“I had a great time,” Camila says genuinely.
“Yeah, me too,” Zoe says, holding Camila’s gaze before leaning in. The kiss is amazing. Camila would even describe it as passionate, a word she doesn’t use often. Camila kisses her back, her hand landing on Zoe’s waist.
She waits for the rest of it. For the intense wave of desire that usually follows a kiss like this, but there’s no tightening in her chest, no sudden urge to stay.
When they pull apart, Zoe’s smile is radiant—a flash of white teeth against flushed cheeks. Camila returns the smile.
“Thanks again foreverything,” she says.
“Thank you. I do hope I see you again,” Zoe says before leaning in again to kiss Camila’s cheek.
With that, Camila turns and heads for her car. Against her better wishes, her heart skips a beat at the thought of Valeria waiting for her.
When she makes it home, she finds Valeria and Miso curled up on the couch, both fast asleep, and she tries to ignore the sudden thrill running through her at the sight.
She grabs a blanket and lays it over Valeria, careful not to wake her. But somehow she still does.
Valeria opens her eyes slowly and gives her a sleepy smile. “Hey.”
“Hi.” Camila beams, that same warmth that lives in her chest whenever she’s around Valeria bursting to life.
Valeria sits up and stretches. “How was your date?”
“It was good,” Camila says, eager to move past the topic so she can ask Valeria whatshedid tonight. Somehow, that seems more important.
“What did you guys do?”
“Not much, had dinner, went back to her place for a bit.”
Valeria’s eyebrows shoot up, and her eyes widen, a big grin forming on her lips. “Wow! It was more than good then.”
“We just talked,” Camila says, waving her off. “We did kiss, though.”
Valeria moves closer until their knees are touching. Camila’s breath hitches at the connection. This simple touch is doing far more to her nerves than Zoe’s lips. Thankfully, Valeria doesn’t seem to notice.
“Tell me everything. Was Miss Hot Zoe an amazing kisser?”
A smirk curls at the corners of Camila’s mouth at thequestion. “She definitely was.” The kiss was wonderful, even if it didn’t spark all those things she was waiting for, which Camila really wants to get to the bottom of. She hates to think Eileen has broken her to the point that a very hot woman making out with her doesn’t stir anything.
“Good. You think you’ll see her again?”
Camila shrugs. “Maybe. I’m not good at the whole friends-with-benefits. I like the benefits, but I haven’t really learned how to hold on to the friends part, and it always ends up messy.”
“Hey, I get it. I’ve never been good at it, either. I’ve always admired Isabella and Clara for their ability to separate sex from emotions.”
Camila nods.
“What did you guys do tonight?” Camila asks, scratching Miso’s chin. The question that’s been burning on her tongue since she got home.
“You mean aside from missing you terribly?” Valeria’s voice is soft, and her gaze flickers downward, avoiding direct eye contact.
Camila laughs. She doesn’t mean to; she doesn’t think it’s funny. It’s more of a nervous response to Valeria’s words.
“You missed me?” she asks, with a wrinkled forehead and a ridiculous grin.
Valeria nods, almost shy. “The house is way too quiet without you, and Miso is a lot calmer when you’re away.” A subtle flush creeps up Valeria’s neck, a warmth spreading across her cheeks. Her fingers fidget, picking at the edge of her sleeve.
“Yeah, it’s why I’ve enjoyed having you here. All the rooms and space really highlight how empty the house is when it’s just Miso and me. So, I’m not ready for how quiet it’ll be when you go home tomorrow.”Camila tries not to sound so sad at the last part, but with the way Valeria averts her eyes, she knows she probably didn’t do a great job.
