Rachel blinked, stunned by the simplicity of the answer. “A kiss?” she repeated, her voice rising in disbelief. “That’s it? Just a kiss?” But before Eloise could respond, Rachel fell silent, her thoughts running a mile a minute. Rachel's voice trembled slightly as she asked the question that had been weighing on her mind. "Eloise, are you sure it was just a kiss?" Her eyes searched Eloise’s face for any sign that she was lying, but all she saw was sincerity, though tinged with a vulnerability that only made Rachel's worries deepen. Eloise’s heart warmed at the concern in Rachel's voice. She could see the worry etched across her friend’s face. She didn’t want to make Rachel anxious, so she answered as calmly as she could, "Yes, Rachel. He only asked for a kiss." It couldn’t have been tha

