Page 62 of The Ampersand Effect

Grier took a step closer, narrowing the gap between them. Tobin could feel the heat of her body radiate through their layers. She could smell wisps of musk and patchouli. She could almost—almost—taste her breath. “For someone who insisted this isn’t a date, you’re playing with fire, as they say.”

The words hit her, shaking her out of her living fantasy. She cleared her throat. “Right. Um, doughnuts. They’re this way,” she said, turning before Grier could see the heat creeping up her throat.

They decided to split up between adjacent vendors, Grier grabbing coffee while Tobin collected the doughnuts.

“I still can’t believe you drink your coffee black,” Grier admonished, as they exchanged half of their purchases with each other. Tobin handed over the root beer float cake doughnut, topped with fluffy whipped cream and a vial of root beer meant to be squeezed into the center just before eating. As she settled it into Grier’s open palm, the back of her hand lingered just this side of intentional, and she felt a rush of warmth and electricity at the contact. Grier’s touch returned a rush of memories from their last encounter—of their kiss. And,dammit, why wasn’t this a date?

“Coffee is a delicacy. It’s meant to be enjoyed bold and smooth. And that’s how I like it. You don’t, I take it?” Tobin played along, but was genuinely curious.

“No. I add creamer, like a sane person. Because I actually love myself. I’m starting to wonder if my initial impression of you was off.Black coffee?”Grier chided her. “I’m not sure we can even be friends with proclivities like that.” Then she playfully bumped Tobin’s arm with her shoulder and smiled—a smile so devastating that Tobin felt her toes curl—and nearly tripped.

“Well, that’s a pretty harsh line to draw. I mean, we haven’t even tried the doughnuts. What if I decide I don’t like root beer, too? Your threats have already been exposed; you’ll have nothing left to hold over me to maintain a tenuous grasp on our friendship.”

Grier suddenly stopped walking. Tobin had to actually turn around to find Grier looking at her in mock horror. Grier’s words crawled out slowly: “You don’t like root beer? Are you an actual monster?”

Tobin laughed. “I never said I didn’t like root beer. I love it, in fact. I just wanted to know if that would be a friendship non- negotiable. I believe I have my answer.” She couldn’t wipe the grin off her face. The verbal sparring—especially in this lighter, more platonic direction—was putting her at ease. She was having honest fun. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt this light-hearted.

“I think the only fair way to settle this is to see who can finish their doughnut first,” Grier declared, face impassive, but a gleam in her eyes. A challenge.

“What are we settling? I said I like root beer!”

“But now I don’t believe you. You’re going to have to prove it.” Tobin swore she could see Grier’s eyes actually swirl under her

gaze.

“I… that doesn’t make sense. But I’m not typically one to back

off from a challenge, so… okay?”

“Ready, set, go!” Grier declared, heaving the doughnut into her open mouth.

Tobin was caught off guard by the sudden announcement, and then by the ferocity with which Grier began devouring the pastry— whipped cream clinging to her nose in the chaos of her frenzy.

“Wait, what? Not fair!” Tobin tried to fold the massive doughnut into her mouth—and utterly failed. The pastry crumbled in her hands as she bit into it, and the laughter bubbling up made her choke on the small pieces she’d just started to chew.

Tobin dropped the majority of her doughnut on the ground between them, belly-deep laughter causing tears to flow down her cheeks. Grier—somehow having managed to actually eat her doughnut—threw her hands in the air in victory, then reached forward to grab one of Tobin’s hands as she joined in her laughter.

Hearing the sound of such unbridled joy escape Grier’s mouth was definitively the sweetest sound Tobin had ever heard. Knowing that she was the cause of it made Tobin acutely aware of all the things she was willing to do to hear it again.

Tobin handed Grier some wet naps, and they cleaned up as they continued walking, sipping their coffees. They collected the items they needed for lunch as they strolled side by side, easy conversation flowing between them.

Tobin’s heart was full, but she felt the weight of suspicion fall on her. She didn’t trust that this ease between them could last. Everything seemed to fall apart around her; she knew the fears that had nearly prevented this interaction from happening were roiling just beneath the surface, ready to strike the moment she let down her guard.

When they arrived back at her house, Tobin immediately began preparing their lunch. Grier wandered to the open windows overlooking the covered deck and stared out at the lake. The day remained cold but clear, with miles of visibility stretching over Lake Aether.

“This is beautiful—all of it. Your home is gorgeous, Tobin. And the view—I don’t know how you ever leave.” She glancedover her shoulder at Tobin, an easy comfort in her posture.

“Some days I don’t. I just sit out there and watch the waves. It’s… my sanctuary. Where I go to just let it all go.” She shrugged, a little hesitant at how easily she was sharing these clandestine truths with Grier.

Grier returned to the kitchen and propped her arms on the counter opposite Tobin, who was busy prepping. “I can see why.”

“Do you want anything to drink? Or need a snack? This shouldn’t take more than thirty to forty minutes.” She smiled teasingly. “If all you’ve had is that doughnut this morning, I wouldn’t want you getting hangry on me.”

“I am quite hungry, actually. My swim this morning was a little more aggressive than I anticipated. But I don’t want to spoil my lunch, so I’m happy to wait. Can I help, though? I take direction well—I can be your sous chef.”

“You take direction well, huh?” Tobin grinned, unable to resist the innuendo.

Grier smiled through pursed lips, a slight curl tugging at the corner of her mouth. “I walked into that, so point for you. But, I’d like to remind the contestants, this is not a date. So are you going to make me work for my meal, or am I to be pampered like the princess I am?”