as she felt, because Bootsy asked no questions beyond “Where are you?”
Ria glanced up at the nearest street sign.“Corner of Fourth and Davis.”
