Page 46 of Sparks Like Ours

Elle dried her hands and sighed. “I don’t want you to. There. Isaid it.”

And with those simple words, Elle had communicated a lot. Foronce, Gia didn’t have to get out of her own head because she wasn’t in it. Sheknew what she wanted, what she’d been craving. She stepped into Elle’s space,briefly met her searching blue eyes, and caught her mouth in a kiss. But itwasn’t just any kiss. Elle received her right away, her mouth soft as it movedslowly against Gia’s. The feeling that came over Gia as they kissed was so newand unexpected and wonderful that she wasn’t sure what to do except to keepgoing. At the touch of Elle’s tongue against her lips, Gia opened her mouth,shocked by the pure heat that shot through her at the feel of Elle’s tongue inher mouth. She was backed against the counter, and Elle was up on her toes,having taken control. So unexpected, but beyond okay. Elle moaned quietly whenGia’s hands found her waist and hauled her in. It was the most wonderful sound.Did people really fit together the way they did in this moment?

“Ahem,” a voice behind them said, and then erupted into asputtering cough. They broke apart and turned to find a very surprised andapologetic-looking woman standing in the entryway of Elle’s home. She held akey in the air.

“Sorry. You didn’t pick up your phone, so I just popped by to pickup the red dress you borrowed. I was gonna sneak out with it, but that would becreepy and you’d probably hear me because I’m a klutz. Hi,” the woman said toGia, with a wave. “Holly. The best friend.”

Gia nodded back, her hands still on Elle’s body. “Gia. The—”

“Number two surfer in the world. In Elle’s kitchen. Kissing her.Yeah, I gathered that part. Nice to meet you.”

Elle still hadn’t said anything. Whether she was shocked,regretful, or embarrassed remained unclear. Regardless, Gia took that cue,understanding that her presence was most likely complicating things. “I wasactually just getting ready to head out. That’s what was happening. I’ll letyou two—yeah.”

“You don’t have to go,” Elle said quietly. She was meeker soundingnow, less confident than her usual self, which told Gia that getting out of theway was the right thing to do here. This was, after all, a new and delicatesituation for Elle.

“I do, though,” Gia said. “Lots on my agenda.” She met Elle’s gazebriefly, and gave her hand a squeeze. “I’m sure I’ll see you around soon.”

Elle nodded, still not using too many words. As Gia headed to thedoor, she nodded to Holly, who returned the gesture with a four-finger wave. Noone said a word as she exited the house in what was probably the most confusingand awkward moment of her life. She hit the sidewalk and realized one thing.Didn’t matter. The kiss back there, of earthshaking magnitude, topped any andall awkward exits for the rest of time. That kiss would go down in Gia’s historybooks as the most electric, the most satisfying, and maybe the most perplexingexchange of her lifetime. She could analyze the clunky ending, or revel in thecaptivating kiss.

She exhaled slowly and closed her eyes. It was a no-brainer.

* * *

“Might just be me, but it seems we might have some things todiscuss,” Holly said, breaking the silence in Elle’s kitchen.

Elle blinked several times, nodded. Blinked again. “Probably,” shesaid, still trying to regroup and move out of the haze she found herself in. Itwas a pretty nice haze, though. Why hurry?

Holly dropped her keys on the counter, set down her bag, and movedpurposefully to Elle’s living room, where she took a seat expectantly on thesofa and crossed one leg over the other. “Ready when you are.” She smiled,signaling her enjoyment of this newly discovered dynamic.

Elle followed her into the living room and took a seat in thechair across from Holly. Her lips buzzed pleasantly and her stomach was fullyoccupied by hyperactive butterflies. Lustful ones. Her skin tingled where Gia’shands had been, and her mind was still stuck on a loop of the moment Gia kissedher.Gia kissed her.Thathad actually happened, and she wasn’t able to get the world to go back tonormal. Not after that.

“I can see that I’m going to have to take the lead here,” Hollysaid. “True or false. You were just kissing Gia Malone, your rival, your formernemesis, and awoman.”

Elle could answer that one easily enough. “True.”

“Great. We’re making mind-blowing progress. Can you expand on howthis romance went from tabloid gossip to a real life make-out session in themiddle of your kitchen? Inquiring minds want to know.” Holly leaned in.

“That part’s a lot more complicated.”

“Step one?”

“A sex dream. Mine. About her. I told you about it. Then I toldher about it. Then mild flirting. Then not so mild.” Her mind was slowly comingaround and moving through the series of events, as much for herself as forHolly. “The eye contact during our ab workout earlier today was more killerthan the workout itself. I think I wanted her to kiss me, Hol. I did. But Iwasn’t prepared for it. Christopher was right.”

Holly’s eyes went wide. “Christopher is in on this? What thehell?”

“We’re not dating anymore. He’s gay and thinks I might be.” Shecovered her mouth. “Oh no! I just outed him. That’s awful. I’m a horriblefriend. God.”

Holly held up a hand. “Don’t worry. He spent the weekend congadancing from one gay club to another. The cat’s out of the bag. Big-time. Ijust didn’t realize he was your wingman. I’m the wingman!”

“Don’t worry. You’re still my number one.” She smiled in relief atthe news about Christopher. “He did all that? That’s nice. I’m glad he’s livingit up.”

“Apparently, he’s not the only one,” Holly said, by way ofreminder. “Let’s get back to you, you minx on a surfboard. Who knew you hadthis in you?”

“Not me. That’s for sure. I wish I’d known sooner.”

“That good?” Holly asked quietly.

Elle nodded numbly. It was all she could do. She held out herhands as if searching for words and dropped them. “Now what do I do?”

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