Kiss Off

Chapter 16

For the first time in weeks, I tell someone all about my experience in that basement with Bryson. The devastating truth that we probably weren't going to make it out. The acceptance that seemed to so quickly form in our desperation. The agony of suffering and knowing it'd only get worse as our bodies slowly deteriorated until we could no longer breathe. Bryson's confession about Cooper.

Chloe sits sipping a hot mocha latte, attention riveted to me over the rim of her mug. Obviously, she was under the same impression of what took place as Claudia had been. They dimmed down reality in order to boost the excitement and adventure they assumed had been part of the event.

"Holy crap, Ev," Chloe whisper-gasps. "I had no idea you went through all that. I mean, I'd assumed it'd been scary. Heck, you outran a tornado and survived! But, I guess I'd figured that the whole 'surviving' part of it would have made it more exciting. Somehow I pictured the two of you laughing about how you beat death."

"Yeah... no," I say, shaking my head. "Definitely wasn't like that."

Chloe scrutinizes me for several seconds before taking another sip of her coffee and shoving it away from her and crossing her arms on the table.

"So," she begins, words hesitant. "What's this about? You looked like you were about to burst into tears earlier. I know you didn't just pull me away from Devon so you could relive all this crap." She pauses, ducking her head slightly to catch my full attention. "What's really going on?"

"Right." I let out a heavy breath, smoothing a finger over my left eyebrow. "So, um... while we were down there, we kind of... kissed."

"You and Bryson?" She nearly shrieks, but immediately drops her volume and leans forward, repeating the question in a whisper. "It's been two months and you're just now telling me this! But, holy crap! You and Bryson kissed?"

"Yeah." I nod. "I mean, I kind of kissed him—"

"Shocking." She rolls her eyes.

"—but he kissed me back."

Her eyes widen, a giddy grin spreading across her face. "Say what!"

I flatten my lips tight against each other and nod solemnly. "But..."

"Uh oh."

"I just talked to Claudia." My words sound heavy even to my own ears. I find myself playing with a small cluster of crumbs on the table, my eyes refusing to lock with Chloe's even though I can feel her assessing me.

"Okay," she sighs. "Spit it out. What happened? What did she say?"

"She, uh... she said that he told her it was a mistake."

Chloe's jaw drops, words failing to find their way out of her mouth. With several shakes of her head, she clamps her lips shut and growls deep in her throat. I smile at her reaction, loving just how personal she's taking all of this.

"But Claudia's not a jerk," she finally says, face contorted in confusion. "Why would she say something so cruel?"

"Well," I begin, "I kind of implied that it shouldn't have happened—which it shouldn't have. It was my desperate attempt at finally taking what I wanted in my last moments. It was selfish and stupid. But then he kissed me back and, I don't know, I just kind of thought maybe he had wanted it too. But then, talking to Claudia, she made it sound like he'd just sort of gone along with it, so I told her it shouldn't have happened. Guess Bryson agrees."

"So what," Chloe says, barely even letting my words register in her head before forming an opinion of the conversation I'd had with Claudia. "That wasn't honest, right? You don't actually regret the kiss, right?"