This is Tristan. We’ve been friends since we were in diapers. He’s seen the worst of me and we’re still tight. “Beyond hugs from friends and family, I’m used to affection being a precursor to sex. It’s always been all or nothing. I’m struggling with the middle ground. I don’t want to fuck it up and default back to old Flip.”
“That won’t happen. Old Flip doesn’t have the power he used to.” He squeezes my shoulder. “Before you started dating, you hugged Tally all the time, right?”
“Yeah.” But she was in the friend box and now she’s in a new one.
“So keep doing that, but add a kiss on the cheek. Just something to show her and everyone else that you’re hers.”
“Everything okay here?” Rix asks.
“We’re good,” Tristan and I say at the same time.
“Uh-huh.” She gives us a skeptical look. “Flip, can you stirthis and a handful of Tally’s tomatoes into the avocado mash?” Rix passes me a small bowl with minced garlic, lime juice, and some spices, her expression expectant.
“For sure.”
Hemi has put down the knife and is now busy bathing the red onions in ice water. It’s a hack to take out the sharpness.
I slip an arm around Tally’s waist from behind as she drains the juice from the tomatoes, brushing my lips over her cheek. “Hi.”
She relaxes into me. “Hi.” Her voice is soft and breathy, exactly like it was when I had to end the kiss the other night before it escalated to criminal proportions. I shut those thoughts down. I’ll let them out later, when I’m alone in the shower.
“Can you drop a handful of tomatoes in here for me?” I murmur against her ear.
“Put that tone away.” Hemi points a spatula at me. At least it’s not a knife.
“What tone?” I glance around. “I asked for tomatoes.”
“Yeah, but it sounds like you’re offering to service her in front of all your friends,” Essie pipes up, unhelpfully.
“You could narrate some spicy audiobooks with that voice,” Dred adds with a smile.
I glance at Tristan, who just shrugs. This is harder than I thought it would be.
“Oooh! You should get Flip to read you Cammie’s fics!” Hammer’s eyes light up.
“I read Dred Cammie’s fics.” Connor smirks.
“You’re so good at it.” Dred pats his cheek.
“I’m good at a lot of things.” Connor’s normally slanted brows tip up.
“Don’t be braggy,” Dred chastises.
“Pretty sure this is their foreplay,” I whisper.
“Oh, it is.” Tally’s sigh seems a little envious as she drops a handful of tomatoes into the avocado mash.
“Thanks.” I kiss her cheek again. I can’t learn if I don’t try.
“Want help stirring them in, too?” she offers.
“Please.” I pass her a spoon, happy to cocoon her against the counter so I can keep huffing her cherry blossom shampoo. “What’s the deal with Cammie’s fics?”
“I’ll tell you more about that when you’re ready.”
“You don’t think I can handle it?”
“Uh no, I don’t thinkIcan.” The flush in her cheeks is revealing.
