Page 51 of Lotus

Specifically, my vagina remembers.

I’m so screwed.

After spending the day catching up on deadlines and organizing my closet, both welcome distractions to the memory of Oliver’s oddly skilled tongue, it’s time to shower and figure out my evening plans, considering I’m not working at the club tonight.

My cell phone buzzes from atop my dresser, and I snatch it up before pulling my paint-smeared tank top over my head.

Clem:Hey, hoochy

Me:‘Sup, skank

Clem:Poppy is with Nate tonight. You working?

Perfect.

Me:Nada. Rum Runners and regret?

Clem:YESSS. Let’s decide right now what shitty life problems we’ll be drinking away tonight. You go first.

Me:I kissed Oliver.

There’s a long, dramatic pause, causing my insides to spiral with anxiety.

Clem:Processing

Dammit. I glare at the phone screen as I collapse backwards onto my bed in my bra and athletic shorts, awaiting the inevitable lecture.

Clem:Ok, can’t process. Please elaborate.

Me:Dude, it’s self-explanatory. Our lips and tongues made contact. And I liked it way more than I thought I would. He asked me to teach him how to kiss, but he sure AF didn’t need much guidance. Now I’m worried it’s going to be weird between us :(

Clem:Shit. That’s so hot.

Me:You’re no help.

Clem:We’ll discuss more tonight. I’m leaving to drop off Poppy now. Love yoooou

I shoot her a kissy-face emoji just as the doorbell rings.

Oy. The tank top goes back on over my head, and I jog down the staircase, smoothing out my fly-aways in the process. I’m not exactly shocked to discover Oliver standing on the other side of the door, but Iama little taken aback by the way my heart skips more than one beat at the sight of him in dark running shorts and a crisp, white t-shirt that accentuates his pectorals.

And then my heart almost spontaneously combusts when I spot the singular flower in his hand, stem rolling between his thumb and forefinger.

“Hello,” he greets, an adorable, dimpled grin on his face.

I blink. “Ugh… fuck me.”

Oliver’s eyebrows lift to his hairline, his cheeks coloring a demure shade of pink. “Pardon?”

Shaking my head and cursing my inept choice of words, I usher him inside the house, blowing a strand of hair out of my eyes. “Sorry, I didn’t mean… hell, what are you doing here? More importantly, why do you have a flower?”

“It’s for you. I took a run down to the lake where we saw the fireworks, and there were an abundance of American Lotus flowers. I thought it was fitting.” He hands me the lush flower with soft-hued yellow petals. “Do you like it?”

Of course I like it. It’s the sweetest goddamn thing I’ve ever seen in my life, and I might actually burst into tears.

Mustering a nod, I accept the gift, twirling the stem in lazy circles. My conflicted gaze hooks on Oliver, who is watching my reaction intently. “Oliver… why are you here?”

“I was hoping I could kiss you again.”

---