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Reid laughed. She’d been smiling and laughing a lot today. She’d been comfortable in a way I hadn’t seen her be, outside of our time together.

“Did you have a good day?” I asked her.

“Mmmm, I did. Surprisingly. If you would have told me I’d go and bounce on the trampoline before we got there, I would have said you were high, but it was fun. I had fun.”

I pretended to gasp. “Reid Hayward had fun? Shocking.”

“Shut up,” she said through a laugh before raising our joined hands to kiss the back of mine.

“Never,” I said.

I didn’t ask her if she wanted to come into my apartment with me after the party. She just followed me in, setting down the empty pan that had once held the cobbler. It had been devoured and my baking skills had been complemented. Both Maggie and Torrin had asked for the recipe.

Reid sunk down onto my couch with a sigh after she’d kicked her shoes off. I did the same, sitting next to her. She put her arm around me, pulling me closer.

“I love my friends but listen to that.” She paused and I stayed silent.

“What is it?” I asked.

“Quiet,” she said.

“Oh.”

Her eyes went wide. “I didn’t mean you had to be quiet. I mean now I don’t have to hear anyone else but you. You’re my favorite person to listen to, Soph.”

Well.

“That’s a nice thing to say.”

Reid ran one finger down my nose, over my lips, and down my chin.

“It’s the truth.” Her finger drew me closer until our lips met.

“Wait,” I said, and she instantly pulled back. “No, I mean, I just wanted to say that I know this is all still new and you’ve been so careful and sweet with me, but you don’t have to. I mean, I’m still nervous, but I feel safe with you. I want…I want to do more.” Not sure what that more was yet.

“What kind of more, baby?” she asked, voice going low in that way that made tingles go up and down my spine.

“I don’t know. But I’d like to see?”

Reid nodded. “We can absolutely do that. Want me in charge again?”

I nodded eagerly and she chuckled. “You ready now?”

Absolutely.

I led Reid to my bedroom again and this time, I was ready for her to see more of me. No more hiding under blankets and sheets. I wanted to see her too.

“Can you take off your shirt?” I asked her and she put her finger up to silence me. It should have been irritating, but it wasn’t. Not when we were like this together.

“You said I could be in charge, remember?”

I nodded against her finger.

“So I think you should take your shirt off first.”

Oh. Warmth pooled and settled in various parts of my body as the air grew thick between us.

I reached down and pulled my shirt over my head. I had a bra on underneath. It was simple but pretty and pink. I’d worn it in the hopes that she would see it and enjoy it.