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“Can we?” I raised an eyebrow “Because it feels like there’s so we haven’t dealt with”

“We were eighteen We were kids It’s all irrelevant now There’s nothing left to be dealt with” She ain

This tiainst me She took a deep breath in and it shuddered out She was trying to control her breathing but failing, and dismally so

I reached up with my free hand and tucked her hair behind her ear Her sweater had fallen off her shoulder, exposing her skin, and all I wanted to do was drop my mouth there and kiss a path froain

“Here’s what I think,” I whispered in her ear, staring at the curve of her collarbone “I think there’s a whole bunch of stuff we haven’t dealt with We sorted out the issue that ended our friendship, but not the feelings that led up to that issues”

“There’s nothing to sort out It was years ago” Her voice was quiet, and her still-juddery breaths gave away her uncertainty

“There’s a lot to sort out,” I replied, my own voice barely above a whisper “Mostly to do with the fact I’d intended to kiss you that night and never got a chance to”

“You’re not kissing me”

“I’m not But I could”

“But you won’t”

She didn’t sound too sure about that

“I won’t, huh?”

Holley shook her head “Because we’re friends,” she breathed out, staring at the wall in front of her “And that’s not what friends do Besides, you tried it earlier and it didn’t go well”

“Like I said, that wasn’t a kiss That was a placation”

“It was a kiss”

“No, it wasn’t” I er under her chin and tilted her head up so she had to meet my eyes “Holley, when I kiss you, you’ll know about it”

She said nothing, just stared into h with the threat I’d just made

I held her gaze and onlyin my pocket Then, I dropped my hand, stepped back, and pulled it out to answer “Hello?” I said, never taking my eyes from her

“Mr Stone? Your cab is outside waiting for you”