“I kissed him,” I admit quietly, burying my face in my hands. Ty and Noah yell “Elsie!” in unison and I groan behind my fingers. “I don’t know what came over me. I’ve never done that before.”
When I hear a slow clap begin, I look up to find Ty beaming down at me proudly. “I thought for sure he’d be the one to make the first move. Good for you, girl.”
“Okay, so how was it?” Noah asks again.
“It was…”
How do I explain a kiss like that? It was beyond anything I’ve experienced before. I didn’t even know Ilikedkissing that much. But Declan was… overwhelming, in every sense of the word. But in a way I didn’t mind, not even a little bit. Once his lips crashed down onto mine, all I could feel, see, sense washim. His lips hungry on mine, his strong hands on my body, the taste of peppermint on his tongue. The needy way he pulled me tighter against him, hisadamant“No”when I tried to pull away, like he was just as desperate to keep kissing me as I was to kiss him.
“Really, really good,” I finally admit. “Kind of perfect.”
Noah sighs and leans against Ty. “I love this for you.”
“Even if some of us are severely lacking in the romance department lately,” Ty says dryly, sneaking a look over at Noah, who meets his eye and blushes.
“Same here,” Noah says, almost shyly. They share a small smile before turning back to me.
I’d love to turn the tables around on them –speaking of romance, would you two like to admit that you like each other yet?– but I could never embarrass them like that. I will, however, be grilling each of them separately the second I get them alone.
“We’ve got…” Ty checks his watch, “about six minutes left. Explain why you ran out of there like there was a fire the second you saw him coming.”
Because I’m embarrassed that I kissed him. And surprised by how much I liked – no,lovedit. Confused by what it all means, and what happens next. Terrified to find out he actually wasn’t that into it. Or maybe hewas, but he’s come to his senses since then and doesn’t think it should happen again.
Hell,Idon’t even necessarily think it should happen again. This thing between Declan and I – it can’t be leading anywhere good. Guys like him don’t settle down with women like me, and I don’t think I can do casual with him.
“I have no idea what’s going on between us,” I finally say, “and I’m not ready to find out just yet.”
“So you did the reasonable thing and ran for your life,” Noah says, nodding.
“Exactly.”
“You’re insane,” Ty says affectionately. “C’mon, your fifteen minutes are almost up. We also told Declan you were headed to the bathroom and he’s probably growing concerned that you haven’t reappeared yet.”
“You did not.” My jaw drops, horror setting in. The only thing more embarrassing than running from the man you impulsively kissed the night before is that same man thinking you’re running away because you have to poop.
“Elsie,” Ty scolds. “The man saw yousprintingthrough the shop like you were competing in the hundred-meter dash. I had to give him a reason.”
“It didn’t have to be bathroom related,” I mutter, rising from my chair. When I round the desk, Ty tucks me under his arm and squeezes me in a side hug.
“Sorry, babe,” he laughs, not sounding the least bit sorry. “He probably didn’t believe me anyway.”
“And he probably wouldn’t even care,” Noah adds from behind us as we head back to the shop floor. “He’s, like, obsessed with you.”
“Nobody is obsessed with anyone,” I argue, though it does feel a little bit like I might be obsessed with Declan. There’s no other explanation for my behavior last night. I mean, going to his apartment like that was one thing. That alone was borderline insane. Butkissinghim?
Absolutely certifiable.
When we emerge from the break room, I’m relieved to find that Declan isn’t waiting around for me. I step out from under Ty’s arm and round on him and Noah. “You guys can’t speak a word of this to anyone.”
Ty holds his hands up in front of him while Noah makes another X over his chest. “Cross my heart,” he promises.
“I swear,” Ty says. “But you’d better tell Olivia and Grace. They’re going to die when they find out.”
I groan, because I know he’s right. “I’m going to tell them,” I promise “Might as well have a few more witnesses to my insanity.”
“That’s the spirit,” he says cheerfully. He goes to the back of the shop and opens the door, and Lucy comes trotting through it, sniffing everything in her path.
“Lucy Lu,” I coo, and she comes bounding over to me. She presses her big, fluffy body against my legs and peeks up at me, demanding pets. I oblige, obviously.
