I stared at her, my heart pounding in my chest, the rhythm deafening in my ears. God, she was right there. If I leaned in⁠—

With a sudden burst of energy, she pulled away, her hands pushing against my chest as she took off again.

I muttered a curse under my breath, but I was already after her, not willing to let her get away this time.

She ducked behind the couch, crouching like a child playing hide-and-seek. I slowed my steps, creeping up behind her.

“You better not,” she warned, peeking around the side.

“Too late.” In one quick move, I lunged over the couch and tackled her into the cushions. She shrieked, flailing, but I held her down with a smirk on my face, pinning her wrists lightly above her head. “You surrender?” I asked, face inches from hers.

“Never,” she huffed, but her breath caught.

Her chest was rising and falling against mine. My fingers were still wrapped around her wrists, and she wasn’t pulling away. She was staring at my mouth. And I was staring at hers.

Her lips parted slightly.

“If you don’t want me to kiss you,” I said, my breath shaky, “you should probably say something.”

She didn’t say anything. Not a damn word.

I leaned in slowly, every inch of me on fire, until I could feel her breath, taste the bubblegum flavor she always chewed, and smell the stupid Tommy Girl perfume that still made my knees weak. Our noses brushed. I could feel her pulse beating against my palm. One more second, and I was done for.

We both jolted apart as a familiar voice shouted, “We couldn’t wait ‘til tomorrow, so don’t be naked!”

Tiffany’s voice.

I cursed under my breath and ran a hand through my hair as Beverly sucked in a sharp gasp, eyes wide.

She quickly smoothed down her shirt, her movements stiff and flustered, while I exhaled sharply, trying to steady myself.

“Hello?” Jamal’s voice joined in, sending a wave of irritation crashing over me. “Ah, shit, this better not be foreplay⁠—”

I ran a hand over my face, letting out an exasperated sigh.

The last thing I needed was Jamal barging in.

Beverly stood just as they both rounded the corner, looking far too smug for people who barged in uninvited.

I shot Jamal a scowl that only made him and Tiffany laugh.

Crossing my arms, I waited for the inevitable teasing.

Tiffany took one look at us, her eyebrows shooting so high they nearly disappeared into her hairline. “Ugh,” she huffed, tossing her bag on the table. “Y’all didn’t even make it to the kitchen. Weak.”

Beverly let out a mortified laugh, her cheeks burning red as she gave my chest a shove—maybe to shake off some of her embarrassment, or maybe just to do something with her hands. “Hi, guys.”

What she was embarrassed about, I had no clue.