Page 116 of One More Kiss

Gen

Even as exhaustedas I was, I couldn’t fall asleep. The tingling on my lips and between my legs was a sensation I’d never experienced before.

I don’t know what to feel. My mother is in the hospital, awaiting rehab admission. My best friend’s brother – a man that I’ve been in love with for years – kissed me and made me feel things I didn’t even believe I was capable of feeling.

How do I even address this when I don’t know what I’m feeling? I know what I feel, but I can’t act on that… right? My thoughts are jumbled, my phone reads 2:00 AM and Margot’s snoring next to me totally oblivious.

Asher doesn’t see me how I see him. I’m just the loner chick who his kid sister took in when she was young. The only possible reason he would’ve kissed me, is because he didn’t know what to do. I’m going through a lot, Asher’s a typical man who doesn’t know how to comfort a woman in distress. That’s certainly all it could be.

The thought makes me sad and angry.

Maybe it’s the sleep deprivation that makes me climb over the end of the bed, trying not to wake Margot.

Or maybe it’s the need for an answer to something in my life right now that makes me pull on a hoodie and open the door.

But it’s definitely the anger that I have no right feeling that makes my feet move towards the lumpy couch in the living room.

“Why are you awake?” His deep voice asks.

“Why are you?” I return, crossing my arms.

“Thinking about kissing you,” he answers like we’re talking about something normal.

“Why?” I ask.

“Why am I thinking about kissing you?”

“Yes. No. Yes and no.” My fingers rake through my hair. I want to scream. “Why did you kiss me?” I ask instead.

“Because looking at you in there, with the pain written all over your face…” he trails off.

“It was a pity kiss? Because you didn’t know how else to comfort me?” I hiss, sitting down on the other side of the small couch.

Laughing, “it was anything but a pity kiss.” He says.

“I’m confused,” I admit as I look at him in the dark.

“Genevieve, do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to kiss you for? Years.”

“Liar,” I scoff.

“Did it feel like a pity kiss?” He asks.

“Yes,” I respond hesitantly.

“Liar.” he smirks.

“What was it then?” I snip.

He sighs. “It was a man who couldn’t resist kissing a woman he’s wanted to for years.”

“Why didn’t you kiss me before then?” I whisper.

“Because you’re Margot’s best friend, and I didn’t want to ruin what you guys have. Or our friendship. I didn’t want you to run off and disappear,” his hand strokes my cheek. “I enjoy having your presence around too much.”

“What made you change your mind?”

“I guess the reward outweighed the risk,” he whispers.

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