“She’s talking to me,” Jamal cut in, stepping in front of Blake like a human shield. “I mean, yeah, I dragged him here, but let’s be honest—he wanted to come.”

Blake shot him a glare. “I did not want to come.”

Jamal snorted. “You literally spent the last two days sulking about how you weren’t invited.”

Blake’s jaw ticked. “That’s not what happened.”

“Mmm-hmm.” Jamal turned to Tiffany. “He’s been miserable, Tiff. Like, staring at walls and contemplating the meaning of life. I had to do something. I’m saving him.”

Tiffany folded her arms. “You’re annoying him.”

“He’ll thank me one day.”

“Jamal.”

“Tiffany.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Oh my God.”

Tiffany still looked like she was ready to strangle Jamal, and Jamal still looked way too entertained by the whole thing.

But my focus wasn’t on them anymore.

It was on Blake.

His gaze was sharp, assessing, like he was trying to figure out if I was mad at him for being here.

I was.

And I wasn’t.

And I didn’t know what I was.

“B,” Blake said slowly. “I didn’t want to come⁠—”

“Right,” I said flatly.

“I didn’t. I wanted to respect your space, I swear. I wasn’t going to show up.” He shot Jamal a look. “I didn’t know he was bringing me here until we were already in the car.”

“Because you were moping,” Jamal chimed in.

Blake ignored him.

I looked away.

Blake noticed. He stepped forward, closing some of the space between us. “You didn’t want me here,” he murmured. “I get that. But I also—” He hesitated, then exhaled slowly. “I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

I wasn’t okay.

Not since I’d noticed his buzzed hair.

“You cut it,” I blurted.

Blake blinked. “What?”

I swallowed. “Your hair. You cut it.”

A pause. Then, quietly, “Yeah.”

“Why?”

His Adam’s apple bobbed. “It was getting in the way.”

I didn’t believe him. Not for a second.

Blake loved his hair. He never admitted it, but I knew.

And now it was gone. Just like that.

“I liked it,” I admitted.

Blake stared at me, something unreadable flickering in his expression. Then, so quietly I almost didn’t hear it, “I know.”

Something lodged itself in my throat.

“Jamal,” Tiffany snapped, “you have ruined my entire night!”

“Dramatic much?”

“Oh, go choke on your own ego.”

Jamal grinned. “Aw, babe. That sounded personal.”

Blake and I exchanged a glance. I didn’t know why. I didn’t know what we were even saying to each other in that look.

I had to get out of here.

I huffed, turning on my heel. “I need more to drink.”

Blake caught my wrist before I could take another step. “Wait.”