Hearing Red

by Nicole Maser

“Or what about kissing me?” Maddie asked, her voice lowering, dripping with the confidence of knowing she’d backed her into a corner. “Was that for your own survival?” She could’ve sworn Saff’s breathing stopped altogether then. Any other time, she never would’ve pushed her that far. She knew Saff well enough to know that she could take all the teasing she could dish out, but that she couldn’t be forced to confront her own feelings—whatever they were. But now she had nothing to lose. Saff was going to leave anyway, regardless of what she said or did. And there was no way in hell she’d let her stay in denial when she did. Maddie’s hand inched forward until it found the bottom of Saff’s shirt. “No,” she continued. “You did it for the same reason I did.” Maddie’s fingertips lowered, then curled over the top hem of Saff’s pants, just barely grazing her warm skin. “And if you deny that,“ Maddie whispered, leaning in closer, “you’re a fucking liar.”