Page 34 of Our Big White Lie
Why did it root me to the spot and make it impossible to draw her in?
Tori gave a nervous laugh and brought up her glass for another sip—okay, another swig. “Why do I feel like we’re in middle school again?”
I laughed as I picked up my own glass. “I know, right? This should be…” I didn’t know what word I was going for, so I just took a drink.
Tori put her wine down emphatically and rolled her shoulders. “Okay. Okay, it’s way bigger than we’re making it out to be. Let’s just—I don’t want to say get it over with, but maybe that’s what it is?”
I laughed and put what remained of my wine beside hers. Stepping closer, I made myself look her in the eyes. “Yeah. It’s not a big deal, so if we just do it… then it won’tbea big deal anymore.”
“Right. Exactly.” She closed some of the space between us. I held her gaze. She held mine.
Then we both burst into giggles.
“I’m sorry,” I said through my laughter. “Oh my God, I’m sorry.”
“Me too.” She wasn’t having any better luck pulling herself together. “I don’t know why I’m so…” She waved a hand before letting it fall to her thigh.
“I don’t either. It’s?—”
Tori kissed me.
One second, we were laughing at the ridiculousness of it all.
The next…
Oh. God.
I tensed at first, caught off-guard by her sudden move. Just as I was starting to relax, she drew back, and her expression was as dazed as I felt.
“Sorry,” she whispered. “I just thought… maybe if we weren’t overthinking…”
“Yeah. Good… good idea.” Why was I out of breath?
We held each other’s gazes for a couple of silent heartbeats.
This time, we both moved in. Slowly. Cautiously. When we paused just an inch apart, nervous giggles threatened to pourout again. Being this close to Tori, though, my gaze flicking from her lips to her eyes, I couldn’t even breathe, never mind laugh.
I don’t think either of us moved this time. The space between us just… closed. And then it was gone. And we were…
Fuck.
Tori’s lips were so soft against mine. Her hair was so soft between my fingers. The little sigh that drifted across my cheek… oh my God. When her hand slid around my waist to the small of my back, it wasn’t the alcohol that had my balance tilting and making me lean into her.
I knew Tori’s shape because I’d known her forever, but this was all new. I’d never given any thought to the gentle swell of her hips until my palms were drifting over them. I’d never paid any—paidmuchattention to her breasts until they were pressed up against mine. I’d definitely never been hit with—never mind overcome by—the impulse to cup them in my hands and feel their shape and their weight and…
I kept my hands on her back, but oh, wow, I wanted to touch her everywhere. I wanted to taste the wine on her tongue, and when I gently prodded at her lips, she opened them to let me in, and I almost lost what was left of my balance.
Tori was the one to break the kiss, and she opened up a little space between us.
The instant I locked gazes with her, I saw everything I was feeling right there in her eyes. Overwhelmed. Startled.
Seriously turned on.
Ava. It’sTori. You’re not supposed to wantTori. Not like this.
I swept my tongue across my lips, and she jumped like I’d shocked her. Then she did the same, licking her lips and drawing my attention to how they were ever so slightly swollen. And how had I never noticed how full they were? How gorgeous?I’d always loved her smile, but God, if she smiled right then, I might’ve melted to my knees.
She pushed out a ragged breath. “Okay. Um. I think… I think we’ll be okay. For, uh…” She paused, clearing her throat as a renewed blush rose in her cheeks. “The pictures. And the wedding.”
