“Hmm, never had it, so you better rectify that soon.” She glared, and he thought she was ridiculously charming in this moment.

They went back and forth, confessing things that bordered on silly, steering clear of her earlier confession even as Keiran wanted to circle back to it. Why had she told her mother no more matchmaking? He needed to hear her reason. He couldn’t make any assumptions. His poor heart couldn’t take it if he was wrong about what it meant. All the while, Keiran knew he should slow down on the champagne. The whole point of the game was to pass the time while Cherisse sobered up, and here he was, downing the bubbly.

“I used to have a crush on Scott,” he blurted. Shit. Fuck his loosened lips.

Cherisse blinked at him, hands flying to her face. “Oh my God, what? Are you serious right now, Keiran?” she shrieked. There went the cozy bubble they’d been encased in for the last—he stole a quick glance at his phone—thirty minutes. He waited.

“I can’t believe this.” The bed was shaking, and he swung his head her way. Was she crying? Laughter bubbled up from behind her hands, and Cherisse spread her fingers to peek through them at him.

“You’re laughing.” He stated the obvious. Was she cracking up like this because she thought he was joking about Scott? He considered pretending just that. It would be easier than what the alternative could be. Her entire body still shook from her laughter.

“Yes!” She removed her hands. “This is too funny! I had a crush on Scott too.”

Say what now? He hadn’t expected that. “What?”

“From Form 1 to about halfway through Form 2, which is when I just gave up since I knew I had no chance. I mean, can you blame me? Scott has always just been all good-looking, and he’s never had an awkward phase in his life. Puberty was kind to him. This is so hilarious. We both had crushes on Scott!”

“Yeah, I just...wow. I thought your shock meant something else,” he trailed off.

She stared at him, a frown forming a crease between her brows. “Wait, did you think I was upset?”

“It’s cool,” he rushed out.

“Keiran, shit. You thought I was upset because of that? Oh my God, I’m sorry I laughed. I didn’t mean for you to think that. But yeah, fuck, I see how my reaction wasn’t the best. I’m a fucking fool.”

“Hey, it’s fine. I just misread.”

She grabbed his hand. “I don’t care if you’re—uh, I don’t want to use the wrong word.”

“Bi.” It tumbled out before he could filter himself, brush it off. Make light of it. But dammit, he didn’t want to. He wanted Cherisse to know him. “It’s what I’ve been IDing as for a while now. I’m not out or anything. Well, just to Maxi, and Scott, who knows obviously because we kissed back then, and...”

“The fuck? You and Scott kissed?” Her mouth hung open.