“How about a deadmau5 shirt?” she teased.

“How about a kiss?”

She rolled her eyes. “Like you need a bet to get one of those out of me.”

Heat churned deep in my stomach, a craving I’d never satisfy. I could never get enough of my Pixie.

It had been two months to the day since the mandatory assembly where I turned the tables on Tanner—exposing him instead of him laying Amber out for the wolves. Her identity was still safe, and Ask Me Anything had been resurrected in a new corner of the dark web, Amber taking more precautions and leaning on her dad’s profession more to answer the still-incoming questions.

Ms. Howard was now Principal Howard of Wilmont Academy and finished out the school year, helping to ensure our MIT acceptance letters came as expected.

Tanner had “resigned” for his own reasons, but everyone knew that was bull. Rumor had it he was petitioning the city council for a shot at mayor. I prayed my leaked viral video would be enough to save the city from that.

The days had passed by in a blissful haze where I spent every single moment trying to make it up to Amber, regardless of her saying I already had ten times over. She and Tessa had grown close, spending almost as much time together as we had. Hannah and Amber had folded Tessa into this protective trifecta of powerful girls, and it kind of terrified me—not that I’d ever tell them that.

My parents—after the initial shock—had rallied to support Tessa’s decision to keep the baby. I’d held Tessa’s hand as she’d come clean to them, and I’d never loved my parents more than in the moment they hugged Tessa. I didn’t know why I’d been afraid they’d react rashly…like I had.

“I love you,” I said, just because I could.

“Love you,” she answered. “But still not telling you.”

“Damn.” She’d picked me up this morning and refused to tell me where we were going. “Do I at least get to spend the night with you in a fun hotel again?” I asked, the tease full and present in my voice. It didn’t matter how many times I’d had her, I always wanted more. My pixie made each moment with her that much sweeter.

“As much as I would love being in a room with you without worrying about one of our parents hearing us,” she said, “and I would really, really love that… No.”

“Damn again.” I groaned.

“But,” she said. “I wouldn’t say no if you wanted to surprise me with that.” She cleared her throat. “When you get back.”

“When I get back?”