Page 15 of Tricky Girls

I let out a surprised laugh. ‘I swear that hadn’t even crossed my mind. Good to know it is yours though.’

Tilda shakes her head, a chastised smile on her lips.

Now I’m thinking about kissing her. I glance at Haz, who’s puckering her lips playfully. Yeah, I bloody wish.

‘Here. Take a sip.’ I place the Coke against her still-smiling lips, feeling a frisson of satisfaction when they part on command. Her hand cups mine as she guides the can. They’re freezing, despite the heating being blasted since six this morning.

‘Coke,’ Tilda says, licking her lips.

‘Mm-hm. And now for the good stuff.’

There’s a lot less in the Pepsi can, meaning she has to tip her head back. My fingers tangle in her hair as I support her, the sight so unexpectedly hot that I end up spilling half the liquid down her chin.

She squeaks, eyes flying open as she swipes at the drops.

‘Oops. Sorry about that.’

She snatches back her Coke with a mock glare. ‘Sure you are.’

I bat her hand away, using my thumb to wipe the remaining liquid, cupping her jaw as I do. Shit, her skin’s as soft as a baby’s. ‘There.’

I hear Haz huff but ignore her as I return Tilda’s sub to her lap. ‘Good though, isn’t it? The Pepsi.’

‘Couldn’t really taste a difference.’

I return to the coffee table. ‘Guess we’ll have to repeat the experiment another time. Maybe if I sit in your lap, I can hold the cans steadier.’

‘Oh my god,’ she laughs. ‘You’re literally awful. And now I’m going to smell like Coke for the rest of the day.’

‘Pepsi.’

She waves me away but I’m happy with the brightness in her eyes. She seemed so fucking sad this morning, it broke my heart. She needs to be happy, always, those little green eyes dancing with it like they are now, and damn if I’ll do everything I can to keep them that way.

It kind of shocks me, this feeling. Not felt anything like that since my college girlfriend, and sort of thought I wouldn’t again. I think first loves are supposed to wreck you though. I hope that skinny bloke wasn’t Tilda’s. He doesn’t deserve to even breathe the same air as this girl.

She departs before I need to leave for my meeting with student services. I send her off with the free churros that came with my burrito, delighting in the little smile she graces me for it.

When I return to the lounge, Haz is sprawled out on the floor.

‘I’m wet,’ she says.

‘Gross.’

‘Seriously.’ She lets out a loud sigh. ‘Fucking straight girls.’

‘Hope I will be.’

‘Get in line.’ She kicks her leg out at me. ‘Know your fucking place.’

Oh, I do. Especially where Haz is concerned. She had been Nic’s friend long before we ever met during freshers and spent most of the party week stealing girls from right under my nose. Just because she could. Just because she had those giant muscles, scary eyes and darker than pitch aura.

It bummed me out at first. At college, I’d been the only lesbian, an obvious one at that, and kind of became the go-tofor experimentation. Which had been cool at the time. But here, everyone seems to be some kind of gay, and presented with a choice, they usually choose Haz over my nicer ass.

Then Nic came along, saw what Haz was doing, and all but beat her for it. They’d fallen out for a bit, but Nic can be humble when she needs to be, and slowly drew Haz back around. Now if there’s any girl we’re both interested in, it’s still fair game, but more friendly competition than the all-out annihilation I think Haz would prefer.

Frankly, even if Tilda was gay, I’m not sure it’s Haz she should be getting involved with. There’s something about Tilda, something wounded, a sadness that goes deeper than just her dumb boyfriend betraying her. Even I noticed the tell-tale lines marring the tops of her thighs through her semi-sheer tights. She needs protecting, that’s the feeling I get. And Haz—yeah, she’d kill anything that hurt her girl but sometimes she’s the one doing the hurting. They like it, ask for it. I’ve seen her in bed, if only the once. She was…ruthless, unforgiving. I like to top, yeah, but you can do that and still be gentle with the person you’re with.

And Tilda needs that gentleness, in and out of the bedroom.

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