It Started with a Kiss

Tealey leans on the ledge next to me, keeping her eyes on the avenue below. “It’s almost midnight.”

I’m onto her. Grinning, I glance over. “It is.” I can’t make anything happen with Marlow, though, if Marlow doesn’t want it. Since the moment our friends found out we were, let’s just say . . . benefitting each other, they’ve tried their best to give us space. But on the rare occasion, like tonight, the hope in Tealey’s eyes gives her inner thoughts away.

I say, “Let’s cut to the chase. I don’t know if she’s coming, and although we came here together, we’re clearly not together.”

Tealey sighs. “So nothing’s changed with that?”

“No. We’re complicated, to say the least.”

“I know, but I know as well as you do that sometimes Marlow needs a little nudge in the right direction.”

“Me, being that direction?”

She smiles as a giggle escapes. “There could be worse things to wish for than two of my best friends being in a relationship.”

I look over her shoulder at the others again. “I know it’d put a nice bow on the group dynamic, but it might not work out that way. I don’t want to upset you—”

“You won’t upset me if it doesn’t work out. Ultimately, we all want what’s best for both of you. I just think . . .” She pauses and looks out at the city. The reprieve from her gaze gives me a second to take my own deep breath. “Tonight would be a great time to try, if there ever was one.”

I smile and bump into her. She’s like a little sister to me, and her heart is always in the right place, even if she’s off base when it comes to mine and Marlow’s love life. I say, “The invite is out there. All she has to do is meet me on this balcony.”

Tealey looks up at me while the others discuss options for after the party and then bumps right back into me. “Are you going to leave this to chance, Jackson?” Grinning ear to ear, she backs up into Rad’s arms again. “You have four minutes to make it happen.”

I dip my head, laughing. “Way to be subtle.”

Cade chuckles. “Subtlety isn’t your style.”

Shaking my head, I don’t know if I should be offended that they’re all so desperate for me to hook up with Marlow or flattered that they care so much about my happiness. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m a big boy. I’ll be okay. Promise.” Checking my watch, I look back up to see four sets of eyes still on me. I throw my arms out and join in the fun at my own expense. “Three minutes.”

Cammie turns and wraps her arms around Cade. “Whatever you’re doing at midnight is what you’ll have in abundance the rest of the year.”

He whispers something in her ear that makes her giggle and blush. Rad embraces Tealey like she’ll slip away if he doesn’t hold tight. When her arms go around his neck, I’m privy to the exchanged love they share in their eyes. That’s when I realize I want that.

I want that comfort, that ease, that . . . I can’t believe I’m even saying this.

Predictability.

Accountability.

Responsibility.

I want someone to rely on and someone I can count on.

Maybe that comes with age because the concept of love and dating only one person has always been foreign to me. But I’ve been feeling a pull wrenching me toward a relationship for a while now.

Kissing Marlow sounds like a great way to start the new year. Not kissing her body in foreplay to get laid, but really kissing her with everything in me and the passion she deserves. We’ll find out if there’s more to us than a casual night of sex here and there. That will be different for us and could lead to something . . . new.

I look through the glass door, spying Marlow at the center of the party.

Will breaking down that final barrier, the one we’ve kept in place to protect ourselves from us becoming real, change anything?

Marlow refuses to discuss relationships. I’m not sure if it’s because her life is up in the air at the moment, if she doesn’t want anything serious with me, or if the idea scares her. And I haven’t really pushed because the idea of doing the one thing I’ve never done—been serious about a woman—scares me a little.

I’ve always been underestimated, called a rich kid who was given everything. I was given a damn good start, but I worked my way from the mailroom to being a venture capitalist. I continue to work hard because one fuck up and it could all be gone overnight.

The transition through my career stockbroker to a financial advisor with CWM has been very calculated. Being in my position, being an investor, takes more than money. It also takes most of my attention. Am I willing to divide that at a time when the path I’m choosing potentially comes with more risk than reward?