Carter leans forward, testing the feed, shifting slightly in his chair, and then nods in approval. “Looks better.” He glances up at me. “Thanks.”

“Anytime.”

I linger for a second, watching the way his fingers move over the mouse, clicking through different settings, his jaw tight with focus.

My phone buzzes again from where I shoved it under his pillow. Shit, I hesitate before pulling it out, and sure enough Cassie is still going.

Cassie: OKAY BUT LISTEN.

Cassie: IF YOU WERE TO FUCK THEM BOTH

I slap my hand over my mouth, choking on air.

Carter looks up immediately, brows furrowing. “You good?”

“Yep.” I clear my throat, forcing my expression into something neutral. “Totally fine.”

Carter narrows his eyes, like he doesn’t quite believe me, but instead of pushing, he exhales and leans back in his chair. “What do you want for dinner?”

The question pulls me back to reality, grounding me in the fact that I am still here, in his house, trying to ignore the fact that my best friend is actively losing her mind over my entire existence.

I shove my phone back into my lap, pretending I didn’t just read what I did. “I don’t know. What are my options?”

Carter smirks slightly. “Anything but diner food.”

“Fair.”

Carter’s watching me, waiting for an answer about dinner, but I don’t want to talk about food. I want to remind him why he wants me here.

Why he’s looking at me like that. Why he’s fallen for me in the first place. So I don’t say anything. I just grab his hoodie, pull him toward me, and press my lips against his. He lets out a quiet sound, somewhere between surprise and need but he doesn’t hesitate.

His hands are on me instantly, gripping my waist, sliding up my back, holding me against him like I might disappear if he doesn’t. I kiss him slowly, deeply, pouring every ounce of certainty I have into it. Because I might not have all the answers about what we are or where this is going.

But I know this. I know him. I shift slightly, fingers threading through the soft strands of his hair, feeling the way he melts under my touch. And then a sound from down the hall. Loud and definitely aggravated.

“CHAT, SHUT THE FUCK UP.”

I freeze, lips still against Carter’s, before breaking into laughter against his mouth.

Carter groans, dropping his forehead to my shoulder. “I fucking hate him.”

I just grin, tilting his chin back up, pressing another soft kiss to his lips. “No, you don’t.”