Chapter 37 - No Accidental Flirting #2
She had found a small restaurant she thought I'd like.
She was right.
We talked about a project she was excited about.
A house renovation where the owner actually listened.
Apparently rare.
Eventually I told her—
"Celine's seeing someone exclusively now."
Audrey looked at me.
"Oh."
"She's happy."
"Good."
That was it.
No—
one less person.
No satisfaction.
No competition.
Just—
good.
Very Audrey.
Then I told her about Tori.
Not every detail.
Just that we'd gone out.
Audrey nodded.
"Okay."
"You're okay?"
"Yes."
Then—
"I like you, Lia."
I looked at her.
There.
Audrey did not say things often.
So when she did—
they landed.
"I like you too."
She smiled.
"Good."
Then continued eating.
No pressure.
No declaration.
No competitive energy.
Just—
information.
Quietly dangerous.
Then Friday came.
Celeste.
Of course.
She looked at me once when I arrived and immediately said—
"Tori went well."
I stared.
"Why?"
"Your face."
"What is wrong with my face?"
"Nothing."
"Then stop reading it."
"No."
I sighed and sat.
Dinner started normally.
Celeste asked about work.
I asked about teaching.
She was considering taking a few tutoring students.
Current timeline.
Small.
Early.
I listened.
No future spoilers.
Then conversation circled back.
Naturally.
Unfortunately.
"So," she said.
"No."
She laughed.
"I haven't asked."
"You're going to."
"Tori."
"There."
Celeste smiled.
"How was it?"
"Good."
"How good?"
I stared.
"No calibrated scale."
"Still?"
"Still."
Celeste took a drink.
Then—
"Did you kiss?"
"No."
That seemed to surprise her.
"Oh."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"Celeste."
"She didn't?"
"No."
"Did you want her to?"
I froze.
Dangerous question.
I considered lying.
No.
"Yes."
Celeste nodded.
No visible jealousy.
But—
something.
Thoughtful.
Then she smiled.
"Okay."
I narrowed my eyes.
"What does okay mean?"
"It means okay."
"That's suspicious."
"Lia."
"What?"
"Relax."
"I am relaxed."
She laughed.
"No, you're not."
We left after dinner.
Walked.
Her hand found mine.
Automatic now.
Familiar.
Warm.
I held on.
Also automatic.
Celeste was quieter than usual.
Not upset.
Just—
thinking.
Eventually, she stopped.
I stopped too.
She looked at me.
"I meant what I said before."
"Which one?"
"That eventually, if we keep going, I'd want this to be exclusive."
I nodded.
"I remember."
"And I also meant that I don't want you choosing me because I'm familiar."
"I know."
She looked at our hands.
Then back at me.
"But I think I need to clarify something."
There.
My favorite phrase.
"Okay."
"I am not casual about you anymore."
Oh.
Fuck.
I said nothing immediately.
Celeste continued.
"I'm still okay with how things are right now."
"Okay."
"I'm not asking you to stop seeing Audrey or Tori."
Three.
There were three now.
"But?"
"But I'm not dating you just because it's fun."
Her voice stayed calm.
No accusation.
No ultimatum.
"I want to know if this could become something."
There.
Current Celeste.
Not Reset 1 Celeste.
Not future anything.
This woman.
Standing in front of me.
Wanting me.
I tightened my fingers slightly around hers.
"I want to know too."
Her expression softened.
"Okay."
There it was again.
This time—
not suspicious.
Celeste stepped closer.
"Can I kiss you?"
I smiled.
"You still ask."
"I still want the answer."
That—
fuck.
"Yes."
She kissed me.
I expected what we'd been doing.
Soft.
Brief.
A few seconds.
Then separate.
Except—
she didn't pull away immediately.
Neither did I.
Her free hand settled lightly at my waist.
Mine stayed around her hand.
The kiss lasted longer.
Still gentle.
Still nothing rushed.
Just—
more.
Enough that my brain completely stopped producing useful language.
When we finally separated, it was only far enough to breathe.
Celeste looked at me.
"Okay?"
I nodded.
"Yeah."
She smiled slightly.
Then—
"Again?"
Fuck.
"Yes."
The second one was longer too.
Not frantic.
Not sexual.
Just—
deliberate.
Closer.
Her hand stayed at my waist.
I moved mine from her hand to her arm without thinking.
Then shoulder.
Somewhere during that—
I forgot there were two other women in the universe.
Useful skill.
Temporary.
When we finally pulled apart properly, Celeste rested her forehead lightly against mine for a second.
I was still processing oxygen.
She whispered—
"Verified?"
I closed my eyes.
"Don't ruin it."
She laughed softly.
Right there.
Too close.
Then moved back.
I stared at her.
She looked extremely satisfied.
"Competitive?"
I asked.
She smiled.
"No."
I raised an eyebrow.
Then—
"Maybe a little."
"There is no competition."
"I know."
Pause.
"But Tori reminded me I don't want to be passive about you."
There.
That I could respect.
"Good."
"Good?"
"Yes."
Celeste smiled.
"Responsible response."
"Stop."
On the ride home, I had a problem.
Three women now.
Celeste.
Audrey.
Tori.
Very different.
And for the first time—
I couldn't reduce any of them to—
better.
Celeste had history.
Heat.
Comfort.
Direct intention.
Audrey had calm.
Steadiness.
Space.
Tori had—
fuck.
Tori had made three hours disappear.
And then refused to kiss me because she refused to treat intimacy like a race.
Very annoying.
My phone buzzed.
Tori.
home?
I smiled.
on the way
Then—
had a good time wednesday
I stared.
same
Pause.
still interested?
Direct.
Of course.
yes
Three dots.
good. me too
Then—
goodnight
I stared at the message.
No joke.
No emoji.
No extra flirt.
Just—
goodnight.
And somehow that still worked.
Then Celeste messaged.
home?
on the way
good
Then—
still verified?
I laughed.
yes
Immediate:
good
Fuck.
Sunday, Jane and Chloe took one look at me.
Jane narrowed her eyes.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
Chloe slowly smiled.
"Something happened."
"No."
Jane:
"Celeste?"
I drank my coffee.
Wrong move.
Jane's eyes widened.
"Oh my God."
Chloe leaned forward.
"What?"
Jane pointed at me.
"Celeste."
"Can we discuss literally anything else?"
Jane:
"Kiss?"
I stared.
Silence.
Then Chloe—
"Longer kiss."
I almost dropped my drink.
"HOW THE FUCK WOULD YOU KNOW THAT?"
She started laughing.
Jane screamed.
"LONGER?"
"CHLOE WAS GUESSING."
Chloe was now crying.
"Correct guess."
I covered my face.
I hated them.
Jane leaned across the table.
"So Celeste upgraded."
"Do not call it that."
Chloe:
"Premium package."
"No."
Jane laughed.
Then—
"Tori?"
I slowly lowered my hands.
"What about?"
"Still interested?"
"Yes."
"Audrey?"
"Yes."
"Celine?"
I sighed.
"She has a girlfriend."
Silence.
Jane blinked.
"Already?"
"She's going exclusive with someone she was already dating."
Chloe nodded solemnly.
"Acquired by another trainer."
I stared.
"No."
Jane:
"One down."
"Also no."
"Final three."
"STOP."
Chloe started counting.
"Celeste."
I pointed at her.
"Don't."
"Audrey."
"Chloe."
"Victoria."
"There is no final three."
Jane stared.
"There are literally three."
"That's not the point."
Jane looked at me for a second.
Then smiled.
"You're in trouble."
I sighed.
"Yes."
Finally—
someone had assessed the situation correctly.