“Good,” I say, without hesitation. “Really fucking good.”
When we’re done, I take her tray and toss it in the trash. She stretches a little, letting out a soft sigh as she looks up at the sky, and it hits me just how naturally beautiful she is.
“Pretty night,” she says.
“Yeah,” I reply, not looking at the sky at all.
Her gaze shifts to me, catching me staring. She doesn’t call me out on it, just ducks her head a bit, smiling to herself.
“You got the lens with you?” I ask.
Her eyes widen. “Yeah, it’s in my car.”
“Let’s test it. Give it here.” I hold out my hand as we walk to her SUV.
She opens the back, pulling out the lens, and handing it to me. I take it carefully, inspecting it under the dim parking lot light, then twist it onto her camera, power it up, and point it toward the horizon.
The colors pop through the lens—rich oranges and purples blending into deep blue. Perfect.
“Not bad,” I say. Then I turn the camera toward her, snapping a quick shot.
“Hey!” she protests, laughing.
I glance at the screen, and my breath catches. “Damn. Yeah, it’s beautiful.”
She peers over, looking at the photo. “The sky’s amazing tonight.”
“I wasn’t talking about the sky.”
Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, it’s like everything else disappears. She thanks me softly, and before I can think twice, I lean in, pressing a kiss to her cheek.
Her skin’s warm, soft. She turns slightly, and our faces are so close, I can count the gold flecks in her hazel eyes.
My thumb brushes her bottom lip. She exhales shakily, and it’s like a magnet that pulls me closer.
“You okay?” I ask, my voice low.
She nods.
“Can I kiss you?” I ask, even quieter now.
Her lips part, and she hesitates, just for a second. “It’s complicated,” she says again.
“So am I.” I smirk, my thumb still tracing her lip. “Can I still kiss you?”
This time, she nods—barely moving, but it’s enough.
I close the gap slowly, giving her every chance to pull back, to change her mind. But she doesn’t. Her lips meet mine, soft at first, then bolder, like she’s testing the waters and diving in all at once.
Her hands grip the front of my jacket, pulling me closer, and it’s everything. Her taste, her scent, the way she melts into me—it’s a fucking masterpiece.
When we finally break apart, her eyes are locked on mine, wide and a little dazed.
“Still complicated?” I ask, grinning.
Her lips curve into a small smile. “Definitely.”
“Good,” I say, stepping back, even though every part of me wants to keep her right there. “Complicated is kind of my thing.”