She tilted her head up. We were way too close. I could see the individual red strands in her hair, the tiny gold flecks in her purple eyes that I’d never noticed before.
"You’re going to get fired tomorrow," she said. "Because of ."
"Maybe."
"Doesn’t that make you mad?"
"Little bit."
"Then why are you here? In my room. Holding ." Her voice dropped. "Instead of running."
Good question. Wish I had a good answer.
"Because soone should care," I said finally. "And apparently I’m stupid enough to be that soone."
Her breath hitched. She pressed her forehead against my shoulder and just. Breathed. In and out. Slow.
"I really hate you," she whispered.
"I know."
"Like. So much."
"Uh huh."
"The absolute worst."
"Got it."
She was quiet for a long ti. Then: "Thanks for not leaving."
I should’ve known Cassidy wasn’t done.
She shifted. Got comfortable. Her leg hooked over mine like she was claiming territory.
"So," she said.
"So."
"You got a girlfriend?"
My brain stuttered. "What?"
"Simple question. Do. You. Have. A. Girlfriend."
"No."
"Anyone you like?"
I thought about Vivienne standing in the kitchen with soap on her face. Sabrina’s fingers tracing my jaw. Harlow’s hand in mine during the car ga. And Cassidy right here, pressed against my side like she was trying to crawl inside my ribcage.
"That’s complicated," I said.
"That’s not a no."
"It’s not a yes either."
She was quiet. Then: "Mira told sothing."
My stomach dropped. "When?"
"At the bubble tea place. After you left to get the car." Cassidy’s finger traced a pattern on my chest. Circles. Slow. "She asked if we were dating. I said no. Then she asked if I wanted to be dating you."
"And you said?"
"I told her to mind her damn business."
"Diplomatic."
"She laughed. Said you were a good guy. That I should tell you if I liked you before soone else did."
Her finger kept moving. Up my chest. Across my collarbone. My body was doing things I really wished it wouldn’t do right now.
"What’d you say to that?" I asked.
"I told her I didn’t like you."
"Right."
"That you were annoying and bossy and way too calm about everything."
"Uh huh."
"That you dressed like a boring office worker even though you’re eighteen and that your jokes are terrible."
"Getting a clear picture."
"But then she asked if I was lying." Cassidy’s hand stopped moving. Rested flat against my chest. "And I couldn’t answer."
The clock ticked. My heart was absolutely betraying right now, slamming against my ribs like it wanted her to feel exactly how not calm I was.
"Cassidy."
"I’m not done talking." She sat up. Looked at . "This couch is stupid. Your arm’s going to fall asleep."
"I’m fine."
"Liar. Co on."
She stood up and walked toward the bed.
Every alarm in my head started screaming.
"Absolutely not," I said.
"What?"
"Your bed. No. Not happening."
"We’re just lying down."
"That’s how every bad decision starts."
She turned. Her hands went to her hips. "You think I’m going to jump you?"
"I think your mom would kill if she found out I was in your bed."
"My mom’s in Milan."
"Your sisters are here."
"Vivi’s busy. Harlow won’t leave your sister alone. Sabrina’s probably asleep." She walked back to the couch. Grabbed my hand. "I just want to lie down. My back hurts from serving for two hours. And you’re warm."
"That’s not."
"Please?"
There it was again. That word she never used. My defenses crumbled like wet paper.
"If anyone finds out," I started.
"They won’t." She pulled. "Co on."
I let her drag to the bed. This was fine. We’d just lie there. Completely appropriate distance. Fully clothed. Nothing weird.
Cassidy pushed down. I landed on my back on what was possibly the most comfortable mattress I’d ever felt. Before I could adjust, she was on top of . Full body weight. Her legs straddled my hips, hands planted on either side of my head.
"What are you doing?" I said.
"Getting comfortable."
"This is not comfortable. This is. This is."
"What? Scary?" She grinned. That dangerous one. "You scared of , scholarship boy?"
"No."
"Then stop being squeamish." She settled her weight. Directly onto my lap. Her hips pressed down and I felt everything. Every. Single. Thing.
My hands shot to her waist. Automatic. Trying to create distance except touching her was the opposite of distance.
"Cassidy."
"What? You said we could lie down."
"Not like this."
"Why not? This is technically lying down. I’m lying on you. You’re lying on the bed. The math checks out."
"That’s not how lying down works."
"Says who?"
She leaned forward. Her hair fell around both of us like a curtain. Now we were in this weird bubble. Just her face and mine and approximately three inches of air that was rapidly heating up.
"You’re blushing," she said.
"I’m not."
"Your ears are red."
"That’s just. Blood flow."
"Right. Blood flow." Her eyes dropped to my mouth. Lingered. "You know what else involves blood flow?"
"Cassidy."
"What?"
"Don’t."
"Don’t what?" She shifted her hips. Tiny movent. Barely anything. My entire body noticed. "I’m just sitting."
My grip on her waist tightened. "You’re being a nace."
"And you’re being a liar." She moved again. Slower this ti. Deliberate. "You said you’re not scared. But your heart’s going crazy."
"That’s also blood flow."
"Mm." She sat up. Her weight settled more firmly and I felt everything adjust. Heat. Pressure. The exact shape of her against . "Interesting blood flow."
I needed to stop this. Right now. Before it went sowhere we couldn’t walk back from.
But my hands stayed on her waist. And she stayed on my lap. And neither of us moved.
"I lied," she said quietly.
"About what?"
"To Mira. When she asked if I liked you." Cassidy’s fingers ca to my hair. Started playing with it. Gentle. Like she was petting sothing that might bite. "I do like you. Kind of. Maybe. A little bit."
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