Yep. Things were going to get complicated.

I kissed her back, briefly but fiercely, to let her know my attraction, but I pulled back quickly. Quickly, but not far. "This, um, this could be a bad idea," I said hesitantly.

Carla flushed a little and shook her head as if to clear it. "Yeah, that is just occurring to me, too."

I quivered a bit with both relief and disappointment, and I let my arms, which had been slowly reaching for her of their own volition, start to drop back to my side. But Carla re-tightened her grip on my forearm, matching the grasp on our other side.

"But listen,...