Page 75 of Jagged

"Nope. Just milk. Thanks."

"Welcome." She handed me the black mug then nodded. "Living room? We have a good twenty minutes."

"Sure."

I followed her then joined her by the sofa. "Should I take off my shoes on the carpet?"

"If you're comfortable you can."

"I will." I slipped out of them, then set them by the front door with hers. When I returned, she settled on the couch, and I joined her. "Thanks for having me over."

"I like having you over." She pulled a blanket off the back of the sofa then draped it across our laps. "The rain makes it so damp."

"It does." I scooted closer as we cupped our drinks in our palms.

"I'm not sure why I'm so comfortable around you. Normally, I'm not so good with newer people. It's not like that with you," she said, flipping the conversation's direction in an unexpected swerve.

"Same. I mean, I don't really make new connections. Kind of keep to myself and my people."

"Tatiana and Wyatt are lovely."

"Yeah." I smiled at the thought of them. "They're my besties."

"It's good to have that kind of support," she said, then sipped her coffee. "I've never been good at making friends. Or keeping them, for that matter."

"I never really made any beyond those in my proximity. You're different…"

"You're different, too." She glanced at me. "But I don't want to be your friend."

My heart sank for a moment, but then I waited for her to continue.

"I like more with you. So far, I really like the more." Rich, hazel eyes gazed at me, and I saw the nervous anticipation in them as she awaited my reply.

"I really like the more, too." I felt my smile reach my eyes, and the warmth it brought to my cheeks. When she brushed her hair behind her ear, then tossed the length of it over her shoulder, my insides fluttered and I leaned forward, hoping she would meet me halfway.

It took her a second to catch on, but without hesitation, we closed the space between us in a tender kiss. I stroked her cheek, allowing my knuckle to trace the curve of her jaw. We lingered there for a bit, until she leaned back with a smile. We watched each other, in quiet contemplation for a little while until I broke it.

"I'm worried that I won't be good for you. That my lack of long-term relationship experience will mess things up."

"Relationships belong to both people. In your past, maybe the other person, or people, didn't want something long and neither did you. We both want something long-term, something different and that's a start," she said, matter-of-factly in a way that soothed me.

I nodded, returning her hand squeeze when she gripped mine. "It is. So…what does that mean?"

"It means we're dating, right? Exclusively." Her brow narrowed very slightly with the descriptor as if she feared my reaction. "Right?"

"Right. I'm monogamous." I chuckled and brushed my thumb over her knuckles.

"Me too. To a fault sometimes. You'll be the only person that exists to me for a while." She snickered but shook her head. "I hope I'm not too much or overwhelming."

"You haven't been so far and I'm okay with being someone's priority. It's new for me…"

"Me too." She paused for a moment then asked, "What are some of your boundaries or things that you don't like in a relationship? For me, I don't like to be startled. Like don't run up behind me or try and scare me. Or tickling. And sometimes if I'm upset, I need space and to not be touched for a little while. And I'll get very quiet. Talking doesn't help."

"All of those make sense. Sometimes I get quiet, too, but mostly it's being overwhelmed. I'm not the best with social cues in relationships. Tatiana helps me…"

"Social cues in general are difficult for me." She grew quiet for a moment, then looked toward the window where the city lights shimmered in the light rain. "But I get by."

"When talking is hard or doesn't help, what does?"

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