Page 50 of For My Finale
Without thinking, without second-guessing, Lilah moved. She crossed the floor in swift strides, skirted the counter, then backed Blossom up against it, pressing herself in, her lips searching for Blossom’s.
Blossom gasped in surprise, but the gasp melted into a soft, pleased sound as she tilted her head and kissed Lilah back. Lilah pressed her body flush against Blossom’s, feeling the warmth of her, the way Blossom’s fingers curled around the front of her shirt.
They shouldn’t be doing this here, anyone could walk in. But that thought somehow just made the moment more thrilling. Lilah felt like she’d spent a lifetime denying herself what she wanted. But now she had permission, now she was allowed, and she was going to enjoy every second of it.
Blossom deepened the kiss, her hands sliding up into Lilah’s hair so that Lilah felt her stomach swoop with an urgency she hadn’t expected. They were taking things slow, she told herself, and yet…
The shop bell jingled.
Lilah practically jumped away from Blossom, her heart slamming against her ribs as if she’d been caught committing a crime. She turned, wide-eyed, to see Ives standing in the doorway, arms crossed, an amused smirk on her lips.
“You know, if you don’t want the entire village knowing about this, you’re going to have to try a lot harder,” Ives said.
Lilah’s cheeks burned. “Right.” She cleared her throat. “So, um,do we go outside and fight over Blossom’s honor now? Or is it more of an evening tradition?”
Ives came up to the counter. “No fighting.”
“No?” asked Blossom.
Ives sighed. “Look, as long as Bloss is happy, then that’s what counts, I suppose.”
Blossom beamed at her. “Thank you.”
“Yeah, yeah,” said Ives. She eyed Lilah. “And to give you your due, I was worried about you upping sticks and catching the next train out of here. But it looks like you’re actually settling in. It looks like people are starting to like you.”
“You sound shocked,” Lilah said, not quite willing to believe that Ives was going to let her off this easily.
“I am,” said Ives. “Even Gloria was saying in the pub last night that you were helping her performance. Something about having a co-director taking a weight off her shoulders.”
Lilah blinked, caught off guard by that. Gloria was the last person she’d have expected to be singing her praises. She felt a small swell of warmth in her chest. This really was working, wasn’t it?
“Well, that’s something,” she said. She looked at Ives, then smiled. “Buy you a coffee to celebrate?”
“Why not?” Ives said. “To-go, though, I’m not sticking around for all this lovey-dovey stuff.”
Blossom laughed as she moved to prepare the coffee, and Lilah relaxed her shoulders. This was going well. “So, what do you think about this bookshop idea, then?” she asked Ives.
There was a brief and awkward silence.
Lilah felt the shift immediately. She turned to see Blossom giving her a look, one she quickly realized meant that Blossom hadn’t said anything to Ives.
Ives looked between them. “Bookshop?”
Blossom recovered quickly, offering Ives a bright, if somewhat forced, smile. “Just an idea. Nothing worth talking about yet.”
Ives looked skeptical, but didn’t push. “Alright, if you say so.”
Lilah exhaled quietly in relief. Blossom handed Ives her coffee,and Ives nodded her thanks before heading for the door. Just before she stepped outside, she glanced back. “Try not to get caught canoodling again,” she said.
The door swung shut behind her. “Canoodling?” asked Lilah.
Blossom shook her head, but there was a half-smile on her lips that was just too tempting. Lilah gave in, stepping toward her again, putting a hand on her waist, pulling her back in.
It was a good two minutes before Lilah groaned softly, but managed to pull herself away. “People might see,” she said, voice hoarse. She felt like a teenager in high school.
“Fine,” Blossom said. “So, what do you suggest? Renting a hotel room for a dirty weekend?”
“Is that your version of taking things slow?” Lilah asked. She smiled. “How about you come over for dinner tonight before rehearsal?”
