Biz finds me standing in Eric’s bedroom doorway, texting him for the third time. “I hung his leash up, and he’s currently dragging around his stuffed monkey. Rather unbothered about the whole ordeal, actually,” she says, leaning back against the wall opposite of me. “Maybe someone was walking his dog for him, and they’re still out looking for Jubilee?”
If that’s the case, Eric is going to be livid knowing that Jubilee was wandering around Ithaca with a leash attached to him. That dog walker is going to get an earful.
I’m just relieved to have a viable explanation for this. “I could open-mouth kiss you right now. Here I was imagining the worst.”
It’s her turn to blush, shoving her hands into her jean pockets. “Ahh… uh huh. That would do.”
“Mm?”
“I’d accept that as payment.”
Oh? The gambit of emotions taking over riles me. Maybe I’ve pretended to myself that our connection from the start wasn’t normal. Beyond a name… the memories I have feel more and more disconnected from who she actually is. A girl that I like… hell, more than like. One I’ve been attracted to since she mimicked my accent and teased me for the way I fixed the gallery door.
Everything about her intrigues me.
Teasing her, I reply, “What are we talking about… show me… I’m a visual learner.”
I’m caught off guard when she comes closer, goes up on her tip toes, inches from my mouth, and she says under her breath, “This is me living.”
Leaning into the kiss, I cradle her face. My chest feels like it's about to explode as our tongues tangle, my lips brushing lightly against hers. I’m a goner just like that. Biz, Bizzy… Elizabeth… my heart sails away. I’ll happily bid it adieu.
Jubilee parks himself on my feet, tugging at my pant leg with a whine. We break apart with a laugh. “He might need to go outside to pee.”
She joins me while I try to pay attention to Jubilee and not stare at her. My God, she’s so damn pretty.
“I want you to meet my best friend. He’s on Duke’s basketball team, and they are playing at West Point in a couple of weeks. Would you come with me to watch the game?”
There isn’t an excursion I would say no to with her asking. “Road trip? That could be fun. I’m down.”
It’s saying something when I don’t even balk at hearing the coincidence that Mya Abbot is involved because her cousin isBizzy’s best friend. I’d never purposely put myself in her vicinity, much less inside a confined space for hours on end. Maybe not…
She must see me contemplating. “It shouldn’t be too bad. Odds are she’ll just ignore us… right?”
Not likely. Not if I’m involved.
“Uh-huh. She’s a real charmer, that one. For me, it’s the casual cruelty paired with her uncouth judgments. Everyone just loves an overly critical queen. Slayyy.” I snap my fingers, throwing my hip out.
“JJ,” she laughs, leaning into my side. “There’s safety in numbers at least.”
I kiss the top of her head before I can overthink it.
Writing a note for Eric before we leave to walk back to the gallery, I can’t get over how this day has panned out. From rearranging a wall of paintings to kissing the person I daydream about.
Do I jinx the kiss… the growing affection between us… by addressing it? Maybe it’s best to let things take their natural course without my commentary.
Shit. What if she expects me to say something? I’m no good at this.
Halfway back, I grab her hand. I haven’t held a girl’s hand since I was twelve. The action alone makes me laugh to myself.
“What?” she asks.
I take the risk. “Just feeling happier than I have for a while.”
Her smile falters as she looks at me, making my heart dip. Then she brightens and says, “Spending time with you has been the only thing I’ve looked forward to lately. Have you ever heard the saying ‘Time is the only currency we spend without knowing our balance’? I plan to use mine wisely.” She winks at me, and all feels right with the world.
Until I remember what we’re up against.
Part Two
