“Jesus, Josh,” Henn says.
Josh’s eyes are locked with mine. I squint at him, and he returns the gesture.
“Why don’t you justshowher, bro?” Josh says, still looking at me. “That’s the simplest way for us to approach this.”
My face involuntarily morphs into a “what the fuck” look.
“You don’t mind, do you, Kat?” Josh asks evenly.
“You mean... you want me to . . .?” Henn asks.
“Yeah, why not?” Josh says. “Unless, of course, Kat’s gonna require you to reveal all your secrets in order to kiss her?”
I narrow my eyes at Josh and then whip my head to look at Henn. “I think it’s a great idea for you to kiss me. How else are we gonna know if you’ve got the right technique?”
Henn’s face is bright red. “I don’t think this is such a good idea, guys.”
“Why the fuck not?” I say. I look at Josh with defiance. “It’s just for instructional purposes, right? No big deal.” Josh isn’t really gonna let me kiss another man in his presence, is he—even if it’s just Henn? Even if it’s just for “instructional purposes”?
“I agree,” Josh says, clenching his jaw.
I open my mouth, horrified. What thefuck? He’s gotta be bluffing.
“The woman obviously places a shit-ton of importance on kissing,” Josh continues. “So I’m sure her feedback will be invaluable to you.” His eyes are searing holes into my flesh.
There’s no way he’s gonna let me go through with this, right?
“No, it’s too weird,” Henn says. “I mean, you two guys are a couple... right?”
“Josh and me?” I say through gritted teeth. “Noooo. Josh and I haven’t even kissed—and we’ve mutually decided we’re not going to. Ever. We just don’t see eye to eye on certain things.”
Josh swallows hard, his eyes burning. “Kat’s right. We’re never going to kiss because she’s a fucking terrorist who takes some sort of sick pleasure in holding men hostage for ransom she has no business demanding.”
“What am I missing here?” Henn asks. “What’s going on with you two?”
“Nothing’s going on, like I said. Josh and I are just friends—friends who don’t tell each other everything, and therefore don’t kiss.”
Henn looks confused. “You require someone to tell you ‘everything’ just tokissyou? What does that mean?”
“Nothing. Noteverything.Just certain things.” I clear my throat. “Things I’d tell if the situation were reversed.”
Henn and Josh exchange a look.
I look down, color rising in my cheeks. Is Josh really gonna watch me kiss another man?
“Go ahead, Henn,” Josh says. “YOLO.”
I swivel my head up to look at Josh. He looks like he wants to kill me right now—right after he fucks the living hell out of me.
Well, if he’s not gonna stop me, then I’m not gonna stop me, either.
Is Josh really not gonna stop me?
I look at Josh. He’s glaring at me. I look at Henn. He looks utterly confused.
“Okay, Henn,” I say. “Gimme your best kiss. I’ll critique you from the field. And, Josh, you watch closely from the nose-bleed seats so you can give Henn your feedback, too.”
Josh doesn’t reply.
