Yeah, everything’s fine.
She sent a heart emoji that made butterflies erupt in my belly. I felt like we were slowly slipping back into who we used to be together. But something had also drastically changed between us during our time apart—and not just because of our bad history.
Something seemed to have adjusted, shifting us out of friends-only territory and into something… more. I was trying not to get my hopes up. Trying to remain realistic. But I also couldn’t hold off any longer.
Mila had confessed she loved me once. Maybe there was still hope. Maybe I hadn’t royally fucked everything up beyond repair. I’d lost her once, and dammit, I was not fucking losing her again. I wouldn’t survive it this time.
Which was why I was grabbing us dinner. I was going to soften her up with food and then confess my feelings to her. I was going to tell her how I’d always felt about her but had been too dumb and stupid to ever say out loud. Too fucking afraid because I’d been terrified of losing her if she didn’t return those feelings.
If Mila let me down… I just hoped she did it gently. And I hoped she didn’t boot me out of her life for good.
Losing her a second time would be the end of everything for me.
I pushed open the door to our dorm room, stopping short when Brittany’s laughter rang out. I quickly looked up from my keys, gritting my teeth at the sight of Brittany lounging back against Mila’s headboard. Mila was resting between her spread legs, her head resting on Brittany’s chest as they laughed again at something on Mila’s phone. Mila’s smile was brighter than I’d ever seen it, and it hurt. Why couldn’t she smile at me like that?
And had she lied to me about Brittany? They looked awfully fucking cozy. She used to lie with me like that, and come to find out, she’d been in love with me. So, what the fuck was I supposed to think?
“What the fuck,” I growled, dropping the bag and drinks on the counter near the door. I slammed the door shut behind me, and their laughter abruptly stopped, both of the girls swinging their heads to look at me, eyes wide with alarm. “You look awfully fucking cozy,” I snarked, glaring at Mila.
She sat up, frowning at me. “What the hell is your problem, Coralie?”
“My problem?” I snapped, feeling my heart breaking all while rage consumed me. “You lied to me about you and Brittany?—”
“I didn’t lie!” she shouted as she jumped off the bed, losing her temper, which was something she rarely did. Mila was always so cool and composed—chipper, even. I just seemed to be the one capable of bringing out the worst in her.
She stumbled a little when her feet hit the floor before catching herself, her pink hair a mess and eyes blazing with fury as she glared at me. “Brittany and I are friends! We’ve only ever been fucking friends, Cor! Why are you being such a bitch about this?! I love you! I’ve always fucking loved you, and?—”
I gripped the front of her shirt and yanked her to me, smashing our mouths together. She made a small sound of surprise before she sank into me, her arms reaching up to twine around my neck, her fingertips pressing into my skin. I wrapped my arms around her waist, sliding one hand up into her pink hair so I could tug her head back a bit and devour her sweet mouth.
How I went this long without a taste of her was beyond me. But I wouldn’t be denying myself the pleasure any longer. Fuck, I couldn’t. Kissing Mila was addictive and everything I thought it’d be and still more.
When we parted, Mila’s eyes were a little hazy. Her lips were red and kiss-swollen, making me want to kiss them all over again. Fuck, she looked so damn beautiful.
She looked like mine.
I rested my forehead on hers, my breaths panting past my lips as I tried to regulate my ragged breathing and my rapidly beating heart. “I’ve always loved you, too,” I whispered, finally bringing life to the words I’d held inside of me for years.
She didn’t say a word—just pulled my mouth back to hers, this kiss a little more tender. A little sweeter. Not as savage and needy. Just slow and deliberate—a true tasting. A moment that said more than I could ever hope to voice aloud.
Mila was mine.
And I was hers.
Mila and I… we were fucking inevitable.
Ten
Mila
“What…” I sucked in a deep breath and took a step back, putting some space between us so I could think clearly. Because I sure as shit couldn’t do that when all I could smell was Coralie’s coconut perfume and feel the warmth of her body against mine.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Brittany slip from the room, quietly shutting the door behind her to give us some privacy. I licked my kiss-swollen lips, looking up at Coralie, who looked as disheveled as I felt.
“I…” She swallowed. “I’m sorry for flipping out.”
I snorted and sat down on my bed, reaching up to run my fingers through my pink hair. “At this point, overreacting is one of your personality traits.” She rolled her eyes at me and walked over to the counter, grabbing the plastic bag that contained two Styrofoam containers, which smelled heavenly. When she handed me the bag, I began pulling them out while she grabbed the milkshakes and teas she brought back with her.
“You didn’t have to get me food,” I told her, though I was all giddy inside. I was starving and had been putting off getting food because I was lazy as fuck. Now, I was glad I did because I knew whatever she’d gotten was going to taste delicious, solely because it was Coralie who got it for me. That and it made me all warm inside to know she was trying to take care of me like she used to.