Kevin doesn’t stand a chance against that smirk. “Wow,” he mutters, throwing his hands up dramatically. “Guess it’s official, I’m in my villain era.”
“Better than being flavor blind,” Chase adds smoothly, handing a new drink across to Haley, who just walked in.
“Hey, sorry I’m late, babe.” Haley leans in to give Chase a quick peck before sliding into the booth beside him. “What’s going on here?”
“Civil war,” Chase says, grinning. “Battle over the best Mexican candy. Spoiler: Kevin’s losing.”
Kevin looks skyward. “Are none of you on my side? Is this betrayal? Is this what it feels like?”
Haley shakes her head, her laugh easy as she leans back. “Definitely not fighting over candy tonight.” She turns her attention to Alli, her smile inviting, like they’ve been friends forever. “So,” she says, leaning in conspiratorially, “how do you even put up with Jared? He’s so uptight around girls.”
I stiffen automatically. “Hey, I’m notuptight.”
Haley smirks, ignoring my gaze completely. “Chase says otherwise.”
Alli bursts out laughing, startling me. It’s genuine, lighting up her face in a way she rarely lets people see. “We’ve known each other for years, maybe that’s how?” she says with a shrug.
“Oooh, friends to lovers? Welovethat.” Haley’s eyes glint with mischief.
Alli freezes, her smile faltering. “I’m sorry, what?”
Haley waves her hand dramatically. “Oh, come on. The years of slow-burn buildup, the moment one of you finally realizes the other’s been ‘the one’ all along. It’s classic.” She sighs dreamily, leaning back against the booth.
“She likes to read,” I explain, catching the confusion flying rampant in Alli’s face. “She thinks everyone’s love story should be like a fairy tale.”
Haley’s smile only grows wider. “Should be. Just look at Chase and me. Our parents set us up to be each other’s prom dates, and it was love at first sight.”
“Who fell first?” Alli asks, genuinely curious.
Haley grins, nudging her drink toward herself. “Oh, Chase, without a doubt. I wasn’t interested at first, but then we became friends, and… something just clicked, you know?”
Right on cue, Chase reappears with a fresh drink, sliding it in front of Haley like he’s been summoned by the story. “What’d I miss?”
“You trying to get me drunk?” she frowns.
“Frisky,” Chase retorts, winking at her.
“Oh, God, come on!” We chorus.
“What?” Haley rolls her eyes as she chuckles. “I’m telling them how we met and speculating on Jared and Alli’s epic love story,” she says breezily, throwing it out like it’s no big deal.
Alli’s eyes go wide, and she looks like she’s debating crawling under the table. “It’s not—there’s no epic story. It’s like any other romantic story.”
Haley shoots Alli a wink that practically oozes with knowing confidence. “Every love story is unique and beautiful. I just know yours is as special as any other.”
“So poetic,” Chase throws out teasingly. Kevin smirks, shaking his head, and Troy claps me on the shoulder before they disappear into the crowd, likely heading for another round or the dance floor, leaving Alli and me at the booth. The moment they’re gone, the space between us shifts.”
I glance at Alli, who’s twisting her straw in her drink, her eyes fixed anywhere but on me.
“You okay?” I ask, leaning in just enough to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear.
She shifts slightly, her knee brushing against mine before she pulls back, glancing at me briefly before returning her focus to her drink. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… Haley’s comment caught me off guard.”
I smirk, not entirely able to help myself. “Which one? The ‘friends to lovers’ thing or the ‘epic story’ bit?”
“All of it, probably. I never considered howgrandour love story could be.” She bites her lip like it’s a bad habit. Hell, it’s the most dangerous thing I’ve seen tonight, and I quickly look away, trying to mask whatever just flickered between us.
“Stop biting your lip like that.”
