Page 43 of Last First Kiss
The second her arms wrap around me, I feel a wave of relief as all the tension I’d been carrying starts to melt.
“I’m sorry I made you feel that way,” Clara says softly.
“No, you didn’t. It’s me. I was overthinking.” I know it’s not her fault. My brain tends to spiral.
“Still,” she says, pulling back enough to meet my eyes, “I’m sorry about yesterday. About almost kissing you. Idon’t know what came over me. If it made you uncomfortable?—”
“No,” I blurt out, cutting her off. “Please don’t apologize,” I say, my heart pounding, because I know that if Valeria hadn’t interrupted, I would have closed the gap entirely.
“I should be apologizing to you,” I say. My fingers twitch at my sides, and I can’t bring myself to meet her eyes.
She reaches for my face and cups my chin, stepping a little closer. “There’s nothing to apologize for,” she says, her eyes steady on mine. She wraps her hands around my waist, and my eyes flutter shut as a heady rush swirls in my chest.
My heartbeat thunders in my ears as my stomach twists with need. Clara is impossibly close; I can feel the heat of her skin, and my own aches as her lips brush against my cheek. So close, but not quite where I desperately wish they were. Still, the softness of them, the smell of her, sparks a deep want as everything in my body is tuned into her.
But the moment is over before I can process the loss. Before I can even open my eyes, Clara’s already disappeared into her closet, leaving me aching. My breath comes out ragged and uneven. My body is on fire as I press my fingers to the spot where Clara’s lips were.
I try not to think about it for the next hour as I get ready and set up my camera equipment to take a few pictures today, but it’s impossible not to. Did Clara feel it, too? That tug, that heat? Is that why she pulled away so quickly? Was she as shaken by it? Or am I overthinking?.
Lala, Clara, and I arrive at Diana’s house fifteen minutes early, which I’m glad for, as it gives me time to grab a drink and brace myself for seeing Clara with Olivia.
Clara and I head into the kitchen while Lala walks deeper into the house, searching for Diana.
I keep stealing glances at Clara while she prepares our mimosas, trying to figure out if the tension between us was real or if it was all in my head. She moves with that effortless cool she always has, which only makes me doubt myself more. But every so often, her eyes catch mine, and in those moments, there’s a spark. Itcan’tjust be me.
Valeria walks in, scanning the room until her eyes land on us. She smiles.
“Morning,” she says, taking a seat beside me.
“Morning,” Clara and I say in unison.
I glance over at her, and a shy smile tugs at my lips before I can stop it.
“How’s work been?” Valeria asks, looking between Clara and me.
“Same, same,” I reply. “You?”
Valeria blows out a raspberry. “Work’s been so busy lately.” She runs a hand through her hair. “It’s the end of kitten season, so strays are getting dropped off at the clinic all day, every day.”
“Has Brooke shown up uninvited again? Have you talked to her since the last time you saw her?” Clara asks, trying to contain her annoyance.
Valeria glances at us, her expression almost guilty as she shakes her head. But the tension around her shoulders gives her away. She’s back with her ex.
Clara and I exchange a look, but before either of us can say anything, Diana’s voice calls from the other room, “Clara! Could you come here?”
Clara glances over, then gives me a quick, apologetic smile. “Duty calls,” she says, before walking off.
Valeria’s eyes linger on me for a beat after Clara leaves, then she leans in slightly, voice dropping to a murmur. “Okay, spill—what’sthatall about?”
I want to steer the conversation back to Brooke, but I don’t know how without upsetting her. Every time I’ve tried bringing up how toxic this thing with Brooke is, it’s turned into an argument, so I’ve learned to pick my battles. When Brooke’s love bombing is fresh, it’s nearly impossible to get through to Valeria. So instead, I play along.
“What was allwhatabout?” I ask.
“Oh, don’t give me that,” Valeria teases as she lightly bumps her shoulder into mine. “I can feel the tension all over you guys,” she adds, dramatically swatting the air.
“It’s nothing.”
“No, it’s definitelysomething. I walk in on you guys making out yesterday, and now you’re all shy and cutesy, more cutesy than ever before, and you’re trying to tell me it’s nothing? I don’t buy it.” She crosses her arms, waiting for me to give in.
