“Wanna watch with us?” I ask, fully prepared for her to say no or maybe even kick me out.

“I don’t want to interrupt date night.”

“It’s fine,” I say at the same time Nathan says, “As long as you’re cool with me feeling up my girl during the show.”

My mouth falls open, and I expect Bri to scoff and go back to her room. Instead, she laughs. Like laughs laughs. I didn’t know she was capable of making the sound. She takes a seat on the couch. I give Nathan, aka Mr. Miracle Worker, a playful slap.

“I’m kidding,” he says, grabbing the remote from the TV stand. “What episode are we on? Season two, episode one?”

Sydney tucks her feet under her on the couch. “Season two, episode three. Emily is on her way.”

Our door flies open as if it were scripted. “I’m here,” Emily says, out of breath. “Season two, episode three,” she repeats. “Jess tried dating two guys at once and met the hot doctor. Except we don’t know he’s a doctor yet. Sorry, Sydney.” She collapses on the couch between Bri and Sydney.

Standing, I place an unopened carton of food on the coffee table. “General Tsao’s chicken?”

Emily dives for it. “Thanks, Chloe. Hey, Nathan.”

He waves to her, and I give Nathan an OMG, we’re hanging out and no one forced them look. He moves to my chair and pulls me onto his lap. It’s big enough that we’d just about fit side by side, but I’m more on his lap than not. I turn to face him and mouth, “Thank you.”

He responds by leaning forward and kissing me lightly on the lips.

“Mmmm, you taste spicy.”

He doesn’t pull away immediately. Our mouths linger, barely not touching, eyes locked. My heart races with the desire I see reflected back at me. I make the first move this time, hesitantly pressing our lips together. He lets out a little growl as he takes over the kiss. I part my lips just as his tongue sweeps in.

A pillow hits the side of my face.

“That’s enough, you two,” Sydney says.

Nathan chuckles and pulls away, but he keeps an arm around me, one hand on my thigh the entire show. A detail that no one else in the room can see, but I like it anyway. And that’s not good.

I can’t fall for my fake boyfriend. What if in a week or two, it blows up and we can’t stand to be around one another? All of this will have been for nothing. I close my eyes and try to ignore the tingles and desire I feel being this close to him.

“Is there a weird song that turns you on that really shouldn’t?” I ask as we’re cleaning up.