Page 92 of Loving Ladybug: Part One
“Hi, Snowball.” I bundled the tiny, soft thing into my arms and she sniffed me curiously. My heart melted.
Clark beamed as he got closer to me. “My sisters, um, also told me I should finally tell you that I like you and I’m willing to wait.”
His cheeks pinked, and something about his eager, but bashful expression made me want to kiss him.
Instead, I planted a kiss on Snowball’s furry head. “Your sisters are smart.”
He got us a cat. She was perfect, small and fluffy.
And he liked me back.
Wait, finally? How long had he liked me?
“The idea of you two being jealous of each other made my stomach churn. Would you be okay if I liked you both?” I scratched Snowball’s little head.
“Yes, I’d be okay with you liking my crush. But did you have to say you’re fine with us liking each other out loud like that? I mean, he might not like me. We don’t even know each other.” His embarrassment was evident. Also cute.
“I’m okay with it. I might want to watch sometimes. The idea of you two kissing gives me a lady boner,” I admitted. So did the idea of me being smooshed between them.
Clark’s face brightened. “I enjoyed seeing him kiss you. Why didn’t you tell me that your friend Tens was the Yeti?”
“It started off innocently. He’d signed with the Knights, but wasn’t ready to make it public due to his ex. Then it just became funny. You should have seen Carlos’ face.” I laughed.
“I can imagine,” he replied.
“As for the kiss, I can’t believe I did that.” I ducked my head, focusing on Snowball.
Clark’s arm slipped around my waist. “I’m happy you did. Like I said, I can wait. I’ll work on getting to know Tens. I can’t promise we’ll end up lovers. But can you imagine being railed by him?”
I looked up into his eyes, framed by his black glasses. “I have imagined that. Usually you’re railing me together.”
His eyes looked like they’d bulge out of their sockets. “Gweny.”
“I’m sad, not dead.”
“You’re still sad?” His hand smoothed my hair.
“Not about my ex. It’s more like I’m mourning the time I lost and the decisions I made, because I didn’t realize we were only playing house. I thought we were actually building our lives together.” I leaned into his touch. It was more than that, but it was a good start.
His forehead tipped to mine. “I’m right here. So, is this good for yoga in the park?”
“Your outfit is great. I’m going to throw my bedding in to wash while we’re out. My room smells weird from the nightmare.” If I could smell it, Clarkdefinitelycould.
I put Snowball down, tossed everything in the washer, drank my coffee, then grabbed my stuff. There was a knock on the door.
Tenzin stood there, dressed in a T-shirt advertising fishing gear and workout shorts.
“I… I hope I didn’t freak you out,” I told him, belly twisting.
“Only a little?” Tenzin admitted.
“We can forget it happened for now. Bring it back up when we’re ready?” I offered.
He nodded. “I’d like that.”
Me, too, Tens, me, too.
“Hydrosteel might sponsor you? That’s great,” Tenzin said as we sipped our coffees and walked around the zoo after yoga in the park.
