Page 33 of Promises We Meant to Keep

Kamryn laughed with a shake of her head. “I did think about buying those little shots you can take, the ones you pull the lid off and just take. But I didn’t think that would be very appropriate for a new, young Head of School. What do you think?”

Elia knew the dig when she heard it, but it was said with such a kindness that she didn’t suspect Kamryn was still hurt over her comments. “Probably a wise choice, this time.”

“There’s plenty of time to make bad choices.” Kamryn’s voice was back to that flirting tone that Elia had found so intoxicating the last time they were in a situation like this. It wasn’t any less intoxicating this time, in fact, probably more since they were in such small and confined places.

And because this was forbidden.

Elia sucked in slowly as her fingers crunched the crisp bag. Whatever could Kamryn have gotten inside? She was curious, but she also didn’t want to spoil whatever this delicious tension was between them.

“Am I going to like it?” Elia asked, still refusing to open the bag.

Kamryn laughed, her eyes lighting up with joy. “Yeah, I think you’ll like it. You really are holding onto this like a secret admirer gift.”

“Is it from a secret admirer?” Elia’s heart pattered steadily, and her entire body warmed with the thought that perhapsKamryn did like her a little more than a boss should like someone she supervised.

“She’s not so secret, now is she?”

That phrasing confused Elia. She studied Kamryn carefully, but didn’t push for another answer. They were getting dangerously close to something, but she wasn’t sure what exactly. And as much as it scared her, it excited her even more.

Elia took the bag and unfolded the top of it slowly. She built up the anticipation with each passing second. She peered into the opening of the bag, finding a silver handle. Confused, Elia reached into the bag and pulled out a brand-new whisk.

The laughter burbled up from her belly and left her lips in a loud guffaw. “You’re kidding me.”

“I’m not.” Kamryn was fully grinning back at her.

Elia couldn’t hold it in any longer. The joy filled her, and she held the whisk up in the air and chanted, “Whisk! Whisk! Whisk!”

Kamryn joined in the chant before they both dissolved into a fit of giggles together. Elia’s breathing became rapid and short, and she held a hand to her chest with the whisk still in her fingers. Pressing her free hand against Kamryn’s thigh, she clasped onto her, not letting go.

“I thought some traditions should be kept,” Kamryn finally said.

Elia shook her head and wiped the tears that were budding from under her eyes. “Do you know how long it took me to weed this one out?”

“How long?” Kamryn settled her hand on top of Elia’s, giving it one long squeeze before letting go.

Elia moved her hand off Kamryn’s thigh, a sudden coldness washing through her. If Kamryn had been so concerned about consent before kissing, then she probably felt the same waybefore touching, even when it wasn’t sexual in nature. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have touched you.”

“It’s all right.” Kamryn gave her a sweet smile. “You can if you want.”

Unsure about how to feel about that, Elia moved on from it to avoid instead. “It took six years after you graduated to get rid ofthe whisk.” She was shaking her head again. “You really want to bring it back?”

“Why not? It was an amazing tradition.” Kamryn took Elia’s hand back in her own, lacing their fingers.

Elia stared down at their hands. Comfortable. That’s what this was. Kamryn wasn’t Abagail when touching her—this was far from friendly—but she wasn’t put off by it either. She was sure that there was no other intention than to connect physically as well as emotionally.

“Then let’s do it in the morning,” Elia answered, her voice far wispier than she intended it to be. Normally she’d correct that, but tonight, she didn’t have the energy for that. And this felt so nice. Actually, better than nice. This was amazing.

“Don’t want to be up until three in the morning every competition talking about the highlights?”

Elia smiled and shook her head. “I’m not as young as I used to be. So three in the morning is well beyond my bedtime. But you’re free to stay up that late if you want to start a new tradition.” Elia didn’t say the second part—that it would likely die when Kamryn left, having no one to continue it that late into the night. What would she do when Kamryn left?

That thought struck her hard.

Elia didn’t want to think about it. She couldn’t imagine the next semester without Kamryn there. She’d been so helpful in so many ways, and she was such a hard worker. “I think the morning would be a better option, don’t you?”

“To use our whisk microphone as our talking stick? Absolutely.” Kamryn squeezed Elia’s hand again, but she still didn’t let go. “What’s your highlight though? I don’t think I can wait until breakfast for that one.”

“Hmm.” Elia was going to have to think about that one. She had many. But it had been such a long time since she’d participated in the practice of lifting those good things up and sharing them with others. She missed it. It was such a good practice that she should have kept up, just in a form that didn’t involve staying awake immediately after a competition. “Our new students did well, even with only having a month to prepare. They exceeded my expectations.”

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