Three hours and a couple room-service burgers later, Amber was stepping out of the bathroom, fully ready for our night.

She wore a black plaid skirt that stopped above her knees, a gray sweater, and some kick-ass black combat boots. Her hair was in its usual feathered style, the pops of pink complementing the smoky stuff she’d slid over her eyes.

“Whoa,” I said, my eyes drinking her in. “You look amazing.”

“So do you,” she said.

All I’d done was shower and slide into some dark jeans and a navy-blue Henley. Still, the way she eyed me up and down like she wanted to take a bite out of me? Worth it.

I mentally thanked Tessa for conning me into taking her shopping and then forcing me to buy this shirt—which at the time I thought was too tight. She’d assured me it was perfect, said it brought out the blue in my eyes or some shit.

“You ready for this?” Amber asked, heading toward the door.

I opened it for her. In reality, I wasn’t sure. Something was building between us—had been building for months now—and I couldn’t stop it, couldn’t calm it, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to. But I certainly didn’t want to overstep a line, especially if Amber still had it firmly drawn. So, was I ready to keep things strictly friendly?

“Absolutely,” I said.

Because I knew despite how strong the current sparked between us, I wanted her in my life. Any way I could have her.

She smiled like she held the biggest secret in the world.

I was more than ready to uncover it.

…

“Holy. Shit.” I gaped at Amber as we were allowed inside the massive venue packed with all manner of people. People with mohawks. People with neon hair. People with brightly colored bracelets and glow-in-the-dark necklaces. All cramming onto one wide-open space of a dance floor laid beneath the biggest stage I’d ever seen.

“deadmau5?” I asked. “You’ve had tickets this entire time and didn’t tell me?”

She giggled, bouncing on her feet as we claimed a spot near the front. “You like?”

“Love,” I said, pulling her close so she could hear me. “I can’t believe you wanted to give me your extra ticket.”

The laughter left her eyes, her shoulders dropping. She shook her head, forcing a smile. “I think it was meant for you all along,” she said. “I just hadn’t known it yet.”

I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, tucking her into my chest. “You win. Forever,” I said as the lights dimmed. “There is no way I’m ever topping this.”

She tugged on my head, bringing my ear to her lips to be heard over the cheering crowd. “I’d like to watch you try,” she teased. “If you feel like it.”

“Oh, I will try.”