Page 83 of Shadows in Bloom

Her brow knits as she pulls back slightly, her grip on my cheeks tightening, as if more certain than a moment ago.

My nerves—my hesitance…

It doesn’t scare her off.

It emboldens her.

“I want to kiss you, Winnie. And I know you want to kiss me too. I’ve seen the way you’ve been looking at me.”

My swallow goes down hard. I don’t deny it. How could I, when this is all that I’ve been secretly wishing for for months now, maybe years? How could I when she’s looking back at me like she too has been waiting for this moment, agonizing over how I’d react…if it would jeopardize our friendship?

How could I think there’s anything wrong or unnatural about kissing my best friend, my other half, the girl who tests me and tempts me and makes me feel more alive than anyone else in the universe?

How could I ever say no to this?

The spirit board knew I wouldn’t be able to. It said as much.

And as absurd as it may be, it’s that final thread of reasoning that has me nodding into the smooth, warm hands cradling my face.

And when Ophelia bridges the gap, gently sealing her lips to mine?—

When hesitant, shy brushes of the mouth give way to deepening sips, tongue-curling ecstasy, and the world goes sideways, and we’re rolling around, hands grappling at shoulders and backs—the wet smacking sounds of our lips, mingling with gasps and suppressed sounds as we feel our bodies molding together through our clothes in the most sinful of ways, the only storm to be heard?—

I pray, Please don’t let tonight be a dream.

At some point, Ophelia removes my glasses, setting them on the nightstand. Meanwhile, I take the moment to grab the forgotten Ouija board, and set it on the floor next to the bed. Just before we come back together, Ophelia blows out the candle, plummeting us into darkness.

“We never said goodbye,” I murmur against her mouth when we find each other once more, feeling blindly with our bodies and lips in the dark as we get under the covers.

Humming around my bottom lip, she releases it to say, “I’m sure she understands. We’ll apologize tomorrow.”

My quiet laugh hitches when she slams her lips back against mine with bruising force.

We make out for what feels like hours, braving touches over clothing, and taking turns driving each other crazy with shivery neck kisses.

And when exhaustion finally wins out, dragging us down, I catch myself praying again?—

Please don’t let tonight be a dream.

Iwake up to a nightmare.

“Winnie! Winifred, wake up!” Someone’s shaking me.

Behind my heavy eyes, flickers of light dance, warring with dense black spots.

I feel…funny.

Like I’m sinking.

“WINNIE!”

The shout is followed by a slap ringing out, and my head whips to the side, a dull numb ache quickly giving way to a needling sensation.

Ow.

My eyes flutter open, brows knitted with a combination of pain and confusion as I bring a heavy hand to my face. I look around wildly, but between my foggy vision, and the bleariness of a deep sleep clinging to me, I can’t make out anything more than orange and gray blobs.

And then I realize it’s not my eyes.

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