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Miranda shook her head. “No, it wasn’t that. I just couldn’t avoid it when you were standing right in front of me.”

Tori smiled at that. She understood completely the extremes they would both take to avoid the tension between them if they could.

“I really didn’t want to ruin your date. I promise. I want you to be happy, to find your soulmate and be in love.” Miranda kissed Tori’s lips again, but she didn’t linger. “Rebel loves you and Harley, you know.”

“We love her, too.” Tori grinned before her face fell. “I was such a shitty parent this week.”

“No one is perfect every day of their lives. Though I do think you try to be.” Miranda curled a strand of hair behind Tori’s ear again. “Want to tell me about it?”

Tori shook her head, tensing. Then she stopped. “What was it then?”

Miranda frowned, confused.

“That made you change your mind. If it wasn’t my date, then what was it?”

“Oh.” Miranda sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Let’s maybe sit down for that one.”

Tori would be glad to do that, but she really liked how much they were touching right now. She wanted to hold Miranda as close to her as possible for as long as possible. Now that Miranda was back in her arms, she wasn’t willing to let go. Miranda pulled away and dragged her jacket off, laying it on the arm of the couch.

Giving in, they moved to sit, but Tori turned sideways, one leg curled up against Miranda’s hip and her other one spread out over Miranda’s thighs. Tori also refused to let go of Miranda’s hand. She didn’t want Miranda to have any doubts as to her commitment to this conversation.

“The last night that we were together was off, and that’s entirely my fault. I wasn’t me. I couldn’t reconcile what I was feeling here—” Miranda pressed her hand directly over her heart “—and what I was thinking. I haven’t grown up with good relationships, and my parents don’t exactly have a good relationship either. I often wonder why they’re still married, but they seem to make it work. Everything with you is so easy. And I don’t believe for a second that relationships aren’t work.”

“I don’t either.” Tori folded their hands together, staring at the way they fit so nicely. “I know I talk a big game about soulmates, but I was married, Miranda. I absolutely understand how much work relationships are.”

“You don’t ever talk about it.” Miranda played her fingers on the inside of Tori’s leg that was splayed over her lap.

“We weren’t exactly in a relationship, were we?”

Miranda closed her eyes. “I deserved that.”

“So do I.” Tori reached across and tangled their fingers together, palm to palm. “I treated it like a relationship when we didn’t actually have that conversation yet.”

“I want that.” Miranda’s voice rang through the room, full of understanding and confidence. She looked Tori directly in the eye. “I want a relationship with you.”

Tori grinned broadly, her heart picking up speed again. “I want that, too.”

“Are you sure? Because I’ve been anything but kind.”

“I wouldn’t say that, but next time, can we try to talk about things before we become total assholes to each other? Or at least have hot make-up sex afterward?”

Miranda laughed lightly. “I’ll try my best, but I have years of learning to unlearn.”

“Good.” Tori pushed up on her knee and slid so she straddled Miranda’s lap.

Miranda let out a shuddering gasp, her hands suddenly on Tori’s hips as she held on. Tori wove one hand into the hair at the nape of Miranda’s neck and pressed the other against her chest, her thumb resting against her collarbone. “Does this mean I get to plan a date for us?”

“Yes.” Miranda looked Tori directly in the eyes.

“And you won’t be all pouty during it?”

“That I can promise you.”

“Excellent,” Tori dragged out the word, bending close to brush her lips against Miranda’s. When Miranda moved in to kiss her, she pulled back and grinned, her eyes dancing all over Miranda’s face. She did it again—as soon as their lips touched, she pulled back as Miranda tried to dive in.

“Now you’re teasing.” Miranda pouted.

“I think teasing is one of the best forms of foreplay. That and I get to see these lips in the most perfect pout.” Tori kissed Miranda’s cheek, dropping her crotch right into Miranda’s lap.