❝ Ṡ𝗶𝚗cₗǟ𝗶ℝ❞

“Are you sure you don’t want to swap?” Viola shook the plastic jar of body paint. “What would I even do with this?”

I eyed the chocolate-flavored gift Vie had been presented with as part of her department’s Secret Santa.

“You think I’d want it?” I looked ahead of us as we made our way to the station.

Our time at the party had passed quickly, and I was glad most of Viola’s colleagues were down-to-earth and spoke like normal human beings.

Denzel had apologized and blamed alcohol for what he’d said, but he’d been cowed by a glare from me when I’d heard what Denzel and the others had been saying. It just meant that I was extra attentive, and, fake or not, there’d be no doubt left in anyone’s mind that Vie and I were dating.

Although, as cute as Viola could be rattling off scientific jargon, some of what she said flew over my head.

Definitely cute though.

“I guess you wouldn’t.”

With a chuckle, I took the jar from her and unscrewed the lid. The scent of chocolate wafted from the jar, and I tapped the tip of my finger on the surface.

“What are you doing?”

“What? Were you planning on re-gifting it?”

Viola grumbled, “Of course not. Who on earth would I give it to?” she craned her neck, eyeing the contents. “So, what exactly are you doing?”

“I was just curious” I licked my finger.

It wasn’t the worst chocolate I had tasted. I dipped a second finger into the spread and offered, “Wanna try?”

Viola scrunched up her nose.

“I don’t think so.”

“Go on” I stepped in front of her. “My hands are clean. I promise.”

She hugged her jacket closed as we came to a stop and raised her eyebrow.

“Really?” she withdrew and curled her upper lip.

“Yes. I washed them.”

With a sigh, Viola said, “Not your hands. I mean, are you sure it’s edible?”

I twisted the jar, so the label was visible.

“It says so right here” I tilted my head. “It’s kind of the point” I held my hand higher.

“Hmm,” Viola shuffled closer, leaned in, and sniffed.

Her nose crinkled and she didn’t seem convinced, but agreed, “Okay.”

When her lips were about to touch the top of the chocolate, I swiped upward, smearing the paint on Vie’s cheek. She flinched back, pouting as she pawed at her face.

“I should’ve known you’d do that.”

“You should’ve,” I agreed.

I sucked the chocolate from my finger, smirking as I watched Viola try to clean her cheek.

“Come here” I wrapped my hand around her wrist and pulled her close. “Let me do it.”

She closed her eyes as I wiped her face. Viola huffed, her cheek twitching as I wiped with each of my fingers, removing a little at a time when I brushed her skin.

“There. All done” I licked my fingers.

Viola opened her eyes.

“Really?” she rubbed her cheek, then checked her palm.

“Yeah, it’s gone” I raised my hand and folded down my thumb and pinky. “I swear.”

“Boy scout, my ass,” Viola said and laughed. “I can’t see that at all.”

I nodded.

“You’re right. I wasn’t.”

Our eyes met for a long moment. Despite the cold weather, I felt warmed by her presence. Or maybe it was because of the wine I’d drunk earlier.

I don’t know what to say or do.

The party had gone as expected. We interacted and threw out PDAs for people to see. Viola had introduced me to her coworkers. We had mingled, drank, eaten. It’d been pretty much like any other job.

Except for the part where she said she liked me.

That’s what she said, wasn’t it?

Had I misheard?

I thought back to the strange things Viola had said when I’d first shown up at the Christmas party. She had sprung on me, pulled me into a kiss, and had said like, hadn’t she?

As quick as Vie had said it, I was pulling her toward a group of people and introducing myself as her boyfriend as contracted.

It’s supposed to be pretend.

We’d both been drinking, and I was confused about what I was feeling. Viola confused me.

The way she kissed me had seemed a little too aggressive to have just been for show, but then, when the Denzel thing had been explained, it made sense. A few of the people we’d talked to had seemed a bit awkward at first, but, as far as I was concerned, the night had gone well. I felt something for Viola—wanted to be near her, wanted to touch her.

My chest felt heavy. I didn’t understand what I was feeling. Or what I was supposed to do about those feelings.

I hadn’t been with someone in a long time. My last girlfriend had been controlling, but our relationship hadn’t been all bad.

At least I didn’t think so.

But there had been something there, a pressure in my gut when we were together. Sometimes, I felt as if I couldn’t breathe.

But with Viola, it was different, and there was an easiness between us. That, and a heat I wouldn’t mind taking a step further.

“Come on” I shook away the old memories and turned to hook Vie’s hand in mine. “You don’t want to miss your bus.”

At the bus stop, we stood together on the platform, waiting for the bus to arrive.

“Will you be okay by yourself?” I asked.

Once I saw Viola on the train, I’d flag down a taxi to take me back to my apartment.

“I’ll be fine. Thank you” Viola folded her arms across her chest and leaned over to look past me and down the line. “If you want to go, you can. My bus should be here soon.”

I shook my head.

“I’m good” I nuzzled my chin beneath the collar of my coat. “As you said, it’ll be here soon.”

I met Viola’s eyes but neither of us spoke. We stared into each other’s eyes until the sound of the incoming bus broke the spell. I felt like a coward for not talking about the kisses and the words and the—

“Here it is,” Vie interrupted my thoughts.

She hunched her shoulders and moved.

“Yeah,” I uttered.

There it was.

I joined Viola as I waited to board.

“So, goodnight, Sin.”

I hesitated, then pulled Viola into a brief hug. I breathed in as we parted and smiled.

“Get home safe, Vie.”

“Thanks.” The door to the bus opened, and Viola stepped inside. “Bye.”

I stepped back, craning my neck as I tried to spy Viola through the windows as she took a seat. Regret twinged through my heart. Maybe I should’ve brought up what she had said before.

The train pulled away.

Too late now.