I open my mouth, then close it with a sigh. She laughs, full and triumphant. “That’s what I thought.”

I groan, flopping onto my bed for a second, pressing the phone against my ear, letting my eyes fall shut before exhaling and sitting back up, smoothing my hands over the sheets again, my heart picking up slightly at the thought of Carter and Tate being here, in my space, in my world for the weekend.

“It’s not that serious,” I mumble, even though my stomach twists with warmth.What a damn lie. “We’re just, figuring it out.”

Cassie lets out a scoff. “Figuring out how to share you?”

“Goodbye, Cassie.”

She cackles. “No, no, wait! I wanna hear all about it later. And for the record?”

I roll my eyes, waiting for whatever insane thing she’s about to say next.

“I’m absolutely living for this.”

I shake my head, a reluctant smile pulling at my lips, my fingers gripping my phone tighter as I glance out the window, the anticipation building, the weight of what’s about to happen settling deep.

Cassie is still talking, still laughing at her own jokes, still absolutely living for whatever chaotic situation I’ve gotten myself into, and I let her, because it’s easier than trying to argue when she’s already made up her mind about how ridiculous this whole thing is. “I mean, think about it,” she continues, her voice dripping with amusement. “You went on a little weekend trip to meet up with your gaming buddy, had a wholesome small-town romance in the making, and then bam! plot twist, he’s got an equally hot, unhinged twin brother who also wants to wreck you. Now they’re both coming to spend the weekend with you.”

I rub a hand over my face, shaking my head as I adjust the stack of books on my nightstand for the tenth time, feeling the nerves settle heavier in my stomach. “Cass.”

“No, no, let me have this.” She laughs. “You’re basically in the most chaotic, fucked-up romance novel I’ve ever read.”

I open my mouth to tell her to shut up, but before I can, my phone vibrates in my hand, a new message flashing across my screen.

Carter: we’re in town but this map is bullshit, Tate swears he knows where we’re going but he’s lying

I snort, already shaking my head before I even finish reading the texts.

Carter: help babe

Typical. I quickly type out a response, biting my lip to hold back a laugh.

Me: did you really let Tate navigate?? rookie mistake

“What’s so funny?” Cassie chimes in.

I huff a laugh, dropping back onto my bed, phone still in hand. “They’re lost.”

Cassie cackles. “Of course they are.”

I barely finish typing out my next message before my phone vibrates again, another text from Carter popping up on my screen.