Page 74 of The Prime-Time Experiment

When she looked back up, Dee was grinning so broadly she appeared moments away from falling out of her chair. “This is incredible,” she said, sounding genuinely delighted.

“I fail to see why.”

“Because six months ago you treated any man who sat too close to you like he’d committed a criminal offence.” Dee shook her head, still grinning. “And now you’re sitting here blushing because I mentioned Declan’s name.”

“That is not what occurred.”

“Sure.”

Riley narrowed her eyes slightly. Dee ignored the look entirely, leaning forward across the table instead. “So,” she said, lowering her voice despite the fact nobody within ten metres cared about the conversation, “how far have we gotten?”

Riley blinked. “That is an imprecise question.”

“You know exactly what I’m asking.”

After a brief moment of consideration, Riley nodded. “Physically?”

The reaction occurred so fast that Riley didn’t even get a chance to watch it happen. “See?” Dee pointed at her. “The fact you clarified means you absolutely know what I’m asking.”

“That is a reasonable observation.”

“Thank you. Now answer the question.”

Riley glanced briefly out the window, more because she was organising the information than avoiding it. “We have progressed beyond kissing.”

The effect on Dee was remarkable. She froze halfway through lifting her coffee before slowly setting it back down on the table. “Beyond kissing,” she repeated.

“Yes.”

“Riley.”

“Yes?”

“What exactly does that mean?”

Riley considered the question carefully. “I am unfamiliar with the conventional classification system.”

Dee groaned. “The bases, Riley.”

“I do not know the bases.”

“Okay.” Dee pinched the bridge of her nose. “Fine. Are we talking sex or touching while making out?”

A brief pause followed. “The latter.”

The sound Dee made suggested she had either received shocking news or sustained a minor injury. “Oh my god.”

Riley frowned. “I am unclear why this continues to surprise you.”

“Because you’re you,” Dee replied, as though that explained everything. Judging by her expression, it apparently did. “You’re telling me that the woman who once created an entire list explaining why she disliked being hugged is now voluntarily making out with a man on a regular basis.”

“When you phrase it that way,” Riley admitted, “it does sound unusual.”

“Thank you.”

Riley wrapped both hands around her mug, allowing the warmth to settle comfortably into her fingers. “It has been less difficult than anticipated.”

The humour faded from Dee’s face almost immediately. “Less difficult how?”