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‘No. I’m asking: do you enjoy kissingme?’ Holly laid emphasis on what she hoped were the right words, pointing between her and Jen’s chests to add further clarification.
Jen scratched her cheek, thinking. ‘Like, sexually?’
YES, screamed Holly’s mind. She wasn’t brave enough to say it, not by half. ‘Whatever you feel comfortable with, but I was just meaning on a basic level. Like, do you enjoy it or is it a chore? Just part of the act?’
Jen shook her head with gusto, her blonde waves bouncing. ‘Oh, no, no. Not a chore.’
It wasn’t the most romantic thing she’d ever heard. but it still sent a frisson of hope over Holly. Jen didn’t hate it: that was a good start. ‘So, bearable then?’
‘Yeah, like, as nice as kissing a friend can be. Are you really doubting your skills this much? You struck me as confident.’
Hope was dashed as quickly as it had emerged.
Holly guffawed, ignoring the sinking of her stomach. ‘Me? Pull the other one.’
‘I never would have known.’
The opening bars of S Club 7’s ‘Reach’ blasted from Holly’s phone, the jazzy piano making them both recoil.
‘Whoa, that’s not on my playlist,’ Holly said, her eyes wide.
‘Good tunes. I enjoyed them.’ Jen reached over and picked up Holly’s phone, using her knee for stability. A pop of excitement sparked in her core with the sudden contact, despite her being so blatantly friend-zoned moments before. ‘But if it’s finished, does that mean you need me to add to it?’
‘Add? To my playlist?’ Holly asked, her tone making it clear how atrocious the action would be.
Jen held the phone close to her chest, furiously typing. ‘Just a few. Go on.’
Holly swiped for the mobile, narrowly missing as Jen pulled it above her head, leaning back out of reach. Her T-shirt rode up, exposing Jen’s flat stomach. Holly gulped. Jen was too busy typing to notice what had stalled her.Thank God.
‘Just one, then.’
‘No,’ she said with a grin, trying to reach the phone again.
With cat-like grace, Jen rolled off the sofa and onto her feet, quickly followed by Holly.
‘Right, that’s the first one,’ Jen baited.
‘No, no, no,’ Holly giggled. The blonde was too quick and dodged every attack like a champion boxer. Holly changed tack and approached from a different angle, this time managing to take possession.
‘Hey, hey, I wasn’t done!’
‘Oh, you’re done,’ Holly replied, unable to stop laughing. She ducked Jen’s attempt at retrieval and spun around, keeping the phone close to her body.
Jen grabbed her from behind, her arms playfully locked around Holly’s waist, her head on her shoulder, breath hot against Holly’s skin.
Holly’s core pulsed with desire, caught in the heat of the moment.
They froze, chests heaving in unison.
S Club 7 filled the room, their laughter still hanging in the air. If someone lit a match the place would surely explode – the atmosphere was so loaded that it should have come with a ticking countdown.
Jen had made it perfectly clear how she thought of her. Moment or not, she couldn’t pursue anything. Not tonight. Not ever. She had to call time before she made a fool of herself.
Jen’s breath still whistled in her ear as she broke the embrace, stepping away with her best attempt at a smile. ‘Thank you,’ she said, playfully irreverent as she wiggled the phone in Jen’s direction.
It was impossible to read Jen’s face.
Holly tapped the pause button, silence filling the room like a tidal wave. It made everything a thousand times worse. But she was committed now. It was a good chance to leave, especially since Jen had failed to utter a word.
Had she felt it? The way Holly’s body ached for her to touch her, find an excuse to have her near, do anything to create a physical connection?
There had to be a reason for the look on Jen’s face, like she’d just been winded.
‘Listen,’ Holly said, trying to sound aloof, ‘I think my dad needs a hand unloading these crackers. Can’t have him putting his back out.’ She managed a half-smile. It was all she could muster, her insides now a garbled mess.
‘Yeah, yeah. Of course,’ Jen replied, almost dazed.
‘See you tomorrow, maybe.’
‘See you.’
