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“I’ve felt unwanted my entire life,” Kyle admitted then. “Turns out, I was unwanted from the moment the stick turned blue, which I should’ve just assumed, too.”

“I want you,” Melinda replied. “I want you, Kyle.”

“Even though I’m a mess?”

Melinda smiled and said, “You can bemymess.”

“I’d rather be your well-adjusted date,” Kyle replied.

“You will be,” Melinda said. “The well-adjusted part. You’re already my date.”

“I’m sorry about tonight. I left the wine at–”

Melinda leaned in and kissed her quickly to shut her up.

“I don’t care. I just want you here. I don’t care about wine or a fancy dinner or a helicopter ride. I just want you. I mean that, Kyle. You. I wantyou.” She cupped Kyle’s cheek. “Andonlyyou, Ky.”

Kyle sniffled and asked, “Really?”

Melinda leaned in to kiss her again, slower this time, and said, “Lie back, babe.”

Kyle didn’t ask questions. She moved until she was lyingon Melinda’s sofa, looking up at her. Melinda moved, too, until she was hovering over Kyle.

“Can I show you?”

When Kyle nodded, Melinda sat back to pull off her shirt and undo her work khakis before she slid them down her legs and stood up to remove them. After that, she kicked off her shoes and took off the remainder of her clothing. Kyle just watched her, probably wondering what she’d do next. Melinda leaned over the sofa and untied Kyle’s shoes, dropping them to the floor before she undid and tugged off her jeans. Kyle removed her own shirt and bra, leaving her black underwear to Melinda. Once there was nothing left between them, Melinda settled against her, resting her face in the crook of Kyle’s neck.

“You are so beautiful,” she whispered. “So unbelievably worth it,” she added, kissing Kyle’s neck. “And anyone who doesn’t see that is crazy.”

“Okay,” Kyle whispered, but Melinda wasn’t sure she believed her.

She lowered her hand and slid it between them.

“Is this okay?” she asked.

“Please,” Kyle replied.

Melinda cupped her sex for only a moment before she slipped between Kyle’s folds. Kyle gasped at first, and then Melinda felt her relax a bit as she began to stroke. She took her time, wanting to give Kyle as much pleasure as possible to help at least temporarily erase the bullshit her mother had spewed at her earlier that day. When she entered her, Kyle tensed for a second but allowed Melinda to go deeper and gently thrust inside her as she whispered words of affirmation into Kyle’s ear. Several minutes later, Kyle came softly, and Melinda felt her whole body relax fully into the sofa. Melinda stayed inside her until her wrist couldn’t stand it anymore. Then, she moved to settle more into Kyle, kissing her jawline.

“Thank you,” Kyle said, sniffling.

“You don’t have to thank me for that. I loved everysecond of it,” she replied. “You’re staying here tonight. I’m holding you all night long, okay?”

“Okay,” Kyle agreed. “Do I smell coffee?”

Melinda chuckled against her chest and replied, “Yes. Chicory, just for you.”

“Sounds good, but it can wait,” Kyle told her before she wrapped her arms tightly around Melinda and kissed her temple.

“Kyle?”

“Yeah?”

“She’s wrong about everything.”

“I know.”

“Do you?”