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"I don't?"

She nods "You're nervous"

"I am?"

"You are" She half-smiles "I don't know if I've seen you nervous before"

"What about the pitch in Toronto?"

"A little But this… Lia"

Shit, is that why my cheeks are warm?

"I kind of like it"

"I'm nervous for you"

"For me?"

"My skills are immense"

"Your kissing skills?"

"Yeah" I pullthem on her skin "I don't want to overwhelm you"

"Catch me if I faint" She calls my bluff

I answer it Take a step toward her "You don't have to ask"

"Just in case" Her hand goes to my chest The wool of my suit jacket "When did you last kiss someone?"

"Don't remember"

"Really?"

"I don't keep a running total"

"Well, you can only count to ten"

"If that"

Her fingers brush my neck "What's the last kiss you remember?"

I try to findspecial You?"

"My last kiss?"

"Yeah" My stomach churns with an unfamiliar sensation Envy No wonder Simon's such an asshole It's awful

"You met my boyfriend Ex-boyfriend"

"John" His nauy was unworthy of Briar Pretentious and suy, but I still despise the asshole for having her, losing her, hurting her

"We were at the Cloisters He took me there for my birthday He had this picnic set up Wine and cheese and a beautiful view It was the first ti time, I felt the way I did e met; like he saw me as someone special Then he put his hand on my cheek, and he stared intohe had"

My stomach churns

"I hadn't felt that in a long time"

"Is that why you broke up? Because it stopped?"

She nods "And because I stopped wanting it I stopped wanting to give him more of me It's hard to explain to soood to have someone there Warm But when their love fades, it's cold Lonely Much lonelier than being alone"

"He's an asshole"

Her eyes stay fixed to mine "Sometimes We all are"

I still hate him "He didn't deserve you"

"Is that a compliment?"

"Of course You're way hotter than he is"

She half-smiles "You say stupid shit when you're nervous"

"I always say stupid shit"

"True" Her fingers curl into my neck "But there's a certain kind of stupid…"

"I told you I'm nervous for you"

"Then be gentle this first time For me"

"You're ready?"

"I arey eyes

Then her eyelids flutter closed

Her hand finds the back of my head

Her lips brush mine It's soft A hint of a kiss

But I feel it everywhere

My entire body is buzzing