Page 48 of Vying Girls

I leave a soft kiss on her forehead, stilling when she stirs at my touch. A smile trembles on my lips, and I have to keep from giggling.

This feeling. It’s the same with Elly, it just fills me up until I’m overflowing.

Not caring if I wake her now, I cup one cheek and lay a kiss on the other, the sound stark in the otherwise silent room.

Her eyes open slowly, finding mine in the dark.

‘Hey,’ I whisper, stroking my thumb over her cheek.

She groans sleepily, removing the arm over her head with clumsy movements.

‘Fuck,’ she gasps, cradling it to her. ‘Gone dead.’

‘That always happens,’ I chuckle.

‘Can’t help it. I do it in my sleep.’ She rolls her head towards me. ‘Why are you up? Reality better than your dreams?’

‘Something like that.’

I kiss her wide lips, enjoying their plumpness. They’re silky smooth, owing to the balm she religiously puts on them at night. ‘Wanna chat?’

‘Chat about what?’

‘Nothing. Everything.’

Haz yawns widely, stretching her body like a cat. ‘Alright. I’m down for a midnight yap.’

‘I want to know you.’

‘Huh?’ She frowns lightly. ‘You do. What you see is what you get, baby. Nothing else going on.’

It might even be that she believes that, I don’t know, but I certainly don’t.

‘I’ve only known you a few months,’ I point out. ‘That’s not a lot of time. I know nothing of you outside of this place.’ I lay my head back down, still stroking her cheek. ‘But I want to. What about where you come from? What were your family like?’

‘Never had any.’

I give her a look I know she can see even in the dark.

‘No, really. I just materialised one night. Out of the fog on the river. The village venerates me. I haunt their streets. Eat their kids. I’m a British cryptid. There’s a festival dedicated to me and everything.’

‘You’re an evasive idiot, is what you are.’

Grabbing the ribbon on my wrist, she gives it a tug. ‘And I know you’re clever enough to take a hint, so let’s put a lid on it.’

I huff out a breath, conceding defeat on this occasion. ‘I’m gonna work you out, Haz. Even if it kills me.’

‘Uh-huh. Tell you what, princess. Let me know what’s up with you and Nic and I’ll give you all my gory details.’

I close my eyes with a sigh. Should have seen that one coming.

‘Are you two fucking?’

‘No!’

‘Hey, it’s cool if you are. Full house. Nice and tidy.’

‘I’m not sleeping with Nic. Shit.’