Maddy turned her head. Eva was already looking at her. There was something unreadable in her expression.
Maddy felt the decision form without her permission. It felt less something she chose, more something she gave in to, like a pull she’d been resisting finally tightening until resistance simply fell away.
‘I really didn’t mean it,’ Maddy said softly.
Eva nodded. ‘I know.’
Maddy shook her head. ‘No, I mean… The word was gross. But I also didn’t mean thespiritof it. When you said I was… hot. I didn’t react honestly. I didn’t react how Ifelt.’
This was the moment, Maddy realised. The last easy exit. The last chance to laugh it off, to retreat.
She could still do that. She should do that.
‘No?’ Eva said after a second.
‘Didyoumean what you said?’ Maddy asked. ‘Or were you just playing?’
Eva shook her head. ‘I said it because I meant it.’ She sighed. ‘And I think you know that.’
She did. Incredibly, Maddy knew that it was real. Somehow, this was completely mutual.
Maddy felt every cell in her body push forward slightly. In the only direction there was. Towards Eva Givens.
Her hand moved at some point. She didn’t remember deciding to do it, but it was there now, resting lightly against Eva’s wrist.
Eva glanced down at it. Then back up. She didn’t pull away.
Maddy’s pulse thudded. This was happening. She was doing this.
‘Maddy—’ Eva started.
Maddy didn’t let her finish. She leaned in. It wasn’t dramatic. It wasn’t even particularly fast. It was careful. Like she was giving Eva time to stop her.
But Eva didn’t.
Their foreheads brushed first, a soft, accidental contact that made every hair on Maddy’s body stand on end. Then Eva’s gaze dropped to her mouth. That was it. That was all it took to push Maddy over the very last hurdle.
Their lips met. Soft and brief but so fucking real. Maddy felt it everywhere. In her chest, in her stomach, in the way her fingers tightened instinctively against Eva’s wrist. For the first time in a long time, maybe ever, she was doing exactly what she wanted to do.
Eva inhaled sharply against her mouth, surprised, but not pulling away. For a fraction of a second, Maddy thought,It won’t end at this. Itcan’t. I’m gonna…
The door handle rattled. ‘Maddy?’ came Kelly’s voice. ‘Are you in here?’
Maddy jerked back like she’d been burned. Panic seized her. ‘Oh my god,’ she hissed. She remembered where she was.Whoshe was.
‘Maddy?’ Kelly called again, and the door clicked open.
Maddy squeezed her eyes shut.
Please don’t look under the table. Please don’t look under the table.
Kelly’s footsteps clicked away, and then the door closed.
Maddy didn’t move. Eva was still right there. Maddy’s lips were still tingling.
Neither of them spoke. There was nothing to say.
Maddy climbed out. ‘I’m sorry, I’m clearly drunk,’ she declared to the room. A lie, obviously. She’d barely touched any booze today. But it was the only escape. The only way back to her life. If Eva would allow it.
