Page 23 of Waste Some Time
Benjamin would be her foil. She couldn’t move any closer to Sydney with him in between them.
And she really wanted to move closer.
“Pizza’s ordered,” Katie said. “A large vegetarian one, as requested.”
“You could have gotten your own with whatever you want. I’m fine paying for a separate small for myself. I eat meat, but not on my pizza. And I don’t expect anyone else to eat what I do.”
“It’s not a problem at all,” Katie said. “I love vegetables, too, so it’s fine.”
Their differing taste in pizza might have been a point against Katie’s list of things she didn’t want in a relationship. But that would be silly. Of course, a romantic partner didn’t have to like the exact same things she did.
The stuff that actually made her list was another matter. Stuff like not living in the same state. Not liking any of the same entertainment, so they wouldn’t be able to do things together. And definitely not being someone’s first experience with a woman.
Sitting beside Sydney and spending the whole day with her made Katie want to throw out the list and let things be.
“So I’m the first woman you’ve kissed, then? Am I remembering right?”
A flush hit Sydney’s cheeks. “First one.”
“I feel privileged.” Katie’s smile quickly faded. “I guess you’re looking for a lot of other people to kiss before you’re ready to look for something serious.”
Sydney eyed her curiously. “What makes you guess that?”
“For one, I think you mentioned it that first night we met.”
“Oh,” Sydney said with a soft, musical laugh. “I’d had a couple drinks. I don’t normally drink much at all, so I don’t remember all of our conversation.”
Katie remembered it. She remembered all the things they talked about because it had been so easy to talk with Sydney then. Just like it had been so easy throughout this day. She couldn’t believe they’d spent the whole day together. She got the impression that Sydney also didn’t want it to end.
“Second, I can understand that completely. I went through that phase when I was younger. I always knew I liked women. But it’s like I had to prove it to myself.”
“That makes perfect sense.” Sydney bit her lip. “That doesn’t mean I can’t kiss the same person twice.”
As if he understood the hint in that statement, Benjamin hopped off the couch and wandered toward his bed for a nap.
Katie still didn’t want to waste time on a relationship that wasn’t going anywhere. And Sydney was clear this couldn’t go anywhere. At least now.
But, like Sydney said, they were already here. Might as well enjoy her company a little more.
Katie scooted closer on the couch and put a hand on Sydney’s leg. She gave it a soft squeeze and said, “I can do twice. And I’ve never kissed an accountant before you. It’s smashing my theory that I’d be incompatible with someone like that.”
“Someone like what?”
“Like the idea I have of what you are. What everyone in your profession is. I’m probably more like your siblings than you in that I can be a little… impulsive sometimes. With my line of thinking and jumping into things too quickly. It’s why I have my list.”
“Your list?” Sydney said with playful curiosity. “What’s on that list?”
“A lot of things. But mostly a compatibility checklist.”
Sydney leaned in closer and put her hand on Katie’s, the one squeezing her thigh. “And this is a no accountants checklist?”
“I’m considering taking that one off the list. But I might need to test that theory one more time.”
Now, Katie was the one to inch forward until their mouths nearly touched.
“So you plan on kissing a bunch of other accountants to test your theory?”
“Probably not. I’m happy with a data set of one.” Her mouth was dangerously close to Sydney’s now, and she breathlessly said, “Very happy.”
