Total pages in book: 44
Estimated words: 40927 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40927 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 136(@300wpm)
I glance at Kali, who shrugs with a little smile. “Hey, I’m not saying no to pizza,” she teases. “Especially after that game. I need some carbs.”
“All right, pizza it is.” I quickly dial up Starlight Pi, and place an order for a large half-pepperoni and pineapple, just in case Juniper wants her favorite combo. Kali keeps me company in the kitchen, leaning against the counter, arms folded, while Juniper runs to her room to change into PJs.
“How’re you feeling after that game?” she asks me, reaching out to poke my bicep. “Any soreness?”
I shake my head. “Nah, I’m good. I’m used to it.” I soften my voice. “Thanks for coming tonight, by the way. It meant a lot, seeing you up there with Hattie and Junebug.”
Her expression warms. “I wouldn’t have missed it.” She dips her gaze, a slight blush coloring her cheeks. “You looked… incredible out there.”
A surge of pride and something else—longing, maybe—flares in my chest. She likes me. She’s really here. The doorbell rings before I can say anything witty, though, and I hurry off to pay the delivery guy.
Soon, the three of us are sprawled in the living room with the pizza box open, sodas and water bottles scattered on the coffee table. We joke about the game, laugh at Juniper’s dramatic reenactment of my final strike, and pick out a family-friendly movie to watch. It’s some animated flick about talking animals, but Juniper is enthralled, and Kali and I exchange amused smiles whenever the plot gets too cheesy.
Halfway through the movie, Juniper’s blinking rapidly, trying to stay awake. Eventually, she loses the battle and dozes off against my shoulder. I gently lift her, careful not to wake her, and carry her to her bedroom. She murmurs something about starfish and batting averages—an odd combination that makes me grin. I tuck her in, smoothing the blanket around her, then close the door quietly behind me.
When I return to the living room, Kali’s curled up on the couch, hugging a throw pillow to her chest. Her eyes flick to me, and the way she looks at me—like she’s been waiting—is a direct hit to my gut. We’re alone now, the movie paused, the house silent except for the faint buzz of the fridge.
“Hey,” she says softly, setting the pillow aside.
“Hey,” I echo, feeling that spark igniting again. I cross the room in a few steps and sink onto the couch next to her, close enough that our thighs brush. “Sorry, that took a minute. She had a lot of stories to share while half-asleep.”
Kali laughs, a sound that makes my skin tingle. “She’s the cutest. I love how excited she gets about everything.”
“Yeah,” I say, voice dropping a bit. “She’s definitely my pride and joy.”
Kali leans in, her hand sliding over mine. “She’s lucky to have you.” Her words hang there, soft and genuine, stirring something deep in my chest.
For a moment, we just look at each other. The tension from last night is back, but this time it’s sweeter, more familiar. It’s like we’ve stepped past some barrier, and now we’re both standing in uncharted territory. I lift a hand to her cheek, brushing my thumb lightly across her skin. She leans into it, eyes fluttering closed.
Then I’m tilting my head, capturing her lips in a slow, deliberate kiss that sends a jolt of warmth down my spine. Kali makes a soft sound, pressing closer, and I slide my free hand around her waist, pulling her against me on the couch. The world shrinks to just us, the taste of pizza and the lingering smell of her shampoo swirling in my senses.
When we finally come up for air, her cheeks are flushed, and my heart is hammering against my ribs. I can’t resist dipping my head to her neck, planting a trail of slow, heated kisses. She arches into me, fingers clutching my shoulders, and a low groan escapes me. The couch feels too small for the surge of want coursing through my body.
“Ripley,” she murmurs, breath uneven, “we should… we need to be careful. Juniper—”
“I know,” I rasp, kissing the spot right below her ear. “Believe me, I know.” I pull back slightly, looking into her eyes. “I want you to stay tonight. Hell, I want you all the time. But… I don’t want her waking up and getting confused. We haven’t figured all this out yet.”
Her gaze flickers with understanding, though I can see the same longing mirrored in her expression. “I get it,” she whispers, hands still fisted in my shirt. “We need to figure out how to do this, the three of us. Especially for Juniper.”
I nod, heart twisting. “I just… I don’t want you to think I’m pushing you away, or that I regret anything. Because I don’t.” My voice almost shakes with the intensity of how much I want her to understand. “Last night was… everything.”