Cassidy, the girl who never stops talking and bullshitting, sits silently next to me. Eventually, she rests her head on the crook of my shoulder, and I wrap my arm around her back, tugging her closer to me, nearly on my lap.

“You cold?” I ask, peering down as she rubs her hand over her goose bump–covered arm.

“A little,” she whispers.

I tighten my grip on her, hoping to transfer a sliver of my body heat, and run my hand up and down her arm—similar to what she was doing. Her skin is soft, smooth like the organic apples my mom overpays for. When the goose bumps don’t disappear, and she shivers, I slowly pull away, already missing her warmth, and stand.

I hold out my hand, and there’s no hesitation before she takes it, allowing me to pull her to her feet. Only inches separate us. Our breaths meet, and my heart thrashes against my chest in uncertainty of what’s to come.

She licks her lips.

I do the same.

The desire of this woman cuts through my veins, as if it’s begging to be let free.

I inhale a deep breath.

No, I can’t ruin our friendship.

I lower my voice, swiping flyaway strands of hair from her eyes. “My sidekick.”

“Your sidekick,” she whispers.

Without thinking, without considering the repercussions of such a reckless move, I bow my head and rest my forehead against hers.

“Lincoln.” She says my name in a shaky breath.

Her voice. That tone. It ruins me.

It’s the push that leads me to drop my lips to hers.

She kisses me back, her lips plump and soft.

As we kiss, it’s as if she’s breathing life back into me.

Yet also casting a calmness alongside it.

When she opens her mouth, sliding her tongue along the seam of my lips, reality shatters through me.

My head spins when I break our connection, retreat a step, and catch my breath. “Shit, Cass. I’m so sorry.”

This time, she’s caressing my arm while appearing unfazed by my pulling away. “No, it’s fine.” A hint of a smile crosses her face. “In fact, I’m down to do it again.”

I hesitate.

That urge that caused me to kiss her moments ago resurfaces.

My mouth already misses the taste of hers.

“Yo! Party ditchers!” Finn calls out into the night from the back porch. “Get your asses in here!”

And just like that, Finn saves us from ruining our friendship.

“I’m going to punch him,” Cassidy grumbles. “In the balls. Then the kneecaps. Then the balls again for good measure.”