yes, she wanted to be angry with CJ. She supposed CJ thought she would be angry too. As soon as they had left the party, CJ had dropped her hand and they’d walked home in silence. CJ had shut her out by putting in her earbuds and listening to music. Paige had retreated to the shower.
Despite it all, she couldn’t help but smile as she recalled CJ’s tale of how they met. God, it’s a wonder she was able to play along, seeing as how they were making it up as they went. At one point, as CJ was about to launch into yet another story, Paige had clamped her mouth shut, covering it with her hand. This led to a quick brush of CJ’s tongue against her palm, causing her to drop her hand. They had both laughed, and it had seemed natural, even to her, to lean in for the kiss. Before her mind caught up with her body, the kiss was over.
Well, maybe they just needed some ground rules. Holding hands? Okay. Occasional touching? Only if necessary. Kissing? Definitely not. There should be no reason for them to kiss in public. None.
Now with a purpose, she quickly finished her shower and dressed, finding CJ in the same position as she’d left her—sitting on the sofa, bobbing her head to the music she heard. Paige walked over, yanking the earbuds from her ears.
“We should talk.”
“Why?”
“ Why? I think you know why,” she said, noting that CJ wouldn’t meet her gaze. “Let’s go over some do’s and don’ts,” she said.
CJ rolled her eyes. “Seriously? It was barely a kiss,” she said. “And it seemed like the right thing to do at the time.”
“Yes, it did,” she conceded. Crap . “I would just prefer to keep things as simple as possible. It would be odd if we didn’t hold hands or...or touch occasionally. But I don’t see the need for... kissing.”
CJ looked at her then, an evil twinkle in her eyes. “Why? Afraid you might like it?”
Paige forced a laugh. “I assure you, no. You’re not my type. In the least,” she added. As soon as the words were out, she knew they were a mistake.
“Really? I recall a night about six months ago that begs to differ,” CJ said. “I seemed to be your type that night.”
“Yes, well, an aberration, for sure,” she said, as if that was excuse enough. “We both saw how well that turned out.”
“Well, if it makes you feel any better, you’re not my type either. This is as uncomfortable for me as it is for you.”
Paige had to bite her lip to keep from replying. Actually, she had to turn away to keep the words from tumbling out. CJ promptly put her earbuds back in, and Paige went into the bedroom with a slam of the door, dragging out her laptop to check e-mail.
“Right,” she finally murmured. “As if CJ Johnston has a type. Any woman with a pulse would do.”
Of course, she was being ridiculous. She had no clue who CJ’s type was really. She’d never seen her out socially and made it a point not to listen when the guys quizzed CJ about her dates. She simply wasn’t interested.
***
“I’m scared.”
Fiona’s mother smiled reassuringly. “It’ll be fine. You should feel honored Mother Hogan chose you.”
“Yes, I know.” She took a deep breath. “Will it hurt?”
“You’ve witnessed couplings, Fiona. What do you think?”
Yes. And she also had a bachelor’s degree in science. Nonetheless, this was still a foreign concept. When she went away to college, all the other girls would talk about sex and guys. She had nothing to contribute. It was the closest she’d come to forsaking the flock, to disobeying Mother Hogan. She was exposed to so many things, so many things that were not allowed in Hoganville. But in the end, she remained faithful. She knew she could still be culled. Her place was in Hoganville, not out there . She was glad she hadn’t succumbed to the outside. Mother Hogan had warned her and she had heeded that warning.
“I suppose I’m ready,” she said, letting her mother tie the robe at her neck, then put the
Despite it all, she couldn’t help but smile as she recalled CJ’s tale of how they met. God, it’s a wonder she was able to play along, seeing as how they were making it up as they went. At one point, as CJ was about to launch into yet another story, Paige had clamped her mouth shut, covering it with her hand. This led to a quick brush of CJ’s tongue against her palm, causing her to drop her hand. They had both laughed, and it had seemed natural, even to her, to lean in for the kiss. Before her mind caught up with her body, the kiss was over.
Well, maybe they just needed some ground rules. Holding hands? Okay. Occasional touching? Only if necessary. Kissing? Definitely not. There should be no reason for them to kiss in public. None.
Now with a purpose, she quickly finished her shower and dressed, finding CJ in the same position as she’d left her—sitting on the sofa, bobbing her head to the music she heard. Paige walked over, yanking the earbuds from her ears.
“We should talk.”
“Why?”
“ Why? I think you know why,” she said, noting that CJ wouldn’t meet her gaze. “Let’s go over some do’s and don’ts,” she said.
CJ rolled her eyes. “Seriously? It was barely a kiss,” she said. “And it seemed like the right thing to do at the time.”
“Yes, it did,” she conceded. Crap . “I would just prefer to keep things as simple as possible. It would be odd if we didn’t hold hands or...or touch occasionally. But I don’t see the need for... kissing.”
CJ looked at her then, an evil twinkle in her eyes. “Why? Afraid you might like it?”
Paige forced a laugh. “I assure you, no. You’re not my type. In the least,” she added. As soon as the words were out, she knew they were a mistake.
“Really? I recall a night about six months ago that begs to differ,” CJ said. “I seemed to be your type that night.”
“Yes, well, an aberration, for sure,” she said, as if that was excuse enough. “We both saw how well that turned out.”
“Well, if it makes you feel any better, you’re not my type either. This is as uncomfortable for me as it is for you.”
Paige had to bite her lip to keep from replying. Actually, she had to turn away to keep the words from tumbling out. CJ promptly put her earbuds back in, and Paige went into the bedroom with a slam of the door, dragging out her laptop to check e-mail.
“Right,” she finally murmured. “As if CJ Johnston has a type. Any woman with a pulse would do.”
Of course, she was being ridiculous. She had no clue who CJ’s type was really. She’d never seen her out socially and made it a point not to listen when the guys quizzed CJ about her dates. She simply wasn’t interested.
***
“I’m scared.”
Fiona’s mother smiled reassuringly. “It’ll be fine. You should feel honored Mother Hogan chose you.”
“Yes, I know.” She took a deep breath. “Will it hurt?”
“You’ve witnessed couplings, Fiona. What do you think?”
Yes. And she also had a bachelor’s degree in science. Nonetheless, this was still a foreign concept. When she went away to college, all the other girls would talk about sex and guys. She had nothing to contribute. It was the closest she’d come to forsaking the flock, to disobeying Mother Hogan. She was exposed to so many things, so many things that were not allowed in Hoganville. But in the end, she remained faithful. She knew she could still be culled. Her place was in Hoganville, not out there . She was glad she hadn’t succumbed to the outside. Mother Hogan had warned her and she had heeded that warning.
“I suppose I’m ready,” she said, letting her mother tie the robe at her neck, then put the
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