Page 18 of Like First Love, Again

“Oh, don’t get all high and mighty.” The pressure building in Mia’s chest eased. “A dip in the lady pond is a dip in the lady pond, okay?”

Tori chuckled and shook her head. Mercifully, she pushed the button to start the car.

“So, are you dating anyone? What happened with that bartender? Do you have a type?” Mia fired off questions while Tori drove out of Daniela’s neighborhood.

While answering most of her questions, Tori relaxed.

“Did you know in high school?” Mia asked when the energy between them returned to normal.

She wanted Tori to say no. To say that she’d never kept anything about herself a secret. Not from her. Mia couldn’t stand the idea of Tori dealing with anything on her own. She rather hear that she’d discovered herself in college like so many people did.

“Yeah,” Tori whispered, shattering Mia with a single syllable.

Nine

Too nervous to drink coffee, Tori stared at the phone on her kitchen counter. She’d barely slept after dropping Mia off at home the night before, and since she’d returned from her sunrise run, she’d been staring at Mia’s text message.

Mia:Mountain of paperwork all signed. Come over? I’ll make you breakfast…

Of all the ways she’d imagined coming out to Mia, being accidentally booted from the closet by someone she hadn’t seen in years wasn’t one of them. Was it weird that she was relieved that it was out in the open now? That there wasn’t a dramatic revelatory conversation? Did that make her a coward?

Tori looked at the text again. What was with the ellipsis? And since when did Mia cook?

Deciding it was safer to shower than to keep staring at her phone, Tori jogged upstairs, stripped off her clothes, and stood under near-scalding water. When she returned to the kitchen, she lasted ten minutes before glancing at her screen again.

Mia:How about I sweeten the deal? If you come over, I’ll give you back your jacket.

Tori bit the inside of her cheek to keep her smile in its holster. The triple knotted mass in her chest loosened on its own.

Tori:You can’t blackmail me with the property you stole from me…

Mia:Blackmail?! The drama, Victoria. The drama! I pulled out the percolator, and the cafecito is on point. Are you coming or what?

Without picking up her phone, Tori shot off her response.

Tori:I don’t remember you being a bully in high school.

She intended to make herself a smoothie, but Mia’s chat bubbles appeared before she’d taken a step.

Mia:You think my efforts at friendship and hospitality are bullying?! Do you know what that word even means? I don’t think you know what that word means.

Tori chuckled and grabbed her phone. She leaned back against the counter. Bottom lip between her teeth, Tori let herself fish—just a little—for the answer she wanted.

Tori:If only there were some convenient technology where you could send me the images of the documents. One free from the joys of Miami traffic…

Mia:But then I wouldn’t be able to dazzle you with my personality. A lose/lose for all. Do you want me to beg? Because I will.

A familiar feeling fluttered to life in Tori’s belly. It sent whispers of warmth over her skin and made her stupid grin impossible to restrain.

Shifting her weight, she forced herself to relax. Mia just talked that way. She would not let herself read into things. Not this go-around.

Mia:Please, Tori. Would you please grace me with the honor of your presence? Do you want me to come to your place and drop them off instead? Have coffee—will travel.

Dropping her shoulders, Tori relented.

Tori:If you insist,I’m going to be close to your neighborhood around eleven.

Mia:Good. Come over now and you can hang out with me before doing whatever the hell you’re doing at eleven. I’ll leave the door unlocked. I’m going to go take a shower byyyyyyye.

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