“Well? How was that?” She was sitting back again, looking like the cat that got the cream.
Did she like the kiss? Was it even possible? Andy tamped down his hopes before he sprouted wings right there in the food court. He cleared his throat. “It was fine. Very good.”
“I think you should kiss every time we go in a new store,” said Raya. “For practice.”
Phoenix nodded sagely. “Yes, for practice, Andy.”
Erin raised her eyebrows at Andy. “You game?”
Andy, who was beginning to feel like he had been redeemed and sent to some sort of heaven, could only nod. He drank his smoothie as quickly as possible. “Ready when you are,” he said when he finished.
28
The quartet approached the entrance to the last of the department stores. They had found nothing wedding-worthy at any of the preceding stores, and Andy, who had found the idea of kissing Erin to be heavenly, quickly discovered that in practice it was far more like Hell.
He couldn’t abide the idea that Erin only went along with it because she wanted to put on a convincing show at her ex’s wedding, but he also wanted to make her happy—and if that meant putting on a show, Andy would put on a show. It was a terrible position to be in. The fact that the kissing part was very nice just made it more like torture.
He steeled himself as he faced Erin.
“All right, you two, let’s go,” said Phoenix, gesturing meaningfully.
“On the lips this time,” said Raya.
“What?” said Andy. Panicked, he shot Phoenix a look.
Phoenix returned the look with an innocent smile.
Andy’s gaze switched to Erin.
She looked back at him with quiet expectation.
Well, then. If that’s the way it had to be, then he would do it right. He took a firm step forward, closing the distance between them, and swept one arm around the small of her back. His other hand softly cradled Erin’s head, her hair soft under his fingers.
Erin’s head tilted slightly back and her lips turned upward at the corners.
Andy kissed her sweet smile and felt Erin’s arms wrap around him, holding him in a state of bliss for what seemed to be eternity.
Raya slow-clapped and grinned at the two of them.
“Now that’s a kiss,” said Phoenix.
Erin drew back, pink at the cheeks.
Andy would have banished Phoenix—or murdered him, if it were possible—for interrupting. Instead, he turned back to Erin. “Was it okay?”
Erin cleared her throat. “It was great. I mean—it was fine.”
“You’re sure?”
She nodded.
Phoenix slapped him on the back. “You’ll make a very convincing couple. Now let’s find a damned dress and get out of here.”
They proceeded into the store. The scent of the store’s perfume counter wafted out in a melange of riotous aromas.
Andy nearly stumbled in the aisle, still reeling from the kiss, and now under assault by the overpowering perfume.
Erin slipped up beside him and took his hand. “Are you okay?”
