‘My flower pressing is for you, Violet,’ he said solemnly. ‘It’s like our own friendship bracelet.’
‘Friends forever?’ she asked, holding out her finger.
He took it in his own. ‘Yes.’ He and Sam filed out of the classroom with the rest of the campers, leaving Alice to arrange the flower pressing kits off to the side of the room to reveal to the campers at the end of the session.
‘Hey,’ a familiar voice came from behind her, ‘I’m here for a lesson? I heard there’s a hot art counselor?’
Alice turned to Briar. ‘Who told you that?’
‘Oh shit,’ Briar said, ‘I thought you were someone else. My bad.’ She leaned against the table closest to the door, lips tilted in a smug half-smile that Alice found painfully sexy.
Alice checked her watch. ‘The next group will be here in… twenty minutes.’
‘That’s plenty of time.’ Briar strode over to Alice. ‘Don’t you think?’
‘I don’t know—’ Alice said, but was cut off by Briar kissing her, quick and hard. When they pulled apart, they were both flushed. ‘I love the mural,’ Briar said, as though it was an explanation for what had come over her. ‘Am I your muse?’
‘I forgot about that,’ Alice admitted. Something like uncertainty flashed across Briar’s face, and Alice explained, ‘It feels like forever ago when I painted it, pestering Freddie with questions about your life. But I guess my best work has always been a bit inspired by you.’ She touched the tattoo on Briar’s forearm. ‘That’s my favorite drawing I’ve ever done.’
It almost hurt to admit to Briar that she had meant so much to Alice, even after everything. She didn’t know if Briar had figured out what had taken her so long to accept: that years of their friendship hadn’t been platonic at all. At least, not on her end.
‘You should start drawing again,’ Briar said. ‘It’s a waste of talent not to.’ The words sounded so much like something Susan would have said that Alice couldn’t argue.
‘Okay,’ she said, leaning in to kiss Briar again so she wouldn’t have to think about what she was agreeing to. It wasn’t exactly like she had any time to spare for art.
‘No, I’m serious,’ Briar said, stepping back to avoid Alice’s distraction. She was reminded of why it was nice to not have someone who could read your mind around – they could be pesky about wanting the best for you. ‘You can’t sideline this forever.’
‘I’ll have more time eventually,’ Alice allowed. ‘Assuming I don’t get a job or anything.’ She forced the email from Jeremy out of her mind, leaning in for another kiss.
‘Why wouldn’t you get a job?’ Briar demanded, taking another step backward. Alice was starting to feel rejected, which was unfair because Briar was the one who had put ideas of kissing into her head. ‘As far as I can tell, you’re publishing some of the most original research in the field.’
‘What do you know about mycological research?’ Alice asked, taken aback.
‘Oh…’ Briar’s cheeks went pink and she ducked her head. ‘You know, I’ve read some of your stuff here and there…’
Alice frowned. ‘But I’ve only been published in some niche journals, and my undergrad thesis through St Andrews Press.’
‘All of which is available online, for the casual mushroom fan…’ Briar said, looking at her again, her gaze soft and a little bit shy.
Alice kissed Briar again. Looking at her now, her lips slightly parted and her bangs sweaty against her forehead, Alice was acutely reminded of being a teenager with a crush.
‘You’re a mushroom fan?’ she teased.
‘Shut up,’ Briar mumbled. ‘I guess if I was an incredible artistandone of the foremost experts responsible for the reclassification of the Basidiomycota division, I would also have trouble making time for both. Thank god I’m a fuckup and don’t have that problem.’ She rolled her head forward, resting it in the crook of Alice’s neck.
‘You’re not a fuckup,’ Alice said, running a hand through Briar’s short hair, admiring its silkiness. Then she brought up something she didn’t expect to go over well, ‘Do you know what you’re going to do when the summer ends?’
She needed to hear the answer, to know what Briar would be doing when she wasn’t around to see it for herself. If she felt confident Briar had things sorted out here, maybe she could start thinking about her own future.
Briar blew a breath of frustration onto Alice’s collarbone. ‘None,’ she admitted. ‘Back to the bar, I guess.’
‘Do you like it?’ Alice asked, twirling the hair at the nape of Briar’s neck.
‘Sure,’ Briar said, tilting her head to look at Alice. ‘I like my coworkers, and the regulars too. I learn a lot every shift, just talking to people about their lives.’
‘Then why aren’t you sure you’ll go back?’ Alice asked.
Briar sighed. ‘I just haven’t been thinking about it. Trying to get through the summer at the moment.’ She paused. ‘Why?’
