If Mack was trying to seduce her, which Flora knew she wasn’t, she would have succeeded, but thankfully Mack knew Flora wasn’t ready or prepared for that kind of thing. So she used all her courage and moved in to kiss Mack and wrapped her arms around her neck.

* * *

Mack was so pleased that Flora was able to have the confidence to take this step. She’d experienced a lot of kisses in her life, but none quite like Flora’s. Mack knew how much this kind of social courage took. It was a gentle, intimate kiss, but no matter how much her body was crying out for more, she didn’t push Flora.

Everything was going to have to be at Flora’s pace, especially after her probable autism diagnosis. But if she was worried about pushing Flora too far, she needn’t have bothered. Flora pushed Mack back and began giggling.

“You taste of spicy pepperoni.”

“That’s not one of you your things, is it?”

“No, don’t be silly,” Flora said.

“I hoped that would be your answer. I mean, if it was between kissing you and pepperoni pizza, it would be a tight call, but in the end I’d choose you,” Mack joked.

“Oh, that’s really reassuring. I win, just above pepperoni by a whisker. That’s good to know.”

Mack took her hand and kissed it. It had taken a long time, but the girl that had haunted her was actually here and had kissed her. “I hope that the pepperoni hasn’t put me at the bottom of your kissing list.”

Flora looked a little sheepish. “I don’t have a list. You were the first.”

In a way, Mack wasn’t surprised given her childhood and her difficulties at school and then into adulthood, but it was still a sobering thought. She was the first, and she had to live up to Flora’s expectations.

“Don’t be shy about it. I get to be your first. You sure the pepperoni hasn’t put you off?”

Flora’s smile came back. “Not a bit. I love kissing you.”

Mack remembered what Nikki had asked her earlier on. She held up her arm and encouraged Flora to snuggle into her side.

“This is really nice,” Flora said.

“You’ll have to tell me at any time if our closeness is too much for you. I don’t want to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.”

“Thank you, I will, but that’s the weird thing. My brain and heart just accept you. That’s how I know you’re special.”

Mack held her tighter. “Thanks for letting me in. Erm…I wanted to ask you something.”

“What is it?”

“First thing is, you don’t have to do it, especially after what you told me tonight about being on the autistic spectrum. I’ll totally understand if you can’t do it,” Mack said.