ELLA
Cole
When do I get to see you again?
Outside of the bar, I mean.
It’s been three days since Cole brought me dinner.
Three days since I saw him.
And three days since he kissed me.
A little eager, aren’t we?
I’m not in the habit of wastin’ precious time, El.
“Where the hell does she get all her energy from?” Remi questions me from where she’s sitting on the bench next to me. We’re tucked under a tree, shaded from the hot summer sun as Chloe runs around in the grass. She picks a flower and spins around, her dress twirling around her small body.
I smile, setting my phone down, watching my daughter explore the world with wonderment. “I ask myself the samequestion daily. I swear, sometimes it’s her bedtime and I’m the one falling asleep during story time.”
Remi laughs softly and I wave Chloe over, calling her name. “I feel safe telling you that has definitely happened to me when she has slept over.”
Shaking my head, I laugh with her and hold my hands out as Chloe comes running. I lift her up, swinging her onto my lap. She holds out a flower, handing it to Remi.
“It’s so pretty, Clo,” Remi tells her as she tucks the flower behind her ear. “Where did you find it?”
“Ova dare,” she says, pointing to a patch of wild flowers. She wiggles on my lap and looks up at me with her bright blue eyes. “Can I get moe, momma?”
I help her onto the ground and I swear her legs are moving before her feet touch the grass. “Of course, baby. We’ll be here watching.”
Remi and I are silent for a breath or two as we watch Chloe sprinting back towards the flowers. “You never did tell me how the other night went with Cole.”
My heart skips a beat as I think back to that night. Instinctively, I raise my hand, my fingertips lightly touching my lips. I inhale sharply at the memory, the thought of his mouth claiming mine. No one has ever kissed me with a reverent passion like he did. I suppose that’s what it feels like to be properly kissed.
Pulling my hand away from my mouth, I sit up a little straighter and clear my throat. “It was nice. He brought tacos over and we sat out back and ate.”
There’s a pregnant pause.
“That’s it?” Remi probes, clearly unsatisfied with the minimal information I’ve given her.
I shrug with indifference, glancing at her before I look back to Chloe. “I mean, I don’t know what you want to hear, Remi. We’re just friends.”
Apparently friends that kiss now.
“Girl, have you been to the eye doctor?” She squints her eyes at me, leaning closer like she’s inspecting my vision. “You have to be blind if you don’t see the way that man looks at you.”
“I am not blind. My vision is perfectly fine, thank you.”
“So, you see it then?” She leans back against the bench.
I let out a sigh and shake my head as Chloe skips around. “I can assure you that we are only friends. We may have kissed, but that doesn’t change anything between us. I’m not looking for a relationship right now… or ever.”
Remi doesn’t say a word. I wait almost half a minute before I turn my head to look at her. She’s staring at me with her eyes wide, her jaw slightly agape. “What?” I ask her with my eyebrows tugging together. “I am perfectly fine with being single.”
“Um, I’m already up to date on your relationship status, but hold on. Back up.” She stands up and sits back down so she’s now facing me. “He kissed you?”
My eyes widen and I quickly try to remember what I just said to her. I was thinking about the kiss, but surely I didn’t speak it out loud. Unless I did and didn’t realize it while I was rambling.
