Page 15 of Sweater Weather (Sapphire Falls Orchard #1)

FIFTEEN

Bells

I nfluencer day is finally over, everyone is on the train home, and we’re already getting so many notifications and followers that I have to turn off my notifications.

The rest of the day went okay; things went wrong but it was nothing Tilly and I couldn’t fix.

We made a good team, both of us putting out fires all day long.

The one thing I was relieved about was they weren’t actual fires.

Overall, the day was great. Once we were free from the closet, Tilly and I barely spoke.

I had a feeling she was as confused as I was about our almost kiss.

I knew she was coming around to liking me, but was she actually going to kiss me?

My head is in shambles just thinking about it.

“Here, you have to wear this.” Lina was going through my closet to help me pick an outfit for tonight.

“This?!” I gasp. It’s a red lacy bodysuit with ruffled sleeves. It’s basically see-through, except for the bra’s padding. I’ve worn it out in the city on more than one occasion, but it feels a little scandalous for a small town.

“If you want to get Tilly’s attention, this is the way to do it.” She holds it up in front of me. My jaw drops open. I’ve never said anything about Tilly and me to her. “Oh please, you can deny it, but you two are so obvious. Just do us all a favor and get together already.”

“I don’t think she feels the same,” I admit.

“Then you’re as blind as she is. Of course, she feels the same. She’s been so angry for months because she doesn’t want to act on it. But I think she’s finally coming around.” Lina laughs.

“I assume you know we hooked up already?”

“Oh yeah, I think it’s hysterical because she used to be the queen of one-night stands, and since you, she hasn’t even been out,” Lina says.

“Really?”

“You really don’t see the way she looks at you?” Lina asks, raising an eyebrow.

“I don’t,” I admit.

“She cares for you. I don’t know if she’s ready to admit it, but she does. So wear this—maybe with some ripped jeans—and she won’t be able to take her eyes off you,” Lina says, giving me the bodysuit.

“Okay.”

I grab a pair of jeans from my dresser as Lina sits on the bed to do her makeup. She is already dressed, wearing this cute off-the-shoulder black floral top and a mini skirt. Her legs are covered in tattoos—some quotes, some art.

“You ever think about getting one?” Lina asks, catching me staring at her legs.

“Oh no. I’m terrified of blood and needles. I’d pass out on the table.” I shake my head.

“I love them. My ex was a tattoo artist in the city, so a lot of these I got for free,” she says.

I head into the bathroom to change and let my curls free from the wrap I have them in.

I like my natural hair; it looks much better than when I attempt to tame my mane.

Lina says she is going to do my makeup, so I head back to the bedroom and sit next to her on the bed.

She’s quiet as she applies different things to my face, and I try to relax.

I don’t know why I am so nervous; I’ve been out with Lina, Hattie, and Tilly before.

But this time Tilly knows I am going. Part of me is praying she notices me and doesn’t try going home with someone else like last time.

Sure, that was months ago, but it still stings—right up until I see her look of terror.

“Okay, we’re ready to go!” Lina announces, and I look in the mirror.

“Damn! You made me look good.” I admire my curves and the fresh makeup. She knows what she’s doing.

We grab our shoes on the way out, and Hattie is driving us all.

She has to relieve the babysitter later, so she offers to be our designated driver.

I wonder if she ever gets a night off from being a mom; most of the time she acts like our mom too, making sure we don’t drink too much and we have water before going to bed.

Tilly sits in the front with Hattie, so we slide in the back, not giving her a chance to see my outfit before we get there.

But as we pull up to the bar, Tilly gets out and opens my door.

I get out one foot at a time; with my luck and heels, I’ll end up falling on my face.

Tilly’s jaw drops as she sees what I’m wearing.

She struggles to pick up her jaw and take her eyes off my body.

Oh, I am definitely going to have to thank Lina later.

“Beer?” Tilly asks when we go inside. Bill stops pouring a drink to gawk at me like a man. His jaw is on the floor, and I take great pleasure in that, especially considering how he usually ignores me.

“Yes, please.” The rest of us find a table as Tilly orders.

“Holy shit, I didn’t realize how good this would work! It’s amazing,” I whisper to Lina.

“Everyone has their eyes on you tonight. If you aren’t going home with Tills, you’re going home with someone,” she winks.

Tilly brings over our drinks and takes the empty seat next to me.

Our hands brush together as I reach for the frosty bottle.

Wetness drips down the side of the bottle, her hands warmer than mine.

We both pull away shyly; then I reach for the bottle again and press it to my lips.

I can feel her gaze on me, but I’m not giving her the satisfaction of looking.

