At least until she puts her hands on my chest and gently pushes me away.
At first, I think it’s because we aren’t finished eating, or maybe it’s because the spring roll had a little too much cabbage, but she squares her shoulders and lifts her chin. She’s gearing up for something, and it makes me nervous. “I wanted to talk to you first.”
Usually when someone says “We need to talk,” it’s not followed by anything pleasant. Even if she was just promising me a personal lingerie showing. I sit back and brace myself. “Okay. Sure. What’s up?”
She waits until our eyes meet. “I need you to bear with me because I haven’t done this before.”
Now I’m starting to wonder if Iamabout to be dumped. I frown because I don’t like the thought of that, either.
“I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you these past few months. And I’m not talking about sex. Though I’ve enjoyed that, too. But it’s more than that. You keep me guessing, and you make me laugh. You’re supportive and encouraging, and I just really like you.” She pauses and takes a deep breath. “And I was hoping that maybe you felt the same? About me?”
I’m at a loss. I thought she knew I liked her? I mean, I wouldn’t spend time with her if I didn’t. Plus, I tell her as much every time we hook up. Maybe I wasn’t clear enough?
“God this sounds so high school,” she continues, seeming to catch wind of my confusion. “What I’m trying to say is, would you maybe want to do more than just have sex all the time? Maybe do more things like this?” She gestures to my desk littered with takeout. And…
Oh.
Oh.
“Are you asking if I want to be your girlfriend?” The fluttering is back. Along with something else I can’t quite pinpoint. Nervousness maybe?
“Yes,” she says, relieved. “That.”
My breath quickens. Jules was right. Trinity is taking this thing between us pretty seriously.
She places both hands on my knees. “I thought maybe we could, I dunno, see where this goes? Add a layer to what we’re already doing? What do you think?”
What do I think?
I don’t love Trinity. But I like her. Do I think, maybe one day, Icouldlove her? I don’t know. But that’s not what she’s asking. She’s not asking for me to love her. She’s asking to take it a step further and see where we land.
I hesitate. And fuck if she doesn’t look so pretty and hopeful. “I’d like that.”
“Yeah?” The smile that follows brightens the whole room. She slides into my lap and kisses me, obviously not noticing my second of hesitation. “You know,” she says and places a trail of kisses down the side of my neck, “we should really thank Julia for this.”
I freeze and lean back. “Jules?” Trinity nods and leans back in to suck lightly at the spot behind my ear. “Why?”
“Because I told her I was nervous about asking you to be my girlfriend. But she told me I should go for it. She said we’d make a really cute couple.” She presses her lips to mine. “Crazy, right?”
I don’t answer because…what? Jules actually said that?
Suddenly, parts of our fight start to make a little more sense.
Trinity pulls off her sweatshirt, and my hands instantly go to her sides. But my mind is still on that fact that Jules encouraged this. Which is weird considering I could’ve sworn that the idea of me and Trinity was what was upsetting her so much.
When Trinity slips her hands under my shirt and pushes it up and over my head, I wonder if maybe I just made another huge mistake.
Chapter Fifteen
Julia
There’s a reason I don’t have one-night stands.
Not that Emily is a one-night stand per se, but I’m fairly certain we won’t be doingthatagain. Not that it wasn’t good or fun. Because it was both. But because it never should’ve happened in the first place.
Seriously, what was I thinking?
Last night wasn’t me. I knew going into it that I didn’t want anything serious with Emily, but I slept with her anyway. And for what? To hurt Alex like she hurt me? Because I knew Emily liked me, and I just wanted to feel something? Well, I sure do feel something all right. I feel like complete shit.
