“Not before now, no,” I say, shaking my head.
“And how about now?” she whispers, leaning in so close that I can feel her breath on my face.
My eyes flutter shut. I know what’s about to happen, but I’m still blown away as I feel Olivia’s lips grazing mine. They are the softest, sweetest lips I’ve ever felt. For several seconds, I am frozen. Then I kiss her back, finally answering her question.
Chapter 27
Lainey
When I leave the dress boutique, I find Tyson standing a few storefronts down, gazing in a window. I pause, watching him for a few seconds, soaking in the moment. It’s been a magical afternoon, and I don’t want our time alone together to end. Fortunately, I have yet to hear from Hannah, so when I catch up to Tyson, I ask if he wants to get a drink before we head back to the room.
“Sure,” he says. “A cold beer sounds perfect.”
The café on the Piazzetta is very crowded, so we keep walking, going over to one near the funicular. As we check in with the hostess, an outside table opens. She offers it to us, and we take it.
We settle in our chairs, bags at our feet, and look out over the Gulf of Naples. I let out a big sigh, feeling a wave of intense contentment.
“You good?” Tyson asks.
“Yes,” I say, keeping my eyes on the horizon for another second before I look back at him. “I just love being here so much.”
With you, I think.
“Me too,” he says.
We sit in silence for a few minutes, reviewing the menu and enjoying a cool breeze off the bay. Tyson orders a beer, and I go for an Aperol spritz.
When our drinks arrive, Tyson clears his throat, raises his glass, and stares into my eyes.
“To whatever it is that’s going on here,” he says.
I nod, staring back at him, then raise my glass.
We both take a long sip.
“It’s weird, isn’t it?” I say.
He nods without hesitating. “It’s very weird. And out of nowhere.”
“Yes,” I say, my heart racing. “Out of the blue.”
“Yes,” he says. “But it didn’t start last night in the room. At least it didn’t for me.”
“When did it start for you?” I ask him.
“It happened at lunch. When I told you about Summer. Well. After I told you.” He hesitates, then adds, “When you took my hand.”
I feel a rush of emotion and relief. As much as I have always loved the thrill of seduction, I’m glad to hear that Tyson’s feelings for me run deeper than seeing me naked in the shower.
We stare at each other for a long few seconds as I work up the courage to ask my next question.
“What do you think Summer would say about…this?” I ask.
He takes a deep breath, then sighs loudly, shaking his head. “I don’t know. I think she would just want us to be happy. Whatever that looks like.” He hesitates, then continues. “I think she’d tell us that you only live once…. That life is short—way too short…. And you never know what can happen.”
I nod, concentrating as hard as I can, trying to stay in the moment, but my thoughts are racing in a million different directions.
He swallows, then says, “I think she’d also tell us to be careful. She’d tell us that our friendship is precious, and we need to protect it at any cost.”
I nod. “Yes. She would.”
He looks into my eyes. “I’m very attracted to you, Lainey…. But whatever is happening between us isn’t about that. Even last night…in the shower…I was completely mesmerized, but not for the reasons you might think.”
I stare back at him, my heart in my throat.
“It was that look on your face,” he says.
“What look?”
“That soft look in your eyes. It’s the same one you have right now.”
“Oh,” I say, my cheeks burning as I glance out over the water.
“Look at me,” he says.
I meet his gaze again.
“Seriously, Lainey. Don’t play games. Like that shower stunt,” he says. “Don’t do that shit to people. More important, stop doing that to yourself…. This isn’t about judging you or slut-shaming you or any of that. I’m just telling you…. You can have whatever you want, Lainey. The world is your oyster. Just be certain. Be clear. With yourself.”
