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“I saw,” Kamryn answered. But she stayed so far away that Elia wasn’t sure what to make of it.

Elia swallowed the lump in her throat, glued to the spot where she’d been when Abagail had kissed her. What fresh hell was this?

“Just give me a minute.” Kamryn put her hand up as if to stop Elia from approaching. “Just a minute.”

Elia stayed where she was, wanting to rush forward and tell Kamryn that she had no idea what had just happened. They continued to stare at each other in the silence until Kamryn nodded at her.

“All right.”

Elia moved swiftly then, walking right up to Kamryn and shaking her head wildly. “I have no idea where that came from.”

“If you couldn’t tell that girl was in love with you for years, you’re more blind than me!” Elia’s mom piped up from behind Kamryn. “I could have told you that was going to happen when you brought Kam home.” Janet snorted. “Servesher right though. If she’s going to wait around for years and not do anything about it, then she’s going to have to pay the consequences.”

Kamryn gave Elia a pained expression. Elia reached for Kamryn’s hand and laced their fingers together. “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not your fault.” Kamryn gave her a weak smile. “Not easy to see, but not your fault.”

“Are you sure?” Elia asked.

“Yeah.” Kamryn lifted Elia’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “Want to talk?”

“Yes.” Elia smiled. “Let’s take a walk.”

“I’ll get dessert ready.” Janet wandered back toward the kitchen.

Elia stepped into Kamryn’s space, hugging her tightly. “I’m so sorry.”

“Again, Elia, it’s really not your fault.” Kamryn rubbed her hands up and down Elia’s back in a soothing motion. “Come on, let’s walk and talk.”

Once they were bundled up and outside of the house, Elia felt much better. Just being out of that space gave her a clearer head. “Are you sure you’re not mad?”

“I saw and heard enough to know it wasn’t your idea, and you weren’t particularly interested in it.” Kamryn chuckled. “Trust me, I know when you want to be kissed.”

Elia’s lips quirked up slightly at that and she tightened her grip in Kamryn’s hand. “I didn’t know she felt that way.”

“You and Abagail have something in common. That much was obvious from the moment I met her.” Kamryn walked across the street to the next. “You’re both cold as ice until you decide to let someone in. And then you warm right up. You’re just very picky about who those people might be.”

“You,” Elia answered. “I let you in.”

“You did.” Kamryn grinned brilliantly. “And Abagail hasn’t yet. She might get there, and she might not. That’s a decision for her to make.”

They walked another half block before Elia found herself going right back to that moment when she turned around and Kamryn was there, and the look of satisfaction on Abagail’s face. That was what bothered her the most, like Abagail had intentionally caused drama between them. But she wouldn’t do that, would she?

“Are you sure you aren’t upset?” Elia asked again.

“I’m sure.” Kamryn laughed lightly this time. Not in a making-fun way, but athis is ridiculousway. She moved in and kissed Elia’s cheek.

Elia instinctively turned and pressed their lips together. The cold air bit at her cheeks, but Kamryn was all warmth and comfort, a welcome reprieve from what Elia had been experiencing. She backed away slightly and smiled up at Kamryn.

“You know the first time you asked to kiss me, I was so taken aback by the question that I told you no.”

“That’s why you said no?”

Elia nodded, taking hold of both of Kamryn’s hands and lacing their fingers. “No one has ever asked me that before. And I have to say, I prefer it.”

“You prefer it?” Kamryn grinned brightly.

“Yes.” Elia took a small step in closer. “I like when you ask me to kiss you or you ask to kiss me. It’s consent, it’s permission, it’s a decision that we make together.”