Page 111

I grab the bottle. Ramona watches my throat rather intently as the smooth berry wine with nutty undertones slides down. Once a sufficient amount of wine bolsters my courage, I turn to her, leaning on my side, arm propped up under my chin. “We could be.”

Ramona turns on her side to face me. “What?”

“We could be compatible.” My voice drops lower than usual.

“How would we know?”

I reach for the blankets and cover us. Ramona snuggles right in the crook of my arm like we’ve done this a thousand times. Her body fits so perfectly there. Like a missing puzzle piece.

“Leaf? Are you going to answer me?”

Fuck, just do it.

I grab her chin and tilt it toward mine. Her eyes glisten with curiosity. “We could try that kissing thing again. Just you and me, here, with no pressure. No one watching.”

“And what if…” Her eyes tell the rest. What will happen to our friendship?

It was here first and will always remain. No matter what.

No matter what. Ramona agrees in the way her eyes search mine.

“…Okay,” she says just slightly above a whisper.

Shifting under the blankets, I position myself over her, caging her in with my arms before lowering onto my elbows.

She wraps her arms around my back, pulling me closer, those wicked nails of hers raking down my spine. I hope there are scratches in the morning. If this ends up being the biggest mistake of our friendship, at least I’ll have those to mark the occasion.

I don’t know how Ramona feels, but I sure as fuck know my heart is officially passed through the flaming hoop, scoring a goal with just seconds left before the game ends.

Except she isn’t a game. She is so much more. My chest aches at the slightest thought of her not reciprocating.

I brush my lower lip against her top lip, nudging her mouth open.

She complies willingly.

Her tongue swipes gently along my teeth, and I let out an embarrassingly low groan, finally letting my hips drop slightly while still containing myself. I don’t want to go too fast for fear of pushing her away.

Ramona pushes on my shoulder.

This is it. She hates the kiss. Hates me. I knew it.

She flips me on my back and lands on top, thighs parted on either side of my hips. “We are just testing this, right?” she asks, breathlessly.

“Exactly.” I nod.

“And it means nothing. Right?”

A twisting pain clenches in my stomach. It means everything. “It’s nothing. Just two friends playing around.”

Ramona’s brows furrow for a moment, then smooth. “Good.” She leans forward and kisses me again.

I’m putty in her hands, delicate spring flowers on the side of the pathway just happy to be alive before they are trampled. She grinds her hips in a way that makes me lightheaded as I cradle her neck, placing my thumb along her rapidly beating pulse.

I realize I don’t care.

I don’t care if this is just for tonight.

If this is all Ramona will give to me, I’ll take it.