Page 52 of She's the Star

She narrows her eyes. “Just wait and see.”

I sit up and start to gather the toys so I can put them back in the bag. Maddy ignores me and keeps taking them out. She’ll get mad if the bag is empty, but otherwise she can do this forever.

Mina sinks into the chair closest to us, and says, “When are you going to make your move?”

“What move?” I ask as I stretch to reach a wooden cylinder that rolled into the leg of her chair.

“On Amber. Or were you planning on just staring at her indefinitely?”

And now my cheeks match Mina’s. Great. “I…don’t…uh…know what you’re talking about.”

She snorts. “I’m not blind. I see the way you look at her and I see the way she looks at you.”

“We’re friends,” I say unconvincingly.

Mina nudges my shoulder with her foot. “Friends who want to bone.”

“Mina.” I groan and then remember—“I thought you said Amber wouldn’t sleep with me?”

“Ah. Turns out I was wrong.”

She wasn’t. “We’re just…uh…pretending…for Teddy’s sake.”

“Nope. You’re crushing hard.” She uses her toes to push a toy closer to the bag. “I’ve been thinking about it, and I couldn’t quite decide why you’re holding back. But then I realized that you’re both waiting for the other to make a move.” She kicks my shoulder gently. “Stop waiting.”

This would be a good time to protest again, but instead I cover my face with my hands. I’m more embarrassed than I can say. “Do you think anyone else noticed?”

“Yes.” She cackles and says, “Perfect timing. Food will be here in two.”

I pull my hands away and watch as Amber sinks onto the floor across from me.

Her hair is still wet, and her cheeks are rosy from the sun. As always, she looks lovely. “Everything okay?” she asks me.

“Yep,” I squeak and Mina laughs.

I remember wishing Mina had stayed at the hotel that night in San Francisco. Now I wish she had somewhere she needed to be because I can feel her scrutiny and it makes me self-conscious. Between that, the memory of Amber in that white bikini, and my uncertainty about what I should do, dinner is torture. I waver between promising myself that the next time I’m alone with Amber I’ll kiss her and reminding myself that she told me no kissing. I want to respect her wishes, even if Mina thinks she’s waiting for me to make a move.

When Amber goes to put Maddy to bed, I escape into my room.

My plan to avoid her for the rest of the night is foiled when she knocks on my door. “Mina had cookies delivered. You have to come and try the cookies and cream one. It tastes like magic.”

Like a moth to a flame, I open the door and follow her into the colorful kitchen. In the center of the butcher block countertop is a rectangular box. She flips it open to reveal three cookies that are all bigger than my fist. The middle one has a small chunk missing. “Don’t they look delicious?” She reaches out and breaks off a large piece.

It feels like slow motion as her hand raises to my mouth. She slips the piece through my parted lips. I barely taste the cookie as I start to chew because all my senses are trained on her.

“Nolan,” she whispers, her fingers hovering and then brushing against my mouth.

The way she is touching me combined with the way her gaze is fixed on me feels like an invitation, so I hesitantly lean forward and press my lips to hers. As far as moves go, it’s pretty lame. She responds with the same level of hesitation. Her lips barely graze mine and it’s nothing like our first kiss.

We’re both still holding back.

We break apart, still sharing breath as the seconds tick away. I reach for her left hand which is tapping rapidly against her thigh. The flush in her cheeks could be nerves or arousal.

“I’m sorry. We don’t have to?—”

“I want to,” she whispers, and then she kisses me.

The hesitancy is gone and the burning heat of our first kiss returns. She moves closer until our bodies are pressed together, and every inch of me comes alive.

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