Page 21 of Between Here and There

“Fair.” I cross my arms. “And I only date casually, never even had a girlfriend, so you’re in the clear,” I answer back.

She nods, seeming relieved. “Okay, so no feelings, no messy attachments.”

“No messy attachments,” I echo, but there’s a twinge of something underneath the surface. It’s odd because I am severely attracted to her but I also don’t want to date her. And I don’t know where that puts me.

“Also, no kissing, right?” she adds, her tone casual, though there’s a flicker of something uncertain in her gaze.

“Hmm,” I say, a soft smile tugging on my lips. I look at her casually and continue, “You sure there’s no wiggle room on that rule?” I try to make it light, but I could feel the disappointment in my gut when she says that.

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head. “I’m kidding,” I add. “No kissing… unless absolutely necessary,” I counter. Emily doesn’t correct me, and I smile. My mind flashes back to that night in Manhattan, how our kiss was so perfect it sealed itself in my memory forever. And how I don’t think any other kiss came close to how that felt. And, as she’s smiling now, I can’t help but think about how easy it would be to just lean forward and–

“And we should keep this temporary,” she continues, snapping me back to reality. “This is just while we’re here in Manila. When we’re back in New York, we can go back to our own lives.”

I nod. “Yes, Ma’am. No feelings, no messy attachments, no kissing, temporary,” I say, holding up a finger each time. “Solid plan, Em.”

Emily’s eyes soften slightly, but I notice she’s still keeping some distance. I decide to push a little further.

“One more thing,” I say, my voice taking on a teasing tone. “I need your consent on this.”

“On what?”

“I’m a touchy person,” I murmur, watching her closely. “If I’m in a moment with you, I might... hold your hand, put my arm around your shoulder, touch your face—you know, the usual. I need to know if you’re okay with that.”

She doesn’t answer right away, and my pulse quickens. This is the line where things could go sideways. I lean in just a fraction, lowering my voice to make sure she knows I’m not joking about this. “I just need to know now. If you’re not okay with it, I’ll back off. But if you are...” I let my words trail off, letting the silence hang between us.

She stares at me, her breath catching just a bit. The air feels charged, but she doesn’t pull away. “I guess we’ll find out, won’t we?”

“No, no,” I reply, the teasing edge dropping from my voice. “I need your explicit consent, Emily. I’m not gonna touch you and then find out you’re uncomfortable. I need to know your boundaries now.”

She goes silent, and I can see her thinking it over, her eyes scanning my face. I wait, but the stillness feels like a long stretch of time, my heart thudding louder than I’d like. Finally, I add to ease the mood, “Just so you know, though... you have my unlimited consent. It’s always ‘yes’ for me.”

A breath of laughter escapes her, and the tension in the air softens. “I’m fine with the hand holding, the shoulder thing, and even the face touch. But maybe... just ask me before you do anything else?”

“Perfect,” I say, giving her a warm smile

Emily laughs softly, the mood lifting again. “I think we can pull this off.”

“Of course, we can. I mean, we’re both professionals at this point,” I joke, trying to lighten the moment. I start the car again, going into the village we grew up in.

“I’m gonna send this to you as our shared note,” she says, already pulling out her phone. She asks for my email, and soon we’re sharing a note file, a piece of this strange agreement between us.

As she chuckles, a part of me wonders if we’re both lying to ourselves. Because here’s the thing: it’s easy to set up rules, easier still to agree to them. But rules don’t always protect you from reality. And right now, reality is sitting across from me, tying her hair up in a ponytail, and sporting a stunning smile.

We pass through the gates of Magnolia Heights, and the neighborhood unfurls around us like a memory I’d almost forgotten I held so close. The houses line up along the street, each one with its own small quirks—painted shutters, wind chimes, and makeshift swings swaying gently in the evening breeze. Mango trees and bougainvillea spill over fences. Small, family-owned shops and restaurants dot the main avenue, their windows warm and welcoming, even when the shops are closed.

As we turn onto my street, my house comes into view. The lights are bright, spilling out from the windows, and I can already sense the energy buzzing from inside. The place is packed, no doubt, with everyone conveniently gathered for our arrival, waiting for us to make our grand entrance. I park just outside and glance over at Emily, who’s taking it all in.

“Here we go. You ready, Sugarplum?” I ask with a grin.

“As ready as you are, Sweet Pea.” She gives me the most sarcastic smile in the world. I chuckle as I go down and open the door for her on the other side.

“Just remember the secret to a successful lie,” I say as she gets out of the car.

I slip my arm around her as soon as she’s out, and she looks up at me, her curiosity piqued. “And what’s that?” she asks.

I glance down at her, a teasing smile playing on my lips as I say, “Always make sure it has a little bit of truth.” I wink, and I lead her inside.

PART TWO

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