Chapter 30

“What do you mean?” I asked Becca.

She chewed the inside of her lip for a second, looking at me out of the corner of her eye. “I’m just getting ... vibes,” she said.

“You’re going to need to be a little more specific than that,” I said. I was busy working on spreading garlic spread on baguettes to go with the lasagna, so I tried not to give her any looks as I focused on what was in front of me.

“I don’t know, just vibes,” she said. “One second you two are flirty with each other, and other people. The next there’s something else, like you’re in a fight or something. But then you’re all flirty again later, and you’re both super nice no matter what else is going on.”

“It’s complicated,” I said.

“Do you mind un-complicating it?” she asked.

I set down the spatula I was smearing garlic spread with and turned, leaning back on the counter and looking at Becca directly. “Any particular reason why?” I asked.

Becca stopped her work with the salad and leaned her hip against the counter, crossing her arms under her bust. “Because you’re cute and I was having fun flirting with you and her, but I don’t know what the deal is with your relationship and I’d rather not open any doors that shouldn’t be opened. Professional, or flirty professional, is a perfectly fine line to stay at if that’s all there is.”

I took a deep breath and sighed it out, nodding slowly. “Thanks for being direct about it,” I said. “I appreciate that.”

“Care to give me the same courtesy?” she asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “You deserve it, you’ve been great with the trip and even better with Cass. She and I are engaged, and we’ve been together for seven years. There’s a lot of history, and we love each other deeply, and she’s going to be my wife. She’s also asked that we open up our relationship so that I, or we together, can sleep with other people. It’s brand new, and there’s some tension around it.”

Becca slowly nodded, absorbing what I’d said, and I realized we were alike in more than just our directness or management style for events. She didn’t like jumping in without checking how deep the water was either.

“I see,” she finally said, then turned back to the salad and started working. “So have you slept with anyone else yet?”

“I haven’t slept with anyone else, ever, other than her,” I said.

“Are you going to?”

“I-” I sighed again. “She needs me to. And I’d like to, I think. I just haven’t figured it out in my head yet.”

“Because you’re loyal,” Becca filled in the gap for me.

“Yep,” I said.

“Would you want to have sex with me?” Becca asked. “If you’re ready for it on this trip?”

I hadn’t gone back to work with the garlic bread and was still watching her. “Becca, if you were willing, I would be absolutely thrilled, but only once I’m ready for it.”

“OK,” she said and kept working.

“Just, OK?” I asked.

“Mhmm,” she nodded. “You let me know when you’re ready. Until then, we’ll stay flirty-professional. I’m not desperate for it or anything - I just know what I want and what I like, and I think you fit that.”

“Can I ask you for one thing?” I asked her.

“Sure,” she said.

“I’d like to kiss you,” I said, watching her reaction.

She stopped working and glanced at me, nodding quietly. I stepped towards her, putting my hands on her slim waist and standing just behind her. I leaned over and she tilted her neck back, and we kissed softly over her shoulder. It was warm, friendly and comfortable. There was a bit of passion there - nothing like the kiss with Leia, but there and with just a tasteful touch of tongue - and then it was over.