Page 39 of Promises We Meant to Keep

“I think just highlights is a better use for the whisk.” Elia stepped into the elevator and paused as she hit the floor she needed.

Kamryn didn’t hit her floor.

Elia said nothing as the elevator doors closed. She really wanted to see what Kamryn had up her sleeve this time, and she was pretty sure that Kamryn had a plan. That woman didn’t go anywhere without a plan, even if it went out the window as soon as she arrived.

They walked down the hallway toward Elia’s room. They’d ended up spending two nights this time because the drive was so long. Elia fingered the key in her pocket before she pulled it out. When she got to her room, she stopped and faced Kamryn full on, still curious as to what was happening and why.

Had this been a relationship, she would know what to expect.

But this wasn’t that.

And even though they were friendly with each other lately, they weren’t best friends. Kamryn wasn’t Abagail, and Elia didn’t think that Kamryn would just barge into the room like it was her own. They weren’t that close yet.

“What is your highlight for the day?” Kamryn asked, her voice lowering, not quite a whisper, but definitely close to it.

Elia didn’t blame her. She didn’t necessarily want any kids to overhear what they were talking about either. Glancing down the hallway both ways, Elia took a risk that she normally wouldn’t. Except it seemed she was breaking her own personal rules a lot for Kamryn.

Unlocking her door, she stepped inside and held it open. “We’ll talk inside.”

Kamryn smiled, definitely pleased with herself, as she walked past Elia and hit the light switch as she went. Elia checked the hallway one more time. The last thing she needed was rumors spreading that she and the Head of School were an item. And while Kamryn had been in her room before, she’d come late at night when the kids were all settled. Not right after dinner.

With the door shut, Elia already felt a million times more comfortable. She shed her jacket and threw it over the chair in the corner of the room. She was assuming that Kamryn was going to sit on the mattress like she had the last time anyway. And something within Elia that night wanted her close. It was probably the same reason she hadn’t been able to stop looking for Kamryn in the middle of the competition space all day.

Kamryn took off her jacket and put it onto the chair. She sat heavily onto the edge of the bed, and Elia sat next to her.

“Did you really want to know what my highlight was?”

“Of course,” Kamryn answered with a smile.

Elia was going to have to think about this one. Because while she could easily call up something good that had happened, her highlight could mean so much more to the conversation they were having. The question really remained whether or not she wanted to continue down the path that she was already set on or if she wanted to get off.

And she just wasn’t sure.

This could so easily tip into relationship territory. But was she willing to go that far? Or did she need to pull back?

Elia sighed and leaned back slightly, finally deciding where she should start. “The last time I tangled a relationship with Windermere, it didn’t end well for me.”

Kamryn frowned deeply, her face falling from the lightness she’d had to a much deeper understanding. Elia was taking this conversation in a completely different direction. “I’m not sure I follow.”

“I’m enjoying spending time with you, Kam.” Elia stated as simply as she possibly could. She didn’t want to give Kamryn any false hope or to confess something that neither one of them were ready to hear or understand. “I’d like to continue doing that.”

“We are spending time together.” Kamryn instinctively reached out but then stopped. Elia took her hand and tangled their fingers tight. Sometimes talking to Kamryn was easier this way. “I’m not understanding.”

“Then perhaps it’s best that we leave it at that.” Elia gave her a tight and somewhat forced smile. She wasn’t sure that she could lead Kamryn through this conversation, at least not yet. She needed to save something for herself in all of this because without that, she might never survive another disaster like the last one.

“Elia…” Kamryn paused, her gaze locked on their joined hands. The pause was pregnant, and Elia gave her the time to find the words that she needed, whatever they were. “Elia,” Kamryn started again, finally lifting those stunning brown eyes to meet Elia’s. “Can I kiss you?”

A shiver ran through Elia, raising goosebumps along her skin, hardening her nipples, moving farther down her body and right back up. She hadn’t been wrong before. This was amazing, so much better than any kiss she’d had before and they hadn’t even started a kiss, which she was going to say yes to.

Just being asked…how could she even put that into words?

Elia looked deep into Kamryn’s eyes, her gaze that held so much intensity and passion. How had Elia not seen that before? Because it was there now, it was there when Kamryn was talking passionately about something else, it had been there the one time Elia had gone over to Kamryn’s apartment, and it had been there during the bridal shower.

But then there was the block. The thing that Elia had been trying to tell Kamryn. The past. And it kept coming back up to bite Elia in the ass when she least expected it. She couldn’t let Kamryn take the bad rap for her, and she certainly couldn’t face Kamryn when she found out exactly what had happened all those years ago. Kamryn would likely feel the same way as everyone else.

Students first.

No matter what.

---