Three beers and a round of shots later, Lina and Tilly are talking me into dancing.

“Come on! We can line dance!” they say, like I’m supposed to know what that is.

“I have no clue what that even is,” I laugh.

“I’ll teach you,” Tilly says, holding out a hand and flashing me her perfect smile. She bats her blue eyes at me, and I cave.

“Fine.” I toss back the rest of my drink, and everyone cheers.

Tilly’s hand in mine feels right. It’s just the perfect size despite our height and size difference.

Her hand is warm while mine is still cold from holding the beer so tight.

She leads me to the dance floor, which is basically the only spot in the bar that doesn’t have any chairs or tables in it.

The music is playing some song I’ve never heard, but my focus is on Tilly.

She’s wearing these long cargo shorts and a black tank top that’s cropped to show her abs, with a button-up shirt over it.

It’s riding low, so I can even make out the tops of her tits.

“Come on, you just have to follow my lead,” Tilly says and pulls me closer to her.

I glance at her feet, trying to figure out how to do this.

She seems to be moving them in a square pattern, but that doesn’t seem right.

As soon as the song changes, she changes her footing completely, and I almost topple over trying to keep up.

Tilly catches me by the waist, and my eyes lock onto hers.

Instead of letting go, she pulls me in closer.

Her body is hard like a rock wall against all my squishiness.

“I think I like this better,” she murmurs quietly.

Her hands stay on my hips as we move slower against each other.

It’s a slow song that I’m convinced one of her friends put on for us.

They are sneaky that way. So I wrap my arms around her neck, and I can feel the tiny goose bumps she has.

She’s staring at my breasts, and I’m waiting for the second she realizes I’ve caught her.

But the song changes—probably because it’s too slow for the bar—and she lets go of my waist. I start moving my hips, knowing this song I can dance to the beat of.

I turn around to dance with Lina, but she’s nowhere to be found.

Instead, Tilly starts grinding behind me, and I gasp at the contact.

Her hands are on the sides of my thighs, holding me as I grind my ass on her.

I can feel her breath on my skin. Is it suddenly incredibly hot in here?

“Is this okay?” she whispers.

“Y-yes,” I say, but I don’t even know if she can hear me.

I don’t stop moving; all I want is more friction, more of her body touching mine.

I can feel the alcohol taking over. I’m pretty tipsy but not drunk—mostly in love with the way her body feels touching mine.

It has been way too long since I’ve been touched by anyone but the showerhead, and I am desperate for more.

I spin around and shake my body against hers.

We’re probably causing a scene, but I don’t give a shit.

All I care about right now is how amazing it feels to be touched by her.

“God, you are so beautiful,” Tilly says, and before I have a chance to respond, she’s pulling me in for a kiss.

Our lips smash together, her tongue slipping in my mouth, and I groan against her.

For months now, we’ve been denying our chemistry and how we make each other feel.

But in this moment Tilly doesn’t seem to care.

She tastes like beer and the limes she’s been sucking on all night.

Yet I don’t pull away from her bitterness; she’s somehow sweeter than I anticipate.

Her tongue twirls around mine, and her hands grip my hips tightly.

My hands tangle through her soft blonde hair, and she moans lightly into my mouth.

Fuck. This is going to kill me if we keep teasing each other.

“Let’s get out of here,” Tilly says against my lips. I can feel her breathing as heavily as I am.

“O-okay,” I mutter.

She takes me by the hand and leads me out the front door.

I don’t know if anyone even sees us, because my eyes are too focused on Tilly.

I watch the back of her body as she pulls me through a sea of people and calls someone on her phone.

I assume it’s for a cab since we just left behind our ride and neither of us is in any shape to drive.

When the one cab in town shows up two minutes later, my suspicions are confirmed.

Tilly opens the cab door, and I slide in.

Tilly walks around the other side and slips in next to me.

She rattles off the orchard’s address, and the car starts moving.

Tilly pulls me closer to her, and her hand melts into mine.

Leaning in, she pushes my curls out of the way and whispers in my ear, “As soon as we’re alone again I’m going to have my way with you.”

I shiver in anticipation, only able to nod.

“I can see how bad you want this. Are you wet?” she whispers, and I can feel her breath on my ear.

“Yes,” I whisper back, and she kisses my earlobe. I suck in a breath, and she tugs it between her teeth. Fuck. My hand grips her thigh, needing to touch any part of her right now.

“I love seeing how desperate you are for this,” she says.

She is going to pay for teasing me later. I can’t say or do anything right now, but the second we are in a bedroom, I’ll be the one in control. Her lips stay on my neck as I keep my composure, willing myself not to moan aloud for the cabdriver